The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-22
1.-THE COMING.

Sylvia dear. the arrival Of Mr..
Wicks bids fair to amuse me more than
/ anticipated. AS soon as Jack comes
in ! am going to mystify him and make
him guess who Mr. Wicks is and all
about him. 1t will be delightful to
see him puzzled, End ! don't think he
Is likely to find out, unless, of course.
a certain little chatterbox tells him.
The speaker. Miss Matilda Cherry
ton. a round faced. smiling-old lady.
who seemed to find life very smooth
and pleasant. looked across the lunch
con table at her charge, a pretty girl
of II, whose father, her only relation,
was absent in India,
To make mysteries out of everyday
occurrences was little weakness OF
Miss Cherryton's, and the present OPP
portunity seemed to her too good to be
lost.
DO you think Mr. WiCks will have
changed much?" asked Sylvia. But.
of course he won't. It's only a month
since / last saw him. 1t seemed so
much longer"
"DO you find il so very dull. Sylvia,
in this rambling old place." asked Miss
Cherryton, anxiously.
NO, no. how thoughtless OF me to
have made you think that! Why, it's
delightful here. and ! am perfectly
happy"
And Sylvia laughed--a joyous little
laugh.
What time does Mr.. Wicks come.
Miss Cherryton?' she presently asked.
AT o'clock. Just i'm time for tea.
Tut here comes Jack. and | give you
tuil leave, Sylvia, to puzzle him about
MI. Wicks to your hearts content"
Jack strolled into luncheon full of
apologies and golf records. and after
he had eXuatiated for Il considerable
time ON tn. virtues Of his clubs and
the condition Of the ground. Miss Cher
rytOn broaChed the subject of Mr.
Wicks.
sylvia has friend coming here"
she began; "he is also friend of
mine, and think you will like him."
"Who is hc?" asked Jack not feel
ing particularly pleased to hear OF this
friend.
He is a Mr.. Wicks," replied Miss
Cherryton And" added Sylvia, "he
is extremely amusing"
lack became thoughtful at this mo-
mont, and looked out Of the window
and presently sad
What is he like. aunt. and what
docs he do to he so amusing? | don't
remember the name at all"
You mustn't be too inquisitive. Jack
but this much I will tell you-he is
young and handsome"
"Oh, indo d; young, and handsome
and extremely amusing; what an en-
in nd .
curled slightly.
Miss Cherryton and | were going tc
meet him at the station" said Sylvia
blushing a lttle-Jack noticed the blush
but, after all, we are going to stay
at hons You know Mr.. WiCks is rath-
er an important parsonage, and Miss
Cherryton thought she would rather
lie here to receive him
Does he hunt. play golf or shoot?'
asked Jack. hoping that these accom-.
plshments did not belong to Mr.. Wicks
"None of them" replied Sylvia. with
a gay little shake of her head. He
Las lived in town most of his life, but
he is quite clever enough to have learn.
ed them ALL" and Sylvia blushed again
Jack began quite to dislike this un.
known Mr.. Wicks. 1t was an unrea.
soning. indescribabe antipathy, but il
existed nevertheless. and during the
rest of luncheon he was very silent ant
monOsyllabiC.
But Miss CherrytOn and Sylvia KEPT
up lively conversation between them
selves.
Jack, I've addressed you twice
where are your thoughts, my boy?"
Il do believe he was thinking Of Mr.
Wicks," suggested Sylvia.
Exactly" said Jack. waking from
his revcrie with a start.
Il asked you if it would be safe t
let James fetch my jewels from tn,
bank" continued Miss Cherryton.
Perfectly replied Jack, and then
asking to he excused, left the table.
Miss CherrytOn was disappointed
She would have liked Jack to hav,
asked a host of questions about Mr.
Wicks.
Jack! jack" she called after him
you have not asked where Mr.. Wick
lives"
Jack turned around, tugged at hi
mustachc, and said, NO, aunt" thel
said something under his breath, ant
striding out of the house he sough
refuge at the golf links,
lie drew out from his golf bag tn
heaviest driver he possessed and drov
the ball as it had never been driver
before; he vented all his ill-feeline up
on that bah. and between the hits burs
out into short sentences
"WiCks-What a name, Why didn'
Aunt Matilda tell me more? Pooh
can't play golf; handsome-don't be
lieve it," and again the ball shot acros
the fields.
Now, I'll go home" he eXclaime,
almost savagely, "and see this fellow
Wicks,"
He was just passing the stables whel
there was a sound of carriage wheel
and clatter of hoofs and then tn
dog cart dashed around the corner, in
10 the stable yard at a hard gallon
and the horse, finding itself at hons
stopped as suddenly as it had arrived
causing sparks to fly from the cobble
stones, the dogs from their kennels an,
the grooms from the stables. Their
was a general uproar.
But the dog cart was quite empty.
1t Is the unexpected that alway
takes place, and Jack was so com
pletely surprised at seeing no figure
In the carriage that he stared again a