Middletown transcript., 1898-01-08

"Warde," said Gurdo,'s father
"she's most obstinate young woman
She will always have ter own way"
"I've noticed that" said Mr.. Warde
looking at her.
"Whose way should | have but M
own?" she asked, cheerfully. "Mr
Burleigb, take me into the dining
room; Mr.. Warde, You can follow witt
Bob."
"With all that, she's the best young
woman in the world"
THAT fact also," said Mr.. Ward'
land I thought it was rather bit O
cheek on his part to say it), "that fact
also has not escaped my observation
At table Gurdon's aunt let me sit
next to her, and talked away good
deal, and little Gurdon said afterward
that he considered l was in very good
form. I asked little GnrdOn how old
he thought his aunt was, and it turned
out that she was closeupon twenty-five.
l was rather disappointed to find that
she was SO old, but, thinking itover On
the way down to the river, l could see
that years were nothing providing
hearts were right, and if she didn't
mind waiting until left school, why,
there was no reason why | shOuldn u
make her an offer without delay. She
was walking with little Gurdon down
to the boathouse having first made her
brother quite comfortable on a long
basket-ch looking onto the lawn and
l was with Warde. Warde seemed
the kind of chap who improves an ac-
quaintance, and he had travelled a good
deal, and if it hadn't been that. he was
rather too attentive to Gurdon's aunt
l dare say 1 could have stood him
fairly well. 1 asked him what age he
thought a man ought 10 be when be
married, and whether lie thought sew
enteen or eighteen was too young, and
he said that he thought that about
twice that age was nearer the mark.
."What," l asked, "thirty odd?"
"About that" said Mr.. Warde
calmly.
"Ridiculousl" / said. l felt annoyed.
"Why, a man could fall in love over
and over again before he reached that
age"
"That's the idea," remarked Mr..
Warde. "But at that age he would
know his own mind.'
shouldn't think it would be worth
knowing" l said sharply. "What do
you think of Gurdob's auntp He
looked at me rather ing uisitively be-
fore he replied.
81 think good deal of her, young
ster, )" he said. "Why do you ask the
question:"
81 have my reasons" [ said, with
reserve. "Struck me that you were
not on very friendly terms with each
other"
He seemed amused al this, and clap
ped me on the shoulders in very cheer
full way, as though he was rather glad to
hear it. When at the riverside near
the trees Gurdon's aunt and little Cur
don caught us up, it was decided tina
Warde should scull, that little Cur
don should steer, and that should sit
next to Gurdon's auntl
1.-THE hamper!" cried Gurdon's aunt
suddenly.
We had all forgotten it. Of little
Gurdon and 1 p lted, found it, and
started down to the riverside again. And
here comes the important part of this
story, and I want you to read more
carefully, If you don't mind.
l let little Gurdon carry the hamper
himself the second part Of the way
across the fields; for one thing it was
very heavy, and for another, 1 wanted
to get back and listen to her vOi &C. Pm
not sure whether | told you what a
pleasant quiet way Of talking she had.
No wonder her brother liked her to be
near him on his bad days. l hurried
on, and presently through the trees on
the edge of the river saw them in the
boat waiting. crept up and listened.
"The doctor says that hecannot last
much longer" I heard her say.
81 scarcely know whit lher to be glad
or sorry. 1 beg your pardon, dear.
OF course, Pm sorry. | like him al
most as much as you do. Still l can't
help wishing''-
But you must'n't," she said SER
iously.
1--WE could run up to town for few
days while your nephew and this other
youngster are here"
mo, noP' she said, with good deal
Of earnestness.
81 bet you as much as penny, dear
girl" he said, "that elope with you
before you are many days older"
"You must not bet," she answered
reprovingIy; "you must not call me
dear girl and elopements are early
Victorian and no longer fashionable. "
l coughed. "And you really think,
then, Mr.. Warde," she said in louder
voice. as 1 came thro ugh the trees,
"that Turkey is bound to goP I'm
afraid have never properly understood
the Eastern question:"
kept very careful watch on him,
not only on the river as we went Cook
ham way, bus also while we bad lunch
the ham-and-veal pie was a perfect
dream; little Gurdon and l finished it,
and afterward on the return journey
and 10 the evening, when she played
queer little pieces by Grieg to her
brother, and the rest of US sat on the
lawn and slipped iced things. Once or
I a. -