The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-18

to get her comfortably settled"
THAT was my idea"
II wonder" he said, taking off his
white hat and running his hand
through his white hair. what sort of
a man she will mary?"
II have made every inquiry" said
Mrs Mellish, with her sunshade on
guard, land the results are almost en-
tirely satisfactory"
"Almost?"
There is only one difficulty" (Sun-
shade off guard now and a sudden at
tack in the open) by the by, don't
you sometimes wish that you had mar
ried. and that-that you had had
SOM"
II don't quite understand" he said
nervously Mrs. Mellish repeated the
question with great distinctness. why,
yes" he said, hesitatingly. II do.
Sometimes. But on the whole, of
course, it's a good thing that I've re-
manned a bachelor. To tell the abso-
lutte truth, Laura"-he lowered his
voice contidentially-"Ive got bit of
temper"
You always had"
But it gets more pronounced as 1
grow older"
81 can quite believe that"
And a man who has a temper should
have no other company"
Makes him feel rather crowded
sometimes, I dare say. But OCCASION
ally, of course, you overcome it,"
Rarely" admitted DR.. Fraser.
They went up to the castle, where 4
peacock, disturbed by their approach,
feathers, used language too scandalous
to be printed here. Mrs. Mellish gave
the doctor more than one opportunity
of leaving, but it almost seemed that
he enjoyed talking to her and being in
her company. The subject of himself
was Nor him evidently full of attrac-
tion.
Il have my moments of introspec-
tion," he said as they stood within the
four walls and looked up at the wall
flowers growing in the crevices, land
l find that nearly everything becomes
accentuated as years ago. Increase Of
hastiness, increase Of
Money"
II haven't done badly in that re-
spect. l command big fees"
That can only arrive with the
years" said Mrs. Mellish. wisely
Young men in your profession can't
expect them"
course not"
Your nephew, for instance. would
| perhaps only earn at the present time
| just sufficient for his own needs?"
Hes a careful youth" said DR..
| Fraser, but he can't have much to
spare"
II think" said Mrs. Mellish, that
| yOu-let us go up these stairs. / am
| rather anxious to see this celebrated
| inscription"
What We're you going to say,
Laura ?"
He led the way carefully up the worn
| steps of the winding staircase.
II was going to say" remarked Mrs.
Mellish, ascending slowly and guard
ing her stock of breath with economy,
that you might as well do something
for him"
Il think I'm the best judge of that"
! II fancy-you're the worst" said Mrs.
Mellish, painting. They gained the top
| Of the staircase, and DR.. Fras ser fixing
on his pincenez, inspected the crowded
| inscriptions on the walls carefully
Il
| most of your decisions would be re-
versed on appeal. think that, upon
this subject at any rate you ought ia
take advice"
Here it is," said DR.. Fraser cheer
! fully. Smart of me to find it SO
quickly. Laura NJ and then under.
meath Robert F. What a couple of
| fools we must have been"
I'VE didn't think So" said Mrs. Mel
| lish.
I'VE do think so now.''
Perhaps that is because we have
become too wise. We were very happy
then, at any rate"
True" confessed DR.. Fraser, reluct-
! antly.
And we hadn't anybody to help us
to be happy. ! mean that you had nc
uncle with money Orr
Il had no cne, Laura" said the white
gentleman, but you"
Would you care to do something tc
show your gratitude?"
II don't want to marry YOU" said
DR.. Fraser, hastily.
Il shouldn't do so if you were to ash
me to. That is a favor that you car
grant quite easily"
Give me details"
"Why not" said Mrs Mellsh, witt
the striped sunshade up, although the,
were not i'm the sun, "why not bu,
the practice for your nephew ana lc
him get married, without keeping tn
two young people waiting for years.
II do believe" he said acutely, "tha
you are taking all this interest i'm hin
because | told you his remark abou
your appearance"
I'VE are foolish things, we women,
admitted Mrs. Mellsh.
There was a pause.
GIVE me ten minutes" he said sud
denly. Give me ten minutes. I'll g
out and over the way to the hotel an,
smoke cigar and think it over, Laura
Sure it will crafty you if consent ?"
Il have no doubt of it,"
You're a queer creature" he said
as they descended the steps. II be
lieve you are the best-natured woma
that ever breathd."
There are many of u.s." she said
At the time arranged Mrs. Mellis
and her niece were awaiting at tn
doorway of the hotel. The niece, for
healthy young woman, seemed pal
, and anxious, and she held her bicycl
!, with a gloved hand that tremblet
I Mrs. Melish sat in her carriage, tn
. coachman glancing over his shoulde
I for the signal to start
. "WeN?"
> Dr, Fraser hadl come out Of the he
$ tel. Mrs Mellish noticed with salts
faction that his cigar was a good on
5 and the white ash intact
. We'll" she repeated casually, Eye
, or no?"