Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-01-19

ugly
What do you mean by speaking of
her TO me. Have spoken of her to
you? Ia there any reason why yoa
should lug my mother into this CONVEX
sation? If SO, say SO and be-
He did not swear at me; he did not
dare to, but he came precious near to it
and that was enough to make me recoil. !"
"She was my FRIEND" said /. Il
knew and loved her before you were
born. That was why spoke of her, and
think it very natural myself. /"
He seemed to feel ashamed He grum-
bled out some sort of apology and looked
about quite helplessly, possibly for the
dog he manifestly was in the habit of
having forever at his heels I took adj
vantage of this look to smooth my own
ruffied features.
''She was beautiful GIRL" ] re-
marked on the principle that, the ice
once broken, it is not best to hesitate
about jumping in. "Was your father
equally handsome for a man?'
my father-yes, let's talk of father.
He was judge of horses, he was. When
he died, there were three mares in that
stable not to be beat this side of Albany,
but those devils of executors sold them,
and well, you had chance to test
the speed of old Bess yesterday. You
weren't afraid of being thrown out,
take it. Great Scott, to think of man
of my tastes owning no other horse than
thatn'
"You have not answered my ques-
tion," l suggested, turning him about
and moving toward the gate.
"Oh, about the way my father looked |!
What does that matter? He was hand
some though. Folks say that get what
ever good looks have from him. He
was big-bigger than am, and while
he lived What did you make fellow
talk for?''
don't know why 1 did, but / was
certainly astonished at the result. This
great, huge lump of selfish clay had ac-
tually shown feeling and was ashamed
of it, like the lout he was.
Yesterday" said !, anxious to
change the subject, II had difficulty in
getting in through that gate we are
pointing for. Couldn't you lift it
straight with just little effort?"
He paused, looked at me to see if I
were in earnest, then took logged step
toward the gate I was still indicating
with my resolute right hand, but before
he could touch it he saw something on
that deserted and ominous highway
which made him start in sudden sur
prise.
"Why, Trohm,' he cried, ''is that
you? Well, it's an age since have seen
you turn that corner ON visit to us. y
"Some time, certainly" answered a
hearty and pleasant voice, and before /
could quite drop the look of mingled
severity with which was endeavoring
to shame this young man into some de-
cent show of interest in this place and
assume the more becoming aspect Of a
lady caught unawares at an early morn
ing hour plucking flowers from stunt
ed syringa a gentleman stepped into
sight on the other side of the fence with
look and bow so genial and devoid
of mystery that experienced for the
first time since entering the gloomy pre-
cincts of this town complete sensation
of pleasure. .--------.--.-
"Miss Butterworth, explained Mr..
Knollys with somewhat forced gesture
in my direction. "a guest of my SIS
ter's, he went ON and looked as if he
hoped would retire, though he made
no motion to welcome Mr.. Trohm in,
but rather leaned little conspicuously
on the gate as If anxious to show that he
had no idea that the others intention
went any further than the passing Of n
few neighborly comments at the gate.
like to please the young even when
they are no more agreeable than this
host of mine, and if the gentleman who
had just shown himself had been equal
ly immature I would certainly have left
them to have their talk out undisturb-
ed, but he was not. He was older; he
was even of sufficient years for the
Judgment to have been thoroughly ma
tured and his every faculty developed.
therefore could not see why my So
ciety would be considered an intrusion
by him, so I waited and was the recipi-
emit of his next sentence.
II am happy" said he, Ito have the
pleasure of personal introduction to
Miss Butterworth. did not expect it.
The surprise is all the more agreeable.
I only anticipated being allowed to
leave this package and letter with the
maid. They are addressed to You, mad
am, and were left at my house by mis-
take"
could not hide my astonishment
81 live in the next house below, ;"
said he. 1.-THE boy who brought these
from the postofice-you see they are
registered mail matter, madam-was a
stupid lad, and could not induce him
to come any farther up the road hope
you will excuse the present messenger
and believe there has been no delay"
bowed with what must have seem
ed an distracted politeness The letter
was from New York, and, as strongly
suspected, from Mr.. Gryce. Somehow
this fact created in me an unmistakable
embarrassment. put both letter and
package in my pocket and endeavored
to meet the gentleman's eye with my
accustomed ease in the presence of
strangers. But, strange to say, had no
sooner done so than / saw that he was
No ,,xora ne bic 90 40 than rouca1f He