Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-04-13

IN ANOTHER MOMENT HIS ARMS WERE
ABOUT HER.
twice, nor have bestowed a second
fhought upon him. Meeting him in tho
close familiarity of daily inter.
course, | looked at him many times,
ana soon grew TO think of him with a
fair degree of exclusiveness.
l am going TO make no secret of his
attraction for me- | am not the hero
Inc of this story, and my love affairs
are merely incidental to the true mar
Tative. | shall be honest and frank al
the outset of my acquaintance with
Darracott, and take the reader inn
mediately into my confidence, acknow-
lodging with no false mOdesty or re-
serve that | had not been thirty-six
hours beneath the same roof with him
before | had wholly changed my first
Impressions of him, and had fallen
under the charm of his personality.
This personality was strangely COM
pounded. 1t was an odd mixture of
contradictory qualities; and this Pc
culiar incongruity possibly was the
reason of the fascination it eXerted
over those who came to know him well.
For | do not think that strangers cared
for him at all, nor DO I think that
young girls in general would have
found him interesting. For there WAS
nothing of the naughty and mysterious
Hero about him. He was silent, and,
in company, an indifferent man. He
had certain tastes which strongly ap-
pealed to him, and concerning which
he waXed enthusiastic. Beyond these
tastes he appeared to feel little interest
in life, and | have often demonstrated
with him because he did not exert him
self to be more generally entertaining.
But he had done with that sort of
thing. he would reply: he was growing
an old man Ohe was, in point of fact,
thirty-nine years old and he meant in
future merely TO humor his own in
cGnations.
This would give one the impression
that he was selfish man, while. in
truth, self was his last consideration.
One of the characteristics which most
won me to him was rare and never
failing thoughtfulness, which antici-
pated the need of others almost be-
fore it was experienced. Yet | felt it
illustrative of the cOntrariety of his
nature that, while so considerate of the
small requirements of those about him,
he could yet have left one to whom
he was bound by the closest ties of
nature to Il desolate, lonely and bereft
old age.
One day, after Darracott had been at
home some ten days, | receiyed a note
from Mrs. Spencer, containing an in
vEation. or rather Il request, that |
should dine and pass the evening with
them upon the following day.
1--WE feel sadly forsaken of late" she
wrote David has grown dull and dis
spirited and | am too old Il story 10
entertain him. Do come and cheer us
up. there's II good child. David will
bring you safely home, if you will al
loW him to do So"
1t happened that, as | was presenting
the case to the Madam and asking for
leave of absence, her son entered the
room. Observing that | was reading
letter, he was about to withdraw
with Il word of apology, but | prevent
cd him
1T is nothing but n note of invita-
tiop," l said. ''Do not go. | shall be
Though in n moment. May | finish?'
When l concluded the note | dis
covered that he was regarding me with
a look of unusual interest in his eyes.
$50 you are Il familiar friend of the
SpencerS," he remarked. How are
they-David and his motherY"
Well" | answered. "Shall l go,
Madam?'
"-Of course, my child"
DO you really think you are capa-
bic of cheering up manE Darracott
Asked in Il bantering tone. Il have not
seen Spencer for years; is he become
one of the lugubrious sort?''
| repudated the suggestion with SO
much spirit that perhaps the warmth
OF my manner implied particular in
terest in the man | was defending,
for my interlocutor laughed knowingly,
which so filed me with IA desire 10
prove Indifference to David Spencer
that | was inspired to make IA most
unusual request of my mistress.
"Could Holmes drive in for me about
ten o'clock. MADAME" | asked. Il
should prefer not to trouble DR.. Spen-
Ger to see me home"
She gave a ready assent, but her son
continued to tease me by begging me
to consider the doctors disappoint-
ment.
"You will simply be forced to go back
the next day and cheer him up again."
he protested. What a mission you
have found in life, Miss Lothrop,
Mother, you are not half so solicitous
for my welfare as Mrs. Spencer is for
Dayid'S. | have never heard you sug-
gest that Miss Lothrop should exert her
sef To cheer me up. Why is it? Have
not as great need of cheering as
David Spencer or is it that there is a
difference in the Golicitude of moth
crs?"
INs tone, which had been of jesting
character in the beginning of his
speech. had grown hard and bitter as
he concluded. | saw there was some
plain to his mother, but
by me, that gave
sharp and stinging emphasis to his
otherwise careless words. Before he
had fairly finished speaking, however,
| EAew that he repented his cruelty.
Nothing less than cruelty could have