Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-16
uMR. SPENS."


"I'ye always brought you up to ex-
pect that / would do something for
you, Rupert, and will-but confess
/ am disappointed. AS my heir you
would have right to aspire to almost
any marriage but the daugh-
ter of country rector, one Of seven
children, nobody in particular, no
connections
''She's the most beautiful creature
you ever saw
"Of course" said Sir Spenthorne Car
nae drily. THAT goes without say
ing
"Wait till you see her, Uncle Spen.'
I'm beginning to be quite fired with
curiosity If she's all you say, my boy,
/ wonder what she saw in you" The
tall old man, with the iron gray hair
and long mustache. shading a well cut,
expressive mouth. smiled as he looked
down at his nephew. IF l were a
woman l should prefer some one over
five foot six
"All women don't worship thews and
sinews," said Rupert Carnac impatient
ly.
Lucky for you they don't, my boy.
Well, you really think the beauty cares
for you? You don't imagine that the
fact of your being my heir has any
thing to do with it?'
Rupert smiled a fatuous smile, which
made his uncle long to shake him.
you think yourself very worldwise,
Uncle Spen, and all that, don't you
know; but you're on the wrong tack
this time. l told them nothing about
cepted me / presume it's for myself"
''H'm-the daughter of country
parson, seven brothers and sisters, etc.
However, will see the girl for
myself. And so that she should not be
on her good behavior-rich uncle and
all that, don't you know-I'll go down
to SISTED and stay at the inn. There's
trout stream, and I'll be supposed to
be attracted by the fishing. Nobody
need find out who l really am and
can easily make acquaintance with the
parson."
Yes, If you go to church he will
probably call"
Sir Spenthorne Carnac intimated that
ne was prepared to make even that
sacrifice in the interests Of his nephew.
And as the two men separated on the
steps of the Naval and Military. the
stalwart old soldier could not help once
more wondering what the deuce the
girl Gf she was all Rupert said could
have seen in the little chap.
Certainly, SIR you can have the
looms, and the fishing is especially
good just now"
well, that just suits me. Can /
nave some dinnery
''Yes, sir; certainly, sir. Err what
name did you say?'
"Spens."
THANK you. sir"
AS the landlady left the room Sir
Spenthorne Carnac walked up to the
diamond paned windows of the little
Inn parlOr, and looked across the road
to where stood small white house.
The abode, he knew from his nephew's
description, of the rector. Presently
down the dusty road came girl
dressed in white, tall and finely pro-
portioned figure clad in plain serge,
with sailor hat. The way the girl
carried her head impressed Sir Spen-
thorne.
BY Jove, l suppose that's one of
Lord LADDERS daughters" he said to
himself. II know they live some
where hereabout. Now, IL Rupert had
fancied girl like that"
The girl was coming up the garden
path, and Sir Spenthorne caught sight
Of great brown eyes, chestnut hair, and
complexion like wild rose.
''Yes, Miss MerieI, dear?"
Can you let us have some eggsr"
''Only few, Miss Meriel. We've got
gentleman come here for the fishing,
and I'll be wanting them for him. He's
real gentleman"
Sir Spenthorne smiled in his long
gray mustache at this description of
himself. who was that? he asked
Of Mrs. Bartlett after the departure
of the young lady.
"That's Miss Meriel Ray, the daugh.
ter of the rector"
"a great favorite in the village, ]
suppose?"
miss Meriel, sir-we call her the
Ray of sunshine, bless herr'
The good woman enlarged for some
time on Miss Meriers projections, and
was perhaps surprised at the extraor
binary patience with which her guess
listened TO her long story.
II wonder this charming young lady
has not married" said Sir Spenthorne
"Well, now, SIR" said Mrs. Bartlett
confidentially, ''there is young mar
he be n bit understood, to be sure
but Mr.. Ray would be glad to see on,
of his daughters married-he has sever
children, you must know, and gals ar,
not just so easy to settle nowadays
And IL Is said I'm the villag,
that Miss Meriel she's doing 1t I,
please her pa, and make room for he
younger sisters. But here's your din
ner sir"
Sir Spenthorne walked up and dow
before the door of the inn smoking, re
fiecting on Rupert and his love AFFAIRS
1t certainly was astonishing to see tn
sort Of men women will marry-aston
s.lt--s H. xy,c cxr.ov.- eide ~ x1,o 700.