The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-23
Short Story Of
|Gbe Day. zs q e e -:

moment might come when his presence |
would be positively obnoxious, yet l |
could not get rid Of him He was We'll |
meaning in so far as he could be said
to have meaning, light-haired, long
legged.
He sat on the sofa and put himself into
thirty-two distinct attitudes, not one or
which was graceful. I could not exact
ly tell him to go, and anything short
of that he disregarded.
He wore a pink-striped waistcoat ana
blue tie.
He did not admire me; his idol was in
short frocks and fuzzy hair. Other boys
worship the seasoned belle, but his taste
in enslavers was the only peculiar thing
about him. I never cared for the very
young attached to me, and the very
Young despairing for another Is even
worse.
He did not even talk of her. I wished
he had. I would have sympathized to
the best of my power. Presumably L
was too antique in h1s estimation Il was
twenty-seven) to take an interest in SUCH
things I listened and wearied, and took
out the fancy work kept for the boy,
and never finished.
He spoke with the superior air of one
instructing the ignorant. I was. 1 am
afraid, absent-minded, and he languished
after awhile.
offered him sweets, and insulted him
into ruby blush.
After that he stared sadly at me, as If
he had come for no other purpose than
to feast his eyes for one last time on my
adored features.
Ho was very like the immortal Toots.
At last the conversation got upon its
legs, and, in rickety fashion, managed
to keep moving.
The marriage question (not the improp-
err marriage question: seemed to interest
him erea tly He did not ask for my adj
vice, but merely soliloquized at some
length He mentioned the desirability
Of early marriages; the tmpossibihty OF
asking a girl to share 10 shillings a week;
the expense of bringing up young fam
lily; there was the education OF the sons
and tho portion for the daughters.
"You would not educate them?" I IN
CURED smothering an incipient laugh.
He thought he would let them choose
between an education and an income.
Besides, they must mary"
ITO be sure" I assented "And there
might be grandchildren
A puzzled look crossed the Boys face;
he had not thought Of the grandchildren.
"Oh, that would be all right he said,
after short silence.
"a man is only responsible for his own
family. Directly responsible, Of course"
Here threaded a needle. But there Is
no harm in looking at things from all
Sides"
However, we had plunged too far into
futurity even for the Boy; he took an
other bypath from the same thorough
fare
81 think it very wrong for people to
throw obstacles IN the way Of marriage
he remarked solemnly.
"But on the other side," then said I,
at would never do to encourage the thing
too much; if the couple quarreled they
would lay the blame of the position to
you"
This was evidently a new idea; he pom
dered on it some time.
The Man came in and sat down and
waited.
people might sometimes interfere I'M
Intentionally" the Boy said refiectively
''They might I agreed-I hope not grim
ly.
The Man looked at the clock and fdget-
ed.
us that the right timer" he asked.
1.-TWO minutes slow" said the Boy.
| catch the S:25 train
My needle would not thread. Then I
said: so 5soonH' and when do you re-
turn?" .,
81 don't kow." he answered "It de-
pends.'
Don't get fever at the Rock" said the
Boy, paternally. ST have known such lots
Of fellows go off like you, and they never
| come back"
81 hope this will be an exception" I
said ooh, would no one take the Boy
away and bury himO
THANK you," said the Man
The Boy got up-was he going?
He merely looked at a photograph over
| the mantlepiece and sat down again.
THAT Is a nice-looking girl" he re-
| marked. Some people think appearance
everything. Now 1 notice carefully how
girl acts to everybody, and learn her all
around, then make up my mind"
Does 1t take long?" I inquired with
polite interest. I hope; how I longed
! to stick my crewel-needle into HIM.
Us" (the Boys mind had wander
ed.
ITO learn her all round?"
Not very long. OF course, IT de-
pends-"
The Man who had been staring at the
ceiling began to hunt savagely through
| six months old magazine.
(Ting -ting-ting- ting-ting ting
ting-ting).
| wished he would go-the Boy mean;
Oh! wished. Could one be diplomatic?
II wonder" I said, 81 wonder could
you post a letter for me?"
with the greatest pleasure" said the
| Boy. For the country"
Yes, for the country"
| (Ohl my evil starD
| ooh! that's all right" he said. 'T need
not run with it." Then, in an explana-
tory tone you see the next post out Is
tomorrow morning. Any time till 10 will
do"
My heart sank. The Man. who had
looked up hopefully, turned to the from
tispiece> once more.
If he would-would but absorb the con-
versation. there might still be chance.
Yet If the Boy found himself too well
entertained he might stay for ever. But
the Man was by this time in such a state
of nervous irritability as to be incapable
of conversation.
His very boots expressed his desire to
summarily eject the Boy. How 1 wish
he had
"Our friend is suffering already from
homesickness," said that wretched super
fluffy.
I laughed the tears into mine eyes, and
pricked myself badly
"Have you seen that sketch?" said the
Man at length, handing me the paper.
Something on the page written in pencil,
interested me considerably.
what IS that?" asked the Boy, con-
descendingly.
''Harper's,' said the Man.
'|Have they changed their cover, them"
he inquired; 'it will get mixed with Pear
sons
1T is Pearson's," said the Man; made
a mistake. What do you think of it?"
he turned to me.
TT seems bit startling" said the Boy.
1 looked up, and my eyes met the
Mans.
Have you a pencil?" I asked courage