The Delawarean., 1900-06-30
His WayWard Way.
He Was Double the Age of
the GNrl He Loved, and 1T
Troubled Him.
sA.A.N.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.N.A

Matthew Halliday sighed. She was
SO wayward, so provoking, so lovable,
SO pretty!
But he was much too old.
Matthew came from Quaker stock in
The City of Brotherly Love. He was
temperamentally sedate and at SO felt
himself to be quite Methuselah. Be
sides she had, so to speak, grown UP at
Matthew's knee, he having stood to her
and her brother in loco PARENTS for
something like 12 years-ever since
Matthews best beloved friend, How
ard Joy, took his invalid wife away for
q sea voyage, leaving his two children
IN the good care of q maiden aunt and
his business affairs in the safe hands
of Matthew Halliday, banker; ever
since the good ship Aurora went down
in fearful gale in the West Indies.
But now the term of Matthew's self
Imposed guardianship was over. How
ard Joy, Jr., had made a successful
start in the world and was quite ready
to give dear old Mat any pointers he
needed about life in general.
AS for Miss Evelyn Russell JOY, as
subscribed herself, whom Matthew
called Eve" or oftener "Miss Idle
wild''-well, she, too, had made sue
cessful start in life after the manner
of girls. She was 10 C'Just half my
age" Matthew often dismally reflect
ed). She had charm with all it's power
of winning love, she was coquette to
A11a fincar. fins on6 cho xuac most 70 iy,
to see. Besides all this she was little
bit of an heiress, and many swains
came riding by.
Matthew watched all this with a pa
tient sort of despair. "Foolw he called
himself, with very hearty self con-
tempt.
1t was to quash darling plan Of his
pretty sisters that Howard stalked in
to Matthew's Office one morning, his
brow wrinkled in a portentous frown.
Mat" he said abruptly, "it seems to
me Evelyn has been spending money
like the deuce lately. Haven't you
been letting her draw her interest
ahead of timer"
Sometimes she has anticipated-a
little" he said slowly, "but it is no
great matter"
''But it is very bad for her." said
Howard, with a parental air. "You
know yourself, Mat, she has no more
idea of business than a butterfly. She
ought to learn to live within her in
come. And she is becoming quite reclz-
less about money matters and-other
things"
Matthew pricked up his ears. "What
other thingsY'
''Why, it is chiefly that playwriting
fellow, Duval. He has a comedy to be
brought out in New York next week.
and about 20 young people here pro-
pose to make up a party for the first
night Evelyn is among them. They
have rather good chaperon, as it hap
pens, but
"She must not 60" said Matthew.
Il thought you'd see it that way"
Howard replied, with a satisfied air.
$50 all you have to do when she de-
mands money for this expedition is to
say No You can do this because she
has oyerdrawn her account"
Two or three days after this visit Of
Howard's Miss Idlewild went down
town to see Matthew in his office at the
bank ION business" as she said de-
imurely.
GIVE the poor cripple dime?" she
said in her absurd way.
Certainly" said Matthew, with
grave politeness, and he took a bright
new dime out of a little roll of coins
fresh from the mint and handed it to
her. So she looked little disconnected
and abandoned this method Of attack.
Matthew, / am bankrupt, insolvent,
forced to make an assignment" she
said IN plaintive, spoiled child tone.
Il want some money-a lot Of money.
in fact-for a very special purpose.
May 1 have itY
"A lot| repeated Matthew.
Yes, that's it; at least a hundred"
Matthew looked grave. "What is
the special purpose" he inquired,
fervently hoping she would tell him all
about the proposed theater party.
That's a secret" said Miss Idle
wild, with an air of mystery.
Il cannot let you have any money
JNSS AONJ AAfNg AlG cdlQ SpuIlY HlIer a,
pause, and as he spoke he carefully
avoided her eye and stared with rapt
absorption at the carpet
Hereafter" continued Miss Idle
wild, with a grand air, "I will man
age my own money matters. Then 1
will know just how much 1 have and
spend it as l please without begging
for it. / am of age, and l will not en-
dure such treatment any longer
All this she said in anger, never
dreaming that long suffering Matthew
would take her at her word
"VerY WELL" he said, and he was a
little paler as he spoke. 81 will take
steps to this end, at once. You will find
have not abused my trust"
Incensed as she was.s Miss Idlewild's
head dropped with something like
shame at these words Never in her