Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-09
Ills WayWard Way:
He Was Double the Age Of
tho Girl Uc Loved, anu 1t
Troubled Him.
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Matthew Halliday sighed. She was
20 hayward, SD provoking, so lovnblc,
so pretty!
But he was much too old.
Matthew came from Quaker stock in
the City of Brotherly Love. He was
temperamentalIy sedate and at IS felt
himself to be quite Methuselab. Be-
sides she had, so TO speak, grown up at
Matthews knee, he having stood to her
and her brother in loco PARENTS for
something like IL years-ever since
Matthew's best beloved friend, How
ard JOY, took his invalid wife away for
n sea voyage, leaving his two children
in the good care of maiden aunt and
his business affairs in the safe hands
of Matthew Halliday, banker; ever
since the good ship Aurora went down
in n fearful gale In the West Indies.
But now the term of Matthew's self
imposed guardianship was over. How
ard JOY, Jr., had made successful
start In the world and was quite ready
to give dear old Mat any pointers lie
needed about life in general.
AS for Miss Evelyn Russell JOY as
she invariably and unabbreviatingly
subscribed herself whom Matthew
called Eve" or oftener Miss Idle
wild"-well, she, too, had made a sue
cessfu 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 its power
of winning love. she was coquette to
the finger tips. and she was most fair
to see. Besides all this she was q little
bit of an heress. and many swains
came riding by.
Matthew watched all this with a pa
tient sort of despair. "Fool!' he called
himself, with very hearty self con-
tempt.
1t was TO quash n darling plan Of his
pretty sisters that Howard stalked in
to Matthew's Office one morning, his
brow wrinkled in portentous frown.
Mat" he said abruptly. sit 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 1t Is no
great matter"
"But 1t is very bad for her." said
Howard. with 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 reck-
less about money matters and-other
| things"
| Matthew pricked up his ears. "What
other things"
'Why. it Is chiefly that playwriting
fellow, Duvnl. He has comedy to be
brought out in New York next week,
and about 20 young people here pro-
pose to make up party for the first
night Evelyn is among them. They
have rather good chaperon, as it hap
pens but
'She must not CO." said Matthew.
81 thought you'd see 1t that way"
Howard replied, with 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 overdrawn her account"
Two or three days after this visit of
Howards Miss Idlewild went down
town to see Matthew In his office at the
bank ION business" as she said de-
murely.
Give the poor cripple n dime?" she
said In her absurd way.
Certainly" said Matthew, with
grave politeness, and he took bright
new dime out of 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.
81 want some money--a lot of money,
In fact-for very special purpose.
! May have it?"
"A lot?" repeated Matthew.
Yes, that's 1t; at least hundred"
Matthew looked grave. "What ia
the special purpose:" hc inquired,
fervently hoping she would tell him all
about the proposed theater party.
"Fhats n secret said Miss Idle
wild, with an air OF mystery.
II cannot let yor have any money
Just now. Eve" be said gently after n
pause, and as he spoke he carefully
avoided her eye and stared with rapt
absorption at the carpet.
thereafter" continued Miss Idle.
wild. with n grand air, ~ vii! man
age my own money matters. Then
VIII know jus how mach | have aud
spend 1t as ! please without begging
for 1t. am Of age. and will not en-.
dure such treatment any longer"
All this She said in anger, never
dreaming that long suffering Matthew
would take her NJ her word
Very we'll" he said, and he was u
little pairr rs he spoke. ~ will take
steps to this end at once You win Ind
| have not abused my trust"
lncenscd as she was, Miss Idlewilds
head dropped with something like
shame at these words. Never in her
life had Matthew spoken TO her like
this, Never before had she felt abash
ed and frightened in his presence.
swift sense of his lldelty and her own
ingratltude rushed over her
,"Mauhew." she faltered. and she
took step forward. uGt he turned
away.
"You will pardon me IL l leave you,
he said formally. II am very busy this
morning"