The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-06-29
:HiS WayWard Way:
He Was Double the Ago Of
the Girl He Loved, and II
Troubled Him.

~'~'H'~'v'~'H'~'
Matthew Halliday sighed. She was
SO wayward, SO provoking, so lovable,
% pretty!
But he was much too old.
Matthew came from Quaker stock In
the City of Brotherly Love. He was
temperamentally sedate and at 3S felt
himself to be quite a 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 IL years-ever since
Matthew'S best beloved friend, How
ard Joy, took his invalid wife away for
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 fearful gale in the West Indies.
But now the term of Matthews 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
she invariably and unabbreviatingly
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 "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 little
bit Of an heiress, 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 darling plan Of his
pretty sisters that Howard stalked in
to Matthews 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 it is no
great matter"
But 1t is very bad for her." said
Howard, with a parental air. "You
know yourself, Mat, she has no more
idea of business than 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 thingsT'
"Why, 1t Is chiefly that playwriting
fellow, Duval. 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, butt
"She must not Co." said Matthew.
II thought you'd see it 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
Howard's 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 q dime" she
said in her absurd way.
Certainly" said Matthew, with
grave politeness, and he took bright
new dime out Of a little roll Of coins
fresh from the mint and handed II 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 very special purpose.
May have it?"
"a LOTT" repeated Matthew.
"Yes, that's 1t; at least a hundred"
Matthew looked grave. "What is
the special purpose" he inquired,
fervently hoping she would tell him oil
about the proposed theater party.
THAT'S secret" said Miss Idle
wild, with an air Of mystery.
Il cannot let you have any money
Just now. Eve" he said gently after 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 grand air, II will man.
age my own money matters. Then
will know just how much I have and
spend 1t as please without begging
for 1t. 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. II will take
steps to this end at once. You will find
I have not abused my trust"
Incensed as she was. Miss Idlewild's
head dropped with something like
shame at these words. Never in her
life had Matthew spoken to her like
~ l.