Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-12-01

LO " Rhy 4e
otherwise-seized a favorable oppor-
tunity and whisked her fond father
into a corner of his library, and there
gave him to understand hat in eastern
circles the housekeeper might some
times, perhaps, accompany the young
ladies when they were going shopping,
or the like, alone, but that when
escorted by papa it was quite unneces'
sary. 1t was, in fact, not at all con-
ventional.
"Bless my soul!" said Folsom. II
supposed that was what she was for.
What did these women mean by tell
ing me I must have a companion-a
guide, ETC."
"They meant, you blessed daddy,
that they wished to provide you with
-one Of their number, and me-with
something I do not want. 1t Mrs.
Fletcher is to be housekeeper, I have
nothing to say, but-don't you think
your big daughter old enough and
wise enough to select her own COM
panions? Daddy DEAR" she continued,
after a little pause, and nesting close
to him with q pathetic look in the big
brown eyes, her lips twitching a bit,
II know how loving and thoughtful
YOU have been in all this, and /
wouldn't have you think me migrate
full, but-did you believe was always
going to be a little girl? What do
YOU suppose I studied housekeeping
for at school? Mrs. Fletcher is en-
gagged, l presume, and I can't ask you
to undo that now, but 1 wish you had
written to me first. However, if you
don't mind, there's somebody I'd
rather you would invite to take the
fourth seat to-day, and then you can
have Pappoose beside you, if you
wish."
"Why, of course, sweetheart. any
one you like"
"Lieut. LOOMS, then, daddy-the Of
icer we met on the train. Jessie likes
him, and he's such a friend of her
brother-the only one we have yet
seen who seems to know him at all
Then you could ask him to dinner
too"
Folsom's face was a study. Doubt
and perp!exity both were twitchine
in the little muscles about his lips.
"We met three officers, did we not
Elinor, and I had thought-somewhat
of-asking the major and his guest
He said he wished to call. He wa
here while we were driving yesterday
I met him later"
eyes, l saw his card" was the hur
ried, Indifferent answer. "But they
are not like Mr.. Loomis. Daddy, l die
not at all like that Capt. Newhall, o.
for that matter"
"They both seemed prodigiousl.
struck with you," said Folsom, in mis-
guided confidence, yet p%ardonabl
pride. "They've done nothing but tall
to me about you ever since"
"They did nothing but talk to m
all the way over the mountains, ex
cept when they were out taking wha
I have reason to believe was an occa
sional drink, daddy mine. Jess ha'
Mr.. LOOMS to herself. They hav
found your weak spot, daddy. The,
: know you love to talk of your daugh
ter. You have only known Maj. Bur
leigh a little while. Is it not so"
"Only within the year, perhaps
though of course I've heard of him
, great deal"
!. "And this Capt. Newhall. whose reg
iment is in Louisiana while he's on
here on leave-I thought officers wen
east when they got leave"
"Newhall a y he's out looking owe
!, some mining schemes. He has none
. to invest, l believe"
: Gle should invest some money in
travelling suit, daddy, dear. That coz
y and his linen seemed woefuhy out {
condition. Gentlemen are not carr
less about such matters"
ooh, he explained that his trunk
4 were delayed in Omaha or somewhere
and were coming along next train.
own l was prejudiced against hin
too, but of course if he's a friend an
guest of Burleigh's he-he must be a
right. He's staying with him at tn
Il depot"
"And you've got to invite them
- dinner?" asked Miss Folsom, after al
. other pause, during which she ha
been thinking deeply.
y "Not if you don't want it, pet.
course they'll expect it. Army Officer
are hospitable, you know. Burleig
g has asked me to dine with him a do
~ en- times, though I've only been thel
:, once.'
n "Then you'll have to invite hi1
o. daddy" was the answer, with quit
It decision. only. just wait for a de
,r or two. Capt. Newhall was goir
right out to the mines, he said, al
" there may be others we'd be glad
ID have. Jessie's brother ought to
f. here any hour"
=. "Yes," said Folsom, obviously. ~
n. been thinking about him-I've be-
wishing"
~ But he hesitated and faltered al
A.. could not meet the deep brown eye
so full of searching inquiry and ke'
It intelligence.
you've been thinking-what, ola
10 dy?" she asked, and now her slend
IL hands were on his shoulders and S
"a was turning him SO that she cou
as study his face. "You have been hef
ing something you do not wish
r. to know, daddy, dear. I heard Nj
ID Burleigh say something to Mr.. Loon
~ r =.