Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-20


a moment, then she spoke. had nevei
heard Maureen's voice with that in
Election in my life; she was actually
serious.
"My dears," she said, and she slipped
one hand into mine and another intC
my wife's, you've been very good tC
me all my life" and there was a Thrill
in her voice as she said it which made
my eyes grow suddenly dim. I've lost
both father and mother, but you have
been to me so kind that never missed
either-can l say more? But don't
make me do this thing. What is the
idea? l shall be rich some day, and
know you think me pretty, therefore
you would like me to make a grand
marriage. l don't care if | marry or
don't. but I'm quite sure it would be
hateful to live in dirty old city, and
Pm not going to do it, so that is quite
settled, isn't it?"
During the first quarter Of her speech
imy wife and l held our breaths-it was
so unlike the Maureen of every day
but the windup held family likeness
to speeches we had often heard and
we felt that we were treading familiar
ground once more.
"Then you won't CO." / said.
Indeed, | won't" she replied, and
then there was vision of gathered
skirts and tiny feet, for Maureen had
departed by the way she had come.
My wife and looked at each other
and gave a sigh of relief.
Il hate the city" she said, sudden
ly, but thought it was my duty to
take her there"
'Just what I felt myself" l told her,
"but apparently we won't have to up-
root ourselves after all; you see, she
has made up her mind"
at never takes her long to do that"
III she made up her mind to marry
anybody, for instance, and we didn't
approve" she suggested, what could
we do?"
My face. ] presume, presented a
blank for my wife jumped up and
went out of the room laughing.
Maureen wasn't my only care, either.
had a son called Tom, and he was
as wild as a hawk, so / need hardly say
that he and my ward hunted in couples.
He was a year or two younger than
she was, but he would have followed
her to the moon willingly had there
been path there, and there had never
been an eseapade of hers in which Tom
had not had his full share.
/ had had tutors for him. but one |
after another these gentlemen had in
formed me that--well. one of them had |
insinuated that had better engage |
one of the wild beast tanners from a
travelling menagerie, as such person |
might succeed in instrueting Tom.
For an ordinary man it was a hopeless
task, he said, to attempt to teach him
anything.
My wife had wan ned me not to en-
gage any young man as tutor this time.
Now Maureen is grown up" she said,
''your own common sense will tell you
that il wouldn't do at ALL"
l agreed hastily, and sat down to ac-
cept the suggestion of friend who
had proposed sending me certain
Prof. Bryant, who, my friend said, was
quite clever at dealing with boys. l
had visions of spectacles and brain
stuffed with classical lore, of some
old dry-as-dust specimen Of humanity,
and gave sigh Of sympathy with Tom.
| remembered my own mad youth, and
understood him better than most peo-
pie could, except Maureen.
But the boy must learn; he was go
ing to college soon TO prepare himself
for the bar, and he needed preliminary
tuition.
MY letter was written and duly dis
patched. my terms were accepted by
Prof. Bryant" and few days later
came telegram announcing his ar
rival.
| had spoken to Maureen about it,
and she had coaxed Tom into state Of
quiescence, which was a shade better
than the open rebellion which he usu-
ally showed to new arrivals of the
genus tutor.
l sent a carriage to the station to
meet the professor, and stayed at home
TO receive him.
went out to the hall when heard
the wheels on the drive, and shall
never forget my feelings of surprise
when the professor" came into the
lamp-lit room. He was six foot three
at least-a fair-haired blue-eyed gi-
ant, and il he was more than six and
twenty, Fm-well, add to that the fact
that he was the most attractive man I
ever saw in my life, and You win under.
stand that, as he stood there facing me
in his rough tweed suit, | was mentally
What will Molly (my wife, say?"
What she did say was so Different
from what ! expected that was
struck dumb. and only stared at her.
for the hundred thausandth
time at the inconsistency OF women.
She just looked at me. her ewes
bright, and her cheeks quite pink. and
she said:
Hes the handsomest man I ever