The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-11-23

d. F1lk1nS HOMOGENEOUS tones quay
cred suspiciously. What did you cry
for?' asked.
"'Because I c-c-couldn't marry her,
m-m-myself,' said he, 'w-w-which /
c-c-couldn't very well dido, n-n-now
c-c-could ~
"In spite of ]. Fillkins' evident per-
turbation of spirit l smiled as studied
his diminutive proportions which in
dictated corresponding tender years.
NO. said 1, you couldn't, l am sorry to
say. But go on. Tell me more about
Miss Sparks.
"'She's still looking for the poor man
that needs her. said ]. Filkins. She's
found plenty of them that seemed to
need her, but when it came to the pinch
none of them seemed to be of the right
stamp. They're not worthy. I guess
we must have given upward of hun
bred young men q trial during the
three years I've been with Miss Henri
eta, and every last one of them has
turned out wanting when weighed in
the balance with Miss Henrietta's re-
quirements. We've tried natural born
preachers, who wanted money to boost
them up to place where they could
preach good sermons to appreciative
audiences, teachers who wanted a
chance to teach, singers who wanted
chance to sing, and artists who wanted
chance to paint. Miss Henrietta al
ways picks out people who are capable
of having a career, as they call it, if
they could only break loose from their
environments That's the reason she
wrote to you. She felt sorry for you,
having lost your money and every
thing, and she thought maybe you was
the poor man she was destined to help
through marriage. But there comes
Miss Henrietta now added ]. Filkins
in whisper. Don't say anything to
her about my telling you all this. She
mightn't like it,
'As j. Filkins uttered this precau-
tionary remark he fastened out on the
front porch to meet Miss Henrietta
Mr.. Jackson's in there he said. He's
been here about half an hour. l enter
tanned him by talking
Miss Sparks patted J. Filkins' sleek
head fondly. That is right, j. Filkins,'
she said. Then she advanced toward
me with cordial greeting. l was al
ready sadly flustered by the thin boys
version of Miss Sparks
object in inviting me to call at 144
Hampstead avenue, and the question
she put to me in the beginning of our
81 ,I ID
sternation complete.
"'And now, she said, gravely, tell
me about your career that has been so
sadly spoiled. What was your hearts
desire which has been frustrated by
this cruel loss of property?'
IF Miss Sparks had fired cannon
ball at me from her own fair hands she
could not have fioored me more effec-
tually than with this question. Any
reference to my career touched me in
a tender spot, indeed. l had been par
ticularly annoyed at the Eagles refer
ance to my blighted life, and, consider
ng that | had no definite plans of a
particularly elevating nature in mind
at the time restitution overlook me,
had been seriously puzzled to make out
what the thrilling paragraph meant
But if l had been perplexed before l was
now completely overcome with confu-
sion. For moment ] stared at Miss |
Henrietta dumbly. The play of SYM
light on her pretty face lent |
me courage, however, and with gasp
hat l really feared would be my last,
said: Dear madam, it was the de-
sire of my life to study astronomy
"Whence came the inspiration that
prompted me to invent that whopper
cannot tell. Even as spoke realized
he enormity of my offense, and for
moment l seemed dazed with astonish-
nent at my own temerity. Soon | was
'ecalled to my senses, however, by Miss
Henrietta, who clapped her soft palms
with exhilarating joy.
"'That is splendid she said. 4 have
Inown men of almost every other pro-
ession, but you are the only pros
,ective astronomer whose acquaint-
lnce have formed. Mr.. jackson, am
lad to meet YOU
MISS sparks gentle gayety was con-
agious, and Notwithstanding the
Iualms of conscience 1 suffered from
lie deception practiced on SO charming
woman, /, too, soon threw off the pail
# depression and allowed my spirits
o effervesce in game of seven-up with
7. Filkins, who finally laid aside his
'wn funereal mien and emitted long,
MYSTERIOUS laughs sadly out otpropor-
ion with his thin sides. Miss Henri
tia had taken degree in the study of
stronomy, and she volunteered to be-
ONE my teacher. No other arrange
pant GOULD hava c,,ifad rr,a bal en- xraI1 |