Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-07

~ g vi
"I shall listen to nothing of that sort, SIR,
for q great mGny gears TO conle."
I've hardly had a word with you yet.
If you are not too tired, what do you
say to a good cigar before mounting
| brought some pretty fair ones In my
bag"
His guardian accepted the invitation
somewhat stif1y. Tom led the way to
his fathers study, and Matthews fol-
lowed. The lawyers stiffness was
largely due to the fact that Tom had
been leading the way all evening and
he following with docility. The con-
spicuous homage which he as glver OF
the feast and father Of the fair debu-
tante had looked forward to as his
own share Of sweets had been frankly
transferred to Rufus Broxton's son as
master Of the house.
Toms unexpected appearance on the
scene had given his guardians temper
the first rub the wrong way. His sub
sequent effusive reception by the old
neighbors had not proved modifying.
He had been hailed by his fathers
old friends as q coming social factor
of considerable local Importance and
had divided the honors of the evening
pretty evenly with Olivia, to that
young lady's smiling content, while lie
(Matthews), the maker Of the feast,
had been showed quite into the back
ground.
Apart from these minor pricks, the
lawyer realized with q start Of discom-
fort that from a sad, listless, plant
boy his ward had developed into a
vigorous, handsome young man, alert,
intelligent and the possessor Of de-
cided views Of his own on various sub
jects. Disagreeable vistas were open
ing ahead.
He should have liked very much in
deed to have pinched the youngsters
ears for speaking Of Miss Matthews as
"a dear little thing" but, that being
manifestly impracticable, he compro-
missed on q snubbing silence which
lasted until he came under the mellow
ing influence of a first rate cigar.
Toms satisfaction over the outcome Of
the fete flowed on worldly.
"Yes," said his guardian finally, with
the blase air Of man surfeited with
homage, 1T went off very we'll, nicely
enough. l am glad, however, that 1t
is over. | found it both troublesome
and expensive. Olivia must feel pref
ty well tagged by 1t ALL"
Tom smiled at the recollection OF
her sweet dropping lids and her candid
yawns, revealing rows Of white teeth.
81 fancy she will sleep without rock
ing tonight-today, rather. How pref
ty she looked in spite Of all she had
gone through! She has grown into q
lovely young woman while have been
grubbing at my Greek and Latin gram
mars. Why. it seems to me only yes
terday that | left her q little romp,
trundling her hoop and playing with
her dolls. The fellows will soon be-
Mr.. Matthews clipped this sentence
in two with sharp petulance.
"Not at all. not at all, Thomas. /
shall listen to nothing Of that sort,
sir, for q great many years to come.
1t is an absurd idea, and as such |
resent it, sIr-yes, resent it!'
Tom stared at him In natural sur
prise. Such an acrimonious outburst
from q man whom he had never seen
moved out Of the most urbane COM
posure lacked logic.
81 fail to see anything in my remarks
to call forth resentment, sir" he said,
with lifted head
Matthews changed the subject
abruptly.
"Your judgment in the matter Of
cigars. Thomas. defies criticism. This
is superfine."
He took the cigar from between his
lips, gazed refectively at its cohesive
white ash. f1icked 1t free with his fin
ger and gazed meditatively at the cell
ing. (
Tom gave a thoughtful twist to the
soft brown fringe that clothed his up
per lip with promises and changed the
position of his long legs restlessly.
Was this premature display Of pa
rental hostility meant for his especial
benefit? He smiled at the futility of It.
Did this ogre Of papa think he could
give the world one glimpse Of his ra-
diant child and then shut her up In his
own ravished heart forever? He frown-
ell at the daring Of it.
A vision Of the future was already
shaping itself in the boys active brain,
q vision which compOrted so perfectly
with what he called "the common sense
of the situation" that this valiant show
of opposition OH the part OF the man
he had selected as father-in-law had
the effect of a slap on his cheek. Tom
was not yet schooled in the wisdom OF
cheek turning. He would bide his time,
he said to himself, but he would not be