The Press., 1900-12-06

SO pretty!
But he was much too old.
Matthew came from Quaker stock In
the City of Brotherly Love. He was
temperamentalIy sedate and at 3S felt
himself to be quite 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 Tor
something like II years-ever since
Matthew's best beloved friend, How
ard Joy, took his invalid wife away Tor
q sea voyage, leaving his two children
In the good care of a maiden aunt and
his business affairs In the safe hands
of Matthew Halliday, banker; ever
since the good ship Aurora went down
In a fearful gale in the West Indies.
But now the term of Matthew's 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
rallied Eve" or oftener Miss Idle
wild"-well, she, too, had made sue
cessful start in life after the manner
of girls. She was 10 C"Just half my
age" Matthew often dismally reflect
ed). She had charm with all it's power
Of winning love, she was coQuette to
the finger tips, and she was most fair
to see Besides all this she was q little
bit of an heiress, and many SWANS
came riding by.
Matthew watched all this with pa
tent 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 Matthew's Office one morning, his
brow wrinkled in a portentous frown.
Mat" he said abruptly, "it 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 it 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 things?'
why, it 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.
81 thought you'd see it that way"
Howard replied, with a 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
Towards 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 a dimeY' 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 it to
her. So she looked a 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 factor very special purpose
May have it?"
"a lot?" repeated Matthew.
Eyes, that's it; at least a hundred"
Matthew looked grave. what IL
the special purposeY he inquired
fervently hoping she would tell him al
about the proposed theater party.
''That's a secret" said Miss Idle
wild, with an air of mystery.
II cannot let you have any money
Just now, Eve" he said gently after 6
pause, and as he spoke he carefully
avoided her eye and stared with rap1
| absorption at the carpet.
Thereafter" continued Miss Idle
wild, with a grand air, Il will man
age my own money matters. Then
will know just how much l have anC
spend it as 1 please without begging
for it. am of age, and l will not en-
i dure such treatment any longer"
All this she said in anger, never
dreaming that long suffering Matthew
would take her at her word.
every WELL" he said, and he was 6
little paler as he spoke. 81 will take
steps to this end at once. You will Enc
| have not abused my trust"
Incensed as she was, Miss Idlewild's
head dropped with something ikt
shame at these words. Never in he
life had Matthew spoken to her Xix,
| this. Never before had she felt abash
ed and frightened in his presence. 4
swift sense of his fidelity and her owl
| tngratitude rushed over her.
"Mattheww she faltered, and sh,
took a step forward, but he turned
away.
AOu VIII pdlOOA Iuc IL l. 1chVS yOus
he said formally. 81 am very busy thi
morning."
He held the door open for her, ant
with burning cheeks she hurried out
and no.word was spoken by either al
they parted.
Poor Matthew was cut to the heart.
Certainly she tried to make amend
to him in a thousand ways. Indeed
her manner to him was so much gen
tier that he began to think she ha(
guessed his secret-that she pitied him
Matthew lived only about half {
block from the Joys, and Evelyn wa!
in the habit of running in and out Of
his house as if it were her own. Sht
was very special pet Of Miss Abby
Matthews maiden sister, who KEEP
house for him.
Matthew went into his study one
evening about 8 o'clock and closed thu