Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-06-21
! His Wayuard Way
ue Was Doubie t.,o Age Of
the Girl lie Loved. and 1t
Troubled Him.
e.@.o.a.a.4.e.e.4.~.~.e.e.a.l

" v w " v v " v w rs v ' y "
Matthew Halliday sighed. She was
50 wayward so provoking, 80 lovablc.
SO pretty!
But he was mach too old.
Matthew came from Quaker stock in
tho City of Brothcrly Love. He was
tcmperamcnt:l!y scdalc and at is felt
himself to lee quite Mcthusclah BE
sides she had, so TO speak. grown up ut
Matthew's knee, lie having stood to her
and her brother in loco PARENTS for
something like II years ever since
Matthew's best beloved friend, How
ard Joy, took his invalid wife away for
n sea voyage, leaving his two children
in the good care of Il maiden aunt and
his business affairs in the safe hands
of Matthew Halliday, banker; ever
since the good ship aurora went down
in Il fearful gale in the West Indies.
But now the term of Matthew's self
imposed guardianship WAS over. How
ard Joy. Jr., had made Il successful
start in the world and was quite ready
to give dear old Mat any pointers he
needed about life i'm general.
AS for Miss Evelyn Russell Joy. as
she Invariably and unabbrcviatingly
subscribed herself, whom Matthew
called Eve or oftoner Miss Idle
wild"-well, she, too, had made sue
ccssful start in life after the manner
of girls. She was 10 c.,Iust half my
age" Matthew often dsmally reflect
eD. She had charm with all its power
of winning love, she was coquctte TO
the finger tips, and she was most fair
to see. Besides all this she was n little
bit of an hcircss, and many SWANS
came riding by.
Matthew watched all this with pa
ticnt sort of despair. "Fool.' he called
himself with very hearty self con-
tempt
1t was 10 quash darling plan of his
pretty sisters that Howard stallSed in
to Matthew'S office one morning, his
brow wrinllcd i'm a portcntous frown.
Mat he said abruptly, "it seems to
me Evelyn has been spending money
like tho deuce lately. Haven't you
been letting her draw her interest
ullcaQ OIL tll!lc
Sometimes she has anticipated
little" he said slowly, but it is no
great NATTER
'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 a butterfly. She
ought to learn to live within her in
come. And she is becoming quite rock
less about money matters and-othcr
things"
Matthew prcked up his cars. "What
other things!"
why, it is chiefly that playwriting
fellow, Duval He has Il comedy to be
brought out in New York next week,
and about 90 young people here pro-
pose TO make up q party for the first
night Evelyn is among them. The,
have Il rather good chaperon, as it hap.
pens, but
"She must not co." said Matthew.
~ thought you'd see it that way
Howard replied, With 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 ovcrdrawn her account"
TWO or three days after this visit of
Towards Miss Idlcwild went down
town to see Matthew in his office at the
bank "on business" as she said de-
murcly.
Give the poor cripple dime:" she
said in her absurd way.
Certainly" said Matthew, with
grave politencss, and lie took bright
new dime out of a little roll of coins
fresh from the mint and handed 1T to
her. SO she looked little disconnected
and abandoned this method of attack.
Matthew, am bankrupt, insolvent,
forced to make an assignment" she
said In Il plaintive spoiled child tone.
II want some money-a lot of money,
IN factor very special purpose.
| May have it!"
IA lot?' repeated Matthew.
Yes, that's it; at least hundred"
Matthew looked grave. what is
the special purposc:' he inquired
fervently hoping she would tell him ali
about the proposed theater party.
That's secret" said Miss Idle.
wild, with an air of mystery.
II cannot let you have any money
just now, Eve" he said gently after a
pause, and as he spoke he carefully
avoided her eye and stared with rapt
absorption at the carpet.
"Heleafter," continued Miss Idle
Wild, with grand air, 81 will man
age my own money matters. Then
VIII know just how much have and
spend 1T as l please without begging
for it. am of age and will not on
dure such treatment any longer"
All this she said in anger, never
dreaming that long suffering Matthew
would take her at her word.
Very we'll" lie said, and he was {;
little paler as he spoke. ~ will take
steps to this end at once. You will iin(
have not abused my trust"
lncensed us she was, Miss Idlewild's
head dropped with something Xix,
shame at these words. Never in he,
life had Matthew spoken to her like
this. Never before had she felt abash
ed and frightened in his presence. !,
swift sense Of his fidelity and her owl
ingratitude rushed over her.
Matthew" she faltered, and sh,
took a step forward, but he turned
away.
"You will pardon me if / leave you,
he said formally. 81 am very busy thi
morning."
i, he held the door open for her, an,