The Worthington advance., 1901-02-08

indeed! breakfast Irregular, dinner
at no particular hour, and everything
at skies and sevens! I'm not used to
it. and it upsets my digestion. Be-
sides-there's that nephew of mine!
1 suppose boys must exist, but they re
a prodigious nuisance. l told my sis
ter I'd try six months with her, and
I've tried 'em. Now I'll 60 back to old
Mrs. Pry's boarding house, and my
second-story front room, with the
CRATE fire and the weather strips in
every window. My six months are up
on the 14th of February, and on the
14th of February I'll go!"
The major was q stout, short old gen.
tleman, with shining bald head, a
bumpy forehead, light blue eyes, which
always seemed as if they would touch
his spectacle glasses, and frost-white
mustache. He was an inveterate old
bachelor, with all the subtle ways and
habits of old bachelorhood, and had
money to leave-at least so said the
tongue of popular rumor-and he had
also furtive suspicion that all the
ladies were in league against his sin
gle blessedness.
It'll write to Mrs. Pry." said the
major; and accordingly he sat down
and wrote. succinctly:
MY Dear Madam: am heartily sick
of this sort of life. Will you take me?
II it isn't convenient don't mind saying
so. I prefer the second-story front room.
No piano practice, no cold dinners, no
neglect about my shirt buttons-you un-
derstand my idiosyncrasies. and will
doubtless accede to them. Please let me
spectfully,
milo MIDGEFIELD."
II think that expresses my ideas
pretty fairly" said Maj. Midgefeld; as
he read the letter over, not without
complacency. eyes, yes. pretty fairly.
Now, what is that woman Pry's first
name? I've got it signed to some of
my receipts upstairs, and I do like
things to be shipshape and precise"
And. leaving his letter neatly fold
ed on the table, in a shining, smooth
envelope, the major trotted upstairs
to find out whether old Mrs. Pry's name
was Paulina, Patience or Parthenia,
all three of which names buzzed, like
familiar bees, in his brain.
II know it's one of the three, he said
to himself. "But suppose it wouldn't
do to write 'em all down and let the old.
woman take her choice!"
No sooner had the major vacated the
study than in rushed Master julius
Carey, only son and heir of the Rev.
Joseph Carey, and the aforesaid
nephew whose boyish peculiarities
were so trying to the major.
:"Where is it?" bawled Master julius,
promising youth of IA. "Where's my
valentine? Mother wouldn't let us
come in while Uncle Midgefield was
here, and now I'll have to step lively
to catch the post. Where is it. say !?
do hope Uncle Midgefeld hasn't been
sending it of to any pretty girl on the
sly"
my dear julius" demonstrated Mrs..
Carey, pretty, faded little woman,
with colorless eyes. hair in crimping
papers, and shabby cashmere wrap
per, trimmed with imitation lace.
Its just like him." said Master
Julius. mo fox so sly as an old fox.
Oh, here it is! I say, mother, can you
lend me postage stamp?" @.yr.;
And, amounting with his tongue the
gummy flap of Maj. Midgefeld's brief
letter to Mrs. .Pry, he addressed it
With many fourishes to miss Adela
Forester, No. - street."
wont she be pleased" said Julius.
Il picked out the very prettiest little
vx)entine ia the store Cupid hiding
under 9 wreath Of roses, and Il love
you,' In golden letters, coming out Of
4 his quiver. ! chose it because Il va