Daily camera., 1901-05-17

must think out way to make him
break his engage ment with met ]
know ] c..r't use this let or ms rra-
son. would never drfy you into
position of such Illumination. l.
l have it! Listen"
1t was after midnight when Miss
| Harr,or's hair had been properly
brus ned-ala NJ dora's, 700, by TIE
way. ketufah shook her head at the
cracking notes extended. "You may
take the money" her mistress said.
"You are doing me favor ms well
as Miss Verne"
The next day Thomas Elder sitti: z
down to his desk, trim, wel1clnd,
| shrcwd-faccd, alert. pounccd on one
particular envelope out of the pile
awaiting his sinspec'ion. Alarge square
envelope of ralcst azure, with sill
yer seal, ard the vagrant odor OF
mignonette clinging to it.
From Medora!" murmurcd Mr..
Elder. placidly. From my Mcdora!"
He was charmed at the contents.
To call at fve-to meet her mother,
who had that day arrived from New
York! And was anxious to meet
him! Ah-certainly, 1t was Medora
herself-Mcdora exquisite in street
gown of crimson cloth and black
marten-who met him in the little
receptionroom.
mol can't go with you! You
must meet mamma alone!" He found
her bashfulness enhancing. "She is
in the library. She is expecting you.
Go right I'M"
The sutor boldly did rs bidden. In
the waning light of the winter day
the room was shadowy A gaunt,
red-visaged creature in a gown of
parrot-green confronted him. A
mighty hand crushed his. a pair OF
sharp gray eyes pierced his soul.
Glad to meet you, Thomas Eldo-'
Hope you'll make a good son-in-law.
| suppose Medora has told you I'm
coming TO live with you! That's
IlE Hi. ibu aiNh hiId4h VI
cats. are you? I've got tame one
tina, will eat out of your hand. Be
sure you get n good southern room
in the house for my birds. Three
I've three of them. They never stop
singing IL they get light enough. I've
been gadding around the world so
much I've gathered some live curl
osities-bargains, | call them. 1t was
such comfort TO me to know Me-
dora was going TO get married, so
I'd have a place TO keep my pets.
Not" critically, that | think she
did the best she could have done
with her looks! I'll give you good
diet of vegetables-bes kind of diet
for you. I'm n vegetarian. you know.
No meat in my house! Medora says
she told you lost my money in that
wheat failure Didn't tell you all
the fortune she had was swallowed
M in that Bank of Gilead crash?
No-didn't tell you that? I'm sur
prised, Well. il don't make any diff
ference to you, son-in-law! Day not
named yet? oh, wc'll have to hurry
thingsi"
Escape Thomas Elders finally ef-
fected How he never knew. So eN-
cited was he that some sound in an
ad joining room seemed to reaclve it
self Into an irrepressiblc ripple OF
laughter. That night Kcturah, in n
parrot-green gown, laughed as hear
tily as her mistress, when between
gasps Of merrimcRt, Medora read
aloud a letter from her admirer, in
which he deplored the fact that a
uddenly-devcloped case of cardiac
collapse had convinced him that he
could not ask any woman TO share
the life of n hopeless invalid.
What's the joke. girls?" cried
Maurice Harmon. Struggling of his
ovcrcoat as he came into the parlor;
fine, manly young fellow, with
steady eyes and n strong. beautiful
mouth. .Jovei Isn't Ke,urah in
style,"
Kcturah, still shaking with mir'h.
took his coat and went out. Mel!
stood up and kissed him.
ITS all right, old boy" she said.
"Medora win tell you about it," She
laughed again at the thought of IL
dred's dismny when he should meet
the real mother of Medora-a sweet.
gracious. cultured gentlewoman.
"Al's fair, you know, in love and
war;"
This was both" cried Medora.
Nell was still laughing when she
went out, and softly closed the door.