Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-01-31
THE LEASE NOT RENEWED.

And so you wish to make a fool of
Yourself" | remarked.
Yes sir" answers Dick. cheerfully.
Dick is my nephew, graceless
young rascal much as was at his age.
That is why like him so well and for
give his never-ending peccadilloes But
now he talks of getting married: the
young idiot | won't endure il. and |
tell him so, out loud.
Il wouldn't shout" he remarks calm
ly. cor the jantor will be ringing in
the fire alarm"
Now unless | return TO the beginning
| shall be telling this story backward
like a Chinese puzzle. As a matter of
fact. am living. at present, in bach
elor apartments. where woman is ia
booed. and all is peace. Nv health
is good-physically, mentally. and
/ financially; and as | never talk poll
tics. discuss religion nor read Kipling,
( | rarely lose my temper. About the
! only trouble know is that of keeping
/ Dick in the straight and narrow path
| of bachelor independence. He is
such confoundly good looking and
| popular youngster that | fear he may
! be snapped up by some snip of girl
( especially as it is known that intend
leaving him a pot of money.
LAS for women" resume, lighting a
fresh cigar, you know my objections
we'll enough"
COLLECTIONS be hanged" retorts
Dick, who likes me. but doesn't care a
rap about my money. That's why
he'll get it,
you object to women on sentiment
tai grounds" he continues, but senti-
nj,
Columbus discover America. landed
the Pilgrims on Plymouth rock enabled
us to thrash the British
"Tve been to school," | interrupt,
so don't rake up ancient history. If
you are sappy enough to marry, it
means goodby to our little whist par
ties. chatting dish suppers, quiet
smokes and all the rest of it. You
would get bills and duns instead of
billet douX, and then, then, the mother
in-lawl Ever think of herr"
Frequently" answer Dick. "She is
a charming widow on the right side of
forty Just the woman you should
marry"
This is adding insult to injury.
glare with speeches. indignation. but
Dick goes on, easily. "You are forty
four, Uncle Jack. and it is really time
for you to marry and settle down. Dol
ly's mother like Dolly herself dosen't
object to cigars. nor chatting dish sup
pers. And moreover, she can play
whist" he adds, as if that clinched
matters.
"Oh yes she plays whist no doubt,
say "Trumps her partners ace
leads from a short suit and plays sec
ond hand high"
"She does nothing of the kind" re
torts Dick loyalty; "she plays as good
a game as you"
That is the last straw. After al
the years that I've given to the game;
it's heretical. | walk out of the room
to avoid an explosion, leaving Dicl
smiling like an amiable cheshire cat
am not a woman hater: far from it
! revere the sex generally. | admire
them in the abstract. But | was jill
ted once. and want no more of it
Perhaps it was my fault in a way, TO
: | had something of temper twent!
years ago. Anyhow, Molly and par
ted in the orthodox manner-she goinl
abroad in tears, and | to the oil coun
try in profanity, where I gathered il
some wealth Hang the money
Molly was beauty, and l was fool
/ hear Dick go out, whistling softly
and go to bed
The next afternoon, while CROSSING
Fifth Avenue, | observe my nepheV
sauntering along in that easy, master
| full way of his, as if he owned al
the United States, with a part of NeN
Jersey thrown in for good measure
There is young lady beside him; an
as they turn to cross the street | Sc
: her face. Molly for a million!. I ar
so throughly dumfounded that I sto
and stare like a rustic. There is
sudden whir behind me. Dick give
warning shout and then, after heal
S ing one sharp crash, pass into dream
5 land
E When ! return to earth again I di
cover that am in a strange room an
in considerable pain. / am conscious
too, that some one is there beside M
even before hear her inquire anxious
ly: "Are you sure, doctor, that he
out of danger?"
Certainly, my dear madame" is tn