Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-07-24
MRS. HAROLD STAGG.
copyrsh, W Robert
CHAPTER XIX.

her husband were In the train on the
way to Chicago. Harold. though still
by no means enlightened to his own
satisfaction as to the exact meaning
of the dialogue which had taken place
In his niece's parlor. was. neverthe'
less. very well pleased at her deter
mination to accept the presidency.
Nevertheless, he had not been able to
explain to himself how he or Emma
had been OF assistance to Eleanor In
making up her mind or why II had
been necessary for them to visit her.
There was. obviously. some mystery
which Emma appeared To understand,
the solution OF which was for some
reason withheld from him. Moreover,
his wife. contrary to expectation. had
seemed eager to avoid further discus
sion OF the matter when they were
alone together; 30 much SO that she
had neglected to call his attention
to the fact that she had prophesied
that there was a man ut the bottom
OF II. The only further reference
made TO II by Eleanor had been
promise made by her ON the way TO
the station. whittier she accompanied
them. to write full particulars OF the
inauguration ceremonies. the date for
which would be fixed as soon rs her
letter OF acceptance OF the Office had
been sent to the trustees.
Five minutes after the train was
under way. however. Emma. who had
been sitting lost In contemplation,
sighed. and with a sympathizins shake
OF the head said:
Poor child, am sorry for her
IA she spoke she east an interroga'
tive glance at Harold. who answered.
somewhat doggcdiy. What is the mat.
ter now. chcrub2"
Nothing Is the matter: but when
glri is In love with a man II Is always
hard to give him up. For once In her
life Eleanor. however. seems to have
acted with discretion
DO you mean that she was In love
with that man she mentioned. Prof.
StruihcrEg''
why. certainly. dear
why. didn't she say 40. thca!"
"She did. as plainly as II was pos.
Aibl. for her TO do. considering that
ahe was no, going To marry him"
Il suppose that she decided not To
accept aim because she did not love
him.'' Harold said. To tell the truth.
though. l was pretty well In the dark
all through"
u saWSthat you were. dear. and
was rather thankful. Tor a word OF the
~rong sort from your lips misat have
spoiled everything
How do you mean
III you had given her any cneour.
ascmcnt | am afraid she would have
married him"
4 thought you were anxious TO have
her married"
SO I was-to the right man. but
this would newer do"
why no;' This ProL struthcrs Is
very decent fellow. and very able
one from all accounts. His Invention
ls already very successful. and he Is
sure To BE- rich. aud understand that
he has taken out patents Tor the intro
duction OF electricity as motive
power In moving railroad trains. lie
Ia rising man, should say. and II
Eleanor Is In love with him. I think
she had better have married him. even
u she were Obliged to give up her
presidency In order to do so"
1T is a little late now" said Emma.
majcs,icaliy. you should have said
40 AZ the time
"But tell you had no Idea she was
In love with him
THAT vas not my fault
"Pshaw' It's an outrage. Chcrub.
You pgEhtn't to have let her do IT.
Emma couEhcd uacasily.
Il don't mean that ahc was dcspcr.
atcly in love with him. or course II
sac had been she would have accepted
him very likely. without making us any.
thing about IL. What I mean Is that
she liked him just well enough. so
that. others things being equal. she
would have married him. hut they
weren't equal. and she knew It. He
wanted her to give up hS position"
"of oour.c hc did. ANY man would:
and u he hai given up his own in
order To marry her he would have
been fool. Well. as I said at the
time. women arr beyond me. Appar-
Cniiy.'i am In the position OF having
advised her TO accept the presidency
at ih, cost OF her affections"
L. q pAlNNN lFt llNa ulAuhiniullNs
- { said before. II she were to
ma aim. and they were to live out
her II might rot have been such a
vCry had idea Il Eleanor had been
seriously bent on e.: ont n she had
come TO live In New York he would
have been a white elephant on our
hands He knuws nobody: in fact.
they neither OF them know anybody
nov. What would they have done9"
Died from sheer lack OF companion.
ship in a city OF over a million inhabi.
tants. Chcrub. you are supcrbi"
Laugh ir you like. Harold am
right. She Is very much better OF
aa she is. People have got used to
thinking OF her as n blue stocking and
It will he rather feather in her cap
to be known as president OF college
even IL she is described in the news.
papers as Lady President But
to marry a man who Is wrapped UP in
batteries, and whom no one ever heard
OF before he invented this machine. or
whatever It is. would be neither one