The Lamar register., 1903-07-08
CHAPTER xv.-(continued.)

get away at the moment, and that as 1
have spoken once or twice about pay
ing her a visit, she hopes that l may
be able to manage it now"
Emma perused the letter.
"She never asked our advice SO long
as that-venerable fossil was alive. l
have always considered that he was
largely responsible for the kink that
got into Eleanor's brain. Poor old
man! Those eyes of his haunt me
still.v
He is dead: lei him rest in peace.
He adored Eleanor, and she adored
him."
81 was very fond of him myself.
Harold. He was dear old soul. but
you must admit that he was quixotic,
and that he had large eyes. Well, l
forgive him." she added, noticing that
her husband looked grave. Il am sure
that he meant well. What answer are
you going to send?"
why don't we both go? You have
never been West, and it is time that
you saw something of our own coun-
try. Illinois is not very far off, and
after we have visited Eleanor. we can
pass a few days at Chicago and Gin
cinnati and st. Louis. ! can get away
for three weeks as well as not"
Emma tapped her foot contempla-
lively.
II suppose could go. 1t is certainly
quite an idea
And you would be able in that case
to satisfy your curiosity all the
sooner"
'Curiosity?' assure you that
mine in regard to Eleanor is of the
mildest order. l am curious merely as
one ID curious in regard to what any
crazy creature will do next. But, as
you say. Harold, 1t is just as well that
l should see how dreadful the West
really is. OF course, if the child actu-
ally needs you. suppose you are
bound to go to her. in case you can
leave your business; though 1 think it
is rather cool of her to ask your ad-
vice, considering that she acted d.
rectly contrary to all that you have
ever given her. But If you go, shall
certainly go with you"
The upshot was that week later
they set out for Clavering college, the
Illinois institution of learning with
which Eleanor had been connected for
the past five years. During those years
Emma had seen but little of her recall
citrant niece, who. SO to speak, had
taken the bit in her teeth on her re-
turn from her uncle Phineas Baldwin's
house with the offer of tutorship
from the seminary in question in her
pocket. An earnest scene had fol-
lowed, or, rather. two scenes; one in
which she had brought to bear upon
the culprit every argument in her ar
senal, and a second and final one be-
tween the culprit and Harold, whose
fabricated sternness Mrs. Stagg had
hoped to keep unmitigated, by giving
him to understand that she would be
an unseen listener. But she had heard
in vain. Harold had begun well
enough with a -mouthed. What is
this cracked-brain scheme of leaving
us that your aunt tells me Of Flea.
nor?" But. from there on he had
gradually weakened. until in place OF
putting his foot down once for all, he
had suffered bimself to be argued Into
admitting that il her heart was set on
teaching, there was no especial obliga-
tion why she should continue to live
with them; and as to the marriage
which was proposed for her, that he
was not prepared to advise her to
marry a man she did not love.
Since her departure the years had
glided away without leaving much
account of themselves, so far as con
cerned Emma's relations with her.
When the disappointment OF seeing all
her efforts set at naught had lost Its
edge for Emma, she had accepted the
situation. as one learns to accept the
inevitable, and had even felt grateful
that, inasmuch as Eleanor had insisted
on eing peculiar, she had selected
field for her eccentricities where she
would never be heard of by the class
of eople who had expected from her
better things. They had been brought
into personal contact but twice. and
then only for a short time on each
occasion, when Eleanor had come East
in vacation time. The first summer
the Stages had been abroad. so that
il had been good two years before
they had met at all. and then 1t was
for a fortnight at Beverly. during
which Mrs Stagg had been excessive
ly polite to her guest. except so far
as informing her that she looked thin
and needed fattening up could be con-
sidered as antagonistic. Her eagle eye
had watched haughtily to detect the
signs of barrier-breaking which she
felt sure must sooner or later mani
fest themselves as the result of asso-
citation with a mixed college; but she
had been forced to admit after Eleanor
had departed that they had not been
forthcoming. In the summer follow
ing, Eleanor was to have paid them
second visit. in the glory Tor, as Mrs.
Stagg might have put it. the shame)
of her advancement to the rank OF
assistant professor; but the plan had
been upset by the serious illness OF
Uncle Phineas, at whose bedside Flea
nor had officiated as tender nurse
until his death, which occurred just
before it was time for her to return to
her collegiate duties. Emma. who had
felt herself excused from the necessity
of attending the funeral by the dis
Work had