The Elbert County tribune., 1903-05-14

eyes of her. and you saw the superb
basket he sent this morning. My dear
do you realize what It meansf"
''I realize that admire your superb
coolness In picking out about the rich
est young man in New York as hus-
band for your damsel." he said. remov-
Ing his cigar with an amused smile.
only the best is good enough for
you. ha. hal"
you are crazy, Harold. Do you
imagine that | ever in my sober
senses would have conceived for a mo-
ment that there was the slightest
chance in that direction? OF course,
II had. would have made the most
oil 1t. as any woman would. I don't
pretend to be superior in virtue to the
rest of my sex. but do give me credit
for little common sense. Why
should Owen Page, who has the pick
OF half dozen cities to choose from.
II he is natrimonially Inclined, devote
himself to girl like Eleanor? Very
likely It means absolutely nothing; |
have tried TO shut my eyes to 1t and
persuade myself that such is the case.
but facts are facts. my dear. And the
most difficult part of all for me to
make out" she added. In confden-
tial whisper, 'is,what he finds in her"
Il don't see why Eleanor isn't all
right" Harold replied, stoutly, after
moment.
We'll. SO she is. of course; I'm not
saying anything against the child.
especially in view OF the fact that he
seems 20 be in love with her; but you
must understand what | mean. II It
weren't that she's your niece. do you
suppose you'd ever give her a second
thought. If you were introduced to her,
beyond agreeing that sne was a rath-
er pretty, welldressed little girl, with
sufficiently good manners and not
much snap. The manners and the
dressing are mine. though they count
Just the same, and I'd have done my
best for Eleanor II she'd been a great
deal worse than she was, but there's
no use in trying to make her out any
thing superior to the common run. for
she isn't. Compare her with a dozen
girls one could mention and she would
be nowhere. You know 1t as well as
I; and because we are fond of her.
there is no use in refusing to recog-
nize the truth. II Owen Page offers
himself to her. 1t will be marvellous
instance of good fortune"
Don't count your chickens" re-
marked her husband. somewhat dog
gedly.
That is precisely what am avoid
ing doing; but surely you'll agree that
she'd be very lucky"
"Oh, Page Is good fellow enough,
and he has stacks of money, II that's
what you want"
Emma looked painfully into dis
tance; then, with writhe of her
neck, said with dignity:
One would think. from your tone,
| were mercenary marriage monger.
l want nothing. | have brought out
Eleanor just as would my own daugh-
ter, and under far greater difficulties
If. within the next five years, she
were to marry any respectable young
man OF our acquaintance, we ought to
feel very grateful. and yet. when, In
her very first season, a man whom
everybody considers charming, and
who would be able to give her all that
money can buy, deliberately pays her
marked attention. and saves her. II
nothing else. from having horrid
time wherever she goes. you, Harold
Stagg. get up on a high horse and
make disagreeable insinuations.'
Now, cherub. you know | was only
fooling. You were bearing Eleanor in
the market. SO | thought I'd have a
drive at the other fellow. to get rise
out of you. Come. now, III agree it's
an ideal match; and II it ever comes
to pass. I'll see that you get all the
credit for it,
Which is precisely what shall not
deserve. goosey- -poosey." said Emma,
whose good humor was restored. lean
ing over her liege's chair and dallying
with his short cdrls.
ITO be continue.)