The Holly chieftain., 1903-04-24


tcrested in pictures and music, and
snug domestic hearth sancitfied and
cheered by the presence Of one who
mouId sympathize with and encourage
him in artistic tastes. The memory
of this, il he ever thought of it. did
not disturb him; he was contentedly
happy, his business ran smoothly and
rrosperOusly, he enjoyed his fine es-
adjustments and the consideration
they gave him in the social world.
If Emma's tastes were not precisely
similar to his own, she certainly took
10 stand against them; on the con-
trary, she was perpetually surprising
him on Christmas and his birthday
with presents of rare illustrated edi-
tions in costly bindings, that she had
selected with the aid of the booksell-
or, and she was prompt to applaud
whatever he sent home in the picture
line.
With such gratifying thoughts of
lis home as companions, Harold
djned satisfyingly in spite of his
mournful errand, and, having finished
the half bottle of champagne ne had
ordered, and smoked another cigar, he
turned in and slept soundy. In
thirty-four hours from the time of
starting, he alighted from the train
III the small manufacturing town
where his sisters family lived, which
VAS on branch line. 1t was a place
OF some five or six thousand inhabit-
ants, and seemed bustling. He. no
ticed as he drove along from the
station, what he took to be town.hall
and public library, an academy of
music, and soldiers monument
There was water power, and on favor
able sites appeared row of factories.
There were in the newer portion of
the town, and around them clustered
a half-dozen lanes OF tenement houses.
Reyond, where there was more sug-
| Sestion of country in the surround
| ings, were the residences, most of
them old-fashioned farm houses,
though here and there Queen Anne
or "Old Colonial" edifices had taken
the place Of the ancient order of
| things. Here had evidently been the
town or village before manufactures
lad invaded it. and the commingling
of old and new had produced the ef-
| feet of transition. But the gardens
and stretches of landscape were not
yet blotted out and the air was full
| of the perfume of the spring bios.
| SONS.
Mrs. Harold Stagg-Gal 8
In response to Harold's request to
be driven to Mr.. Baldwn's house, the
lank individual whose vehicle he had
engaged eyed him with an air of con-
doling curiosity, and said, under his
| breath. as though the corpse might
| still be within hearing:
The funeral was yesterday"
Yes, supposed So.
1t was decidedly relief to Harold
that, without any fault on his own
part, he had escaped the ceremony.
He had telegraphed his niece that he
should start at once.
Might you be related to the pro-
fessor?" inquired his conductor. en-.
couraged by the promptness of the
reply.
For an instant Harold was puzzled;
then he remembered that his brother
in-law had been connected with the
faculty of one Of the Western col
leges for few years as an instructor
in physics and mechanics; hence,
doubtless, the prefix to his name.
Yes, he married my sister,"Ne an
swered
To l. II
Il want to know" he repeated. Civ
ing flick to the raw-boned animal he
was driving, which, in point of many
years and anatomy, was quite in keep
iIg with himself. PITY. now, they
couldn't have waited for you. The
professor Is planted yonder' he
added, pointing with his whip across
the fields, "t'other side of the river
May be you'd like to drive round that
way" he said, refining in his horse
with sudden jerk. "'Tain't more
than mile off your beat"
No: I'm in hurry to see the liv-
ing. You cant do much for man
after he's in the ground" he added
philosophically.
Il don't know but what you're right,
mister. never was a great hand at
visiting graveyards myself. Tidy
place, though. ours. Git up, Sandy;
the gentleman's in a hurry, l suppose
in this hot weather 'taint easy to
keep EN-" he continued, wishing, ap.
parently, to find a satisfactory expla-
nation for what would have seemed
tC him a breach of courtesy in the alb.