The Holly chieftain., 1903-07-17

lHluh IL WOuiu De duNlsdDle IOT me 10
accept, Uncle Harold?"
Harold's brow had become contract
ed, as the result of his attempt to in
terpret this rather ambiguous address
and, as consequence. there was a
resultant sternness in his response to
il.
Accept! should say that you
would be very foolish not to accept
OF course" he added, in the same
tone, Il don't know what reasons you
may have for being doubtful in tne
matter, but they ought to be pretty
good ones to induce you to decline
such position.
Il don't know that have any rea-
sons" said Eleanor. gently. Then as
her eyes encountered Emma's fixed
searchingly upon her, she lowered
them, and began to toy with the en-
broidery of the sofa cushion.
A man cannot very well manifest
impatience SO openly when another
woman is beating about the bush. as
when the offender is his wife, SO that
Harold felt constrained to limit his
displeasure to restless twist in his
chair, and a still deeper frown. He
detested indirect methods, and he
was on the point OF saying to his
niece that she had better out with
her mystery whatever it was, when
she broke the silence with the query:
did you ever hear of man named
Prof. Struthers,. Uncle Harold?"
Emma shot a glance of triumph at
her husband and folded her arms.
"Struthars? Struthers? The name
seems familiar"
Prof. William Struthers, He is an
electrical engineer"
The inventor of the Struthers stor-
age battery? Why. certainly; am
one of his stockholders. He has
made very valuable invention. Yes.
l have met him number of times"
so have l" said Eleanor, demurely.
Il met him first when | was staying
with Uncle Phin five years ago. and
| saw him frequently when Uncle
Phin was so i'll; he helped to nurse
him.
She stopped and there was another
awkward silence.
We'll, dear?" said Emma from an
admixture of excess of curiosity, wo-
manly sympathy and fear lest Harold
might be goaded into overt impetu-
osity by further delay.
Eleanor gave little start as if she
had been pricked by pin, then she
answered with an attempt at direct
ness:
The long and the short of it is
that Prof. Struthers has asked me to
marry him, and I-er-wished you to
know this before I accepteda-the
presidency OF Clavering."
Il see," said Harold, as she paused,
though the puzzled expression of his
countenance belied his words.
You think it wise for me to ac-
cept, do you not, Uncle Harold?" she
continued eagerly. You approve of
it-you consider it an honorable posi-
tion?"
Il have already said so.'
Il felt sure that you would think
SO. 1t has seemed so to me- There
can be no doubt about It," she con-
cluded. emphatically shaking her
head. Thank you very much, Uncle
Harold"
Il am sure that ! do not know
exactly for what" he answered
moment later.
For confirming my own impression
as to what it was the wisest for me to
do"
But it was not until Emma spoke
that the look of mystitication on Har-
old's face grew less.
Eleanor means, my dear" said she.
in deliberate tone, that she has had
to decide between Prof. Struthers on
one hand and the presidency on the
other. and she has decided in favor
of the latter"
Eleanor sighed and nodded acquies-
cence.
Il ought to say, though, that he is
willing to change his residence and
live here if | will only marry him.
But that would be asking too much
OF him. 1t would not be right
Il should think that it would never
do said Emma coldly.
And therefore" Eleanor continued,
Il am SO glad that you agree with me
and think that | am doing what is
wise, Uncle Harold You mustn't
mind my crying" she added, realizing
that her voice had suddenly broken