The Holly chieftain., 1903-06-05
Eleanor flushed and looked unoon,ort.

No. uncle. nothing of the sort. IL
you refer. as l suppose, To the poss;-
bility of my being married. | don't
know what Aunt Emma may have said
but I'm not interested in the matter
at ALL
1T was I that suggested il to her.
ha, ha. l told her that l enyied the
man who won you as wife. and SO
do, Peach blossom"
But that is quite another thing
from wishing me married, isn't it. I'm
Gle Phin?"
She spoke so beseechingly that the
professor instinctively felt desire to
be rid of the subject. With all his
predilection for his niece, he could not
help remembering his profound CON
viction that women were strange crea-
lures, and that he shrank habitually
from any dealings with them that
were likely to induce emotional dis
play. He did not pretend to have di-
vined the cause of Eleanor's discom-
posure. but he thought he perceived
that she was distressed. So he as
sumed the shy. sphinx-like expression
that was characteristic of him when
he felt i'll at ease, and said:
There are certain matters concern
ing which no one can be so safe
Judge as a young lady herself--least of
all an old fellow like me-"
Thereupon he shambled through the
doorway, unheeding the look of sur
prise which Eleanor cast at him on
account of the words. But by the time
ne had reached his own room he was
reproaching himself for his behavior
and wishing the words unspoken. The
poor child had come to him in guam
dary for counsel, and he has checked
her off. 1t was ineXcusable; it was
barbarous. The women always" he
murmured gloomily, Us he lit his pipe
again, and it was with clouded brow
that he settled to his task of prepar-
ing his geological lectures for the com
ing season.
Eleanor stood still for a moment
after he had left her
He thinks 1t some love affair" she
said to herself. How ridiculous!
Then she began to inspect her room,
pensively at first. but the arrival of
her trunk drove her thoughts into
other channels. When it was unpacked
she went down stairs with her work
box to seek out Uncle Phineas. He
was deep in his papers; SO, with u
nod which signified that he was not
10 l,,t r.; J,o ;,t, rl,n Il 4
into the bedroom and reappeared with
a pile of stockings. There was no in
terruption to their respective labors
until just after the stroke of 12, when
rap on the door announced a boy
with trap containing a supply OF
sandwiches and two pots of beer.
"Mahomet ALL" exclaimed the pro
his large eyes cleaned hungrily, he
said: Not to-day, Adolph. | am go
ing out to luncheon. will send you
word when want you again"
mo, no, Uncle Phin; not on my ac-
count /"
I'VE will go to Delmonico's, Peach
blossom" interrupted the professor.
ilslhS anu JihSiuS thc sliNeI III LIE
pocket.
I'VE will do nothing of the sort, I'm
Gle Phin. You are to make no change
in your habits. Adolph," she added,
addressing the boy, who stood irreso-
lutte, listening to the dialogue, you
may leave Prof. Baldwin's luncheon
just as usual"
The lad grinned and glanced at his
employer. who extended his palms
ana shrugged his shoulders, as much
as to say, You see how helpless |
am" after which Adolph approached
the table, and placed upon it one of
the plates of sandwiches and one OF
the tankards.
May l not have the rest?' she
asked, as he turned to go.
The attendant grinned again.
please, ma'am, this is for Mr..
Struthers upstairs"
Obi" she murmured, with little
laugh, that is awkward"
The professor surveyed her gloat-
ingly.
1T would serve you right to go
hungry" he said; then he added, You
may leave the other portion. Adolph.
and tell Mr.. Struthers, when you see
him next. that it was stolen from you
on the staircase by beautiful ANA
zon. Go now, and do not let him fam
ism long"
"you will toll him pothinp of the