Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-22

MRS. HAROLD STAGG.
Copyright. Rober. Sons.


| had only known in time. however.
would have asked one or two people
likely to be more congenial to him."
Eleanor's description OF the bache.
lor professors appearance was Ger.
tainly not exaggerated. In the early
stages OF acquaintance he evidently
| sought refuge in an imperturbable
tnciturnity. relieved II he were
brought To bay by free use of the
word "ma'am" In addressing ladies'
OF every age. which prompted Emma
to keep him as. quiet as possible after
making him known to the company.
He was u man OF fifty. with thick
brown beard and bald head. His
large eyes took in the surroundings
In contemplative fashion. and he
seemed In no wise disturbed that he
had not brought evening clothes with
him. an omission which weighed con-
| siderably on Emmn's miEd. not for the
reason that IL made any real differ
ence. but because she was sure that
he. poor man. must feel 80 embarrass-
ed. When he re-entered the room.
just before dinner. In his gray home
spun suit, with a red bandana protrud-
Ing from the breast pocket. she really
pltied him. but she could not help
congratulatIns herself that she had
placed his seat Mt table between her
self and Eleanor.
After they sat down to dinner,
Uncle PhIneas continued for some
time very silent. beamlns so elusive
ly. however. on his niece, that Emma
began to fear lest he should hold her
hand or indicate In some other
equally unconventional way the salts.
faction he felt In being with her
again. He was an excellent trcnchcr.
man and did full Justice TO tho good
things passed TO him without seeing
to heed the small talk that. rcpresAcd
n; first by his presence. soon bubblcd
lcrth regardless OF It, There was say
chatter, some OF n personal character.
and by and by several humorous anec-
dotcs. one OF which amused Professor
baldwin so much as To draw from him
u .uraw OF such Intensity that there
Vas pause after y. and lady OPP
poHi,c him surveyed him through her
iorgnctto intcrrosatiycly. while the
young men winkcd at each other as
much as to say: who Is the humor.
Gus old party?''
That reminds of an Incident that
happened whom was In California
some years ago." said Uncle PhIncas.
slowly. in n quaint. dry way that made
everybody stop eating and listen.
Emma felt ON ;catcr.hooks. and she
glanced anSiousiy toward Eleanor:
N.s.E I.. A.I
with an air of delighted interest.
There was no,hin. TO do bu, lc, him
SO on: and so on he did In 40 graphic
and absorbing manner that several
OF the company were chuckiing with
satisfaction bcfor. the end. and when
that cam. there was roar of delight.
That's a capital story" exclaimed
some one. and Harold SiaEE. who vas
laughing heartily. checked himself to
cry:
"a glass OF vine with you. protcs.
SORT"
The old boy Is waking up." he
whispered. after putting down his
glass; To the lady next him.
There was nuw a disposition to In.
ciudc the professor in the general con.
tion by contributing two or three
more pertinent stories. one OF which
led to his beginning TO talk abou, his
/ travels. From one matter he branch.
ci on TO another. and soon tho entire
company was hanging on his words
His observations aa well as his OK.
| puTicnccs were out OF the ordinary
run. and in two or three instances he
had had narrow escapes that elected
calculations Of horror from the ladies'.
and cnyiouA ''by joycs'' from the
sporting gentlemen present When
at last Emma gave the signal to leave
the table. everybody felt the dinner
had been too short.
She was all spilcs. and in passing
ffom the room seized the opportun.
ity to squeeze Elcsnor's hand. and
whisper: Hes delightful. my dcari"
His very want of toilet srcmed TO her
now TO add to his effectiveness. and
she almost hoped that when he re-
turned to the parior he would talk
about the Stone Age. or deliver an
informal address on shells. so ex.
qulsitc was her sense Of relief. When
he did return. however. he relapscd
into oracular silence. which he was
not cajolcd into breaking beyond
the needs OF bare civiiity before the
company separated. ON the con.
trary. he himself presently slipped
away with Eleanor across the lawn
for sauntcr along the shore. As
| they did not return In time. Emma
explained his absence on the ground
that he had probably found some
| bowlder or Crustaccan specimen
which had lured him into oblivion OF
everything else. n sally which evoked
a general laugh as they said good
night. There was much 10 be par.
/ duncd TO a man OF his evident peculi.
| srities. who had seen so little OF so.
ciety. and. really he had made him.
self remarkably agreeable. and quite
borne OF the honors Of the occasion.
This was doubtless the general yer.
dict. but underneath it in the minds
OF nearly every one was sentiment
Of pity for Mrs. StaEg, that she should
/ have ON her hands such a white Gle.
/ plant. And in truth while her fears
/ were tranquiliged. Emma felt far
from easy in the company of Uncle
/ Phincas after the glamor of his din.