The Lamar register., 1903-06-03
CHAPTER TX,


Christmas cards and painted texts
and a water-color or two and family
photographs and canary in a cage
hung from a chain in the window,
which was caroling as she entered.
THE landlady. Mrs. Todd. was go
ing to remove the bird" said the pro-
fessor, but told her that maybe
you'd like it."
"Oh. l should, very much"
Miss Strange-that's the music
teacher-wept because she couldn't
take it with her for her months holi-
day. Poor little lady! She leads a
solitary life, | fancy. I don't mean
you, you fat. yellow gormandizer." he
added, thrusting his round face against
the bars of the cage. but your mis-
tress. She tolls while you warble and
plume your fluffy bosom. That's the
way of the world. however; there are
wage-spinners and wage-spenders.
Peach-blossom, you will find this room
hot and maybe stuffy, l warn you; no
sea breezes here. Such air as there is
passes over broiling pavements; in
stead of an ocean view, you look out
on tall tenements.
While speaking he threw open the
green blinds and let in flood of glar-
ing sun.
You cannot alarm me, Uncle Phin.
am neither sugar nor salt. can
see that 1 shall be perfectly comfort
able and happy here"
well, you know your way down to
my den-excuse me. your parlor now
and when you are rested you will
find me there, ready for anything
from a picnic to a voyage in a bal
loon."
Don't talk to me of picnic: have
come to work, Uncle Phin. You must
get out those socks. | intend to over
haul your entire wardrobe. While
you work at your lectures / will darn
and mend, and sew on buttons-and
talk. for want your advice"
advice, eh? This sounds serious!
Can it be that you have come to con-
suit an old bachelor on the subject
which he is supposed to be most ig-
norant of? l thought your aunt had
significant lCok when she assured me
that you would not be allowed to
throw yourself away. Have l guessed
right" he added, perceiving that
Eleanor flushed and looked uncomfort-
abe.
mo, uncle. nothing of the sort. If
you refer, as suppose. to the possi-
bility of my being married. l don't
know what Aunt Emma may have said
but I'm not interested in the matter
at ALL
st was | that suggested 1t to her,
ha, ha! told her that | envied the
man who won you as wife, and SO
do. Peach-blossom."
But that i5 quite another thing
from wishing me married, isn't it, I'm
Gle Phin?"
She spoke so beseechingly that the
professor instinctively felt a 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 d.
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 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
he 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
Diary for counsel. and he has checked
her off. 1t was inexcusable; it was
barbarous. "The women always" he
murmured gloomily. as he lit his pipe
again, and 1t 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 moment
after he had left her.
He thinks 1t some love affair" she
said to herself. How ridiculous!
What can Aunt Emma have said?"
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 a