The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-07-03
or A.CoNAN DOYLE

wish you both tn marry. but aull /
should like suggestion from. YOU.
Clara. as 10 what I should do"
but there II no hurry, papa Let us
walt / do not intend 10 marry yet"
Doctor Walker looked disappointed
Wei. Clara, n YOU can suggest moth
ing l suppose that | must take the In
iuauve myself" said he.
Then what do You propose. papa7"
She braccd herself M one who secs the
blow which II about TO fall
Tie looked at her and hesltated. "How
IKE your poor dear mother you are.
Clara'' he cried AS I looked at you
then u WIS as n she had come back
from the grave" He stopped toward
her ana kissed her. There. run away 20
your sister. my dear. and do not trou-
ole yourself about me. Nothing r. set
tied yet. but you win find that all will
come right"
Clara went upstairs sad nc heart, for
she was sure now that what she had
feared was indeed about to come TO
pass. and that her father was going 10
take Mrs Wostmacott to be his wife.
In her pure and earnest mind her moth
ers memory was cushrncd na that OF
saint and the thought that any one
should take her place seemed n terrible
dissertation. Even worse. however. did
thla marriage appear when looked Mt
from the point OF view OF her fathers
future. Tho widow might fascinate him
by her knowledge 81 the world. her
dash. her strength. her unconvention-
nllty-all these qualities Clara was will
Ing 10 allow her-but she was convinced
that she would be uncomfortable az a lie
companion, She had come 20 an age
when habits are not lightly 90 be
changed nor wns she woman who was
az all likely TO attempt 10 change them.
How would a sensitive man like her
father stand the constant strain OF such
a wife. n woman who was AN decision.
with no softness. and nothing soothing
In her nature? II passed as a mere &C.
centricity when they heard of her stout
drinking, her cigarette smoking. her
occasional whlfs az long clay pipe, her
horsewhipnlug Of q drunken servant.
ana her compnnlonship with the snake
Eliza, whom she was IN the hnbit OF
bearing about In hor pocket. An this
would become uncomfortable 20 her faith
er when his first infatuation was pnet
For his own sake. then. as well az FOR
her mothers memory. this match must
be prevented. And yet how poweriess
she was 10 prevent az What could she
dot Could Harold aid herr Perhaps. or
ldaf AZ least she would tell her sister
ana see what she could suggest.
IDA was In her boudoir. tiny little
tapeatried room. na neat ana dainty as
herself with low walls hung with
Imari plaques ana with pretty little
Swiss brackets bearing blue Kaga ware.
or the pure white Coalport china. In n
low chair, beneath rcd-shaded stand
ing lamp, sat Ida. In diaphnnoua even
ing dress OF mouHscline de sole the rud-
dy light tinElng her sweet. chlld-ilke
face. and glowing on her golden curls
She sprnng up as her sister entered
and threw her arms around her.
Dear old Claral Come and slt down
here beside me. I have not had n chat
for days But, oh. what troubled facet
What II II them" She put up her fore
finger and smoothed her sisters brow
with II.
Clara pulled up stool. and sitting
down beside her sister passed her arm
round her waist II am so sorry TO
trouble you, dear Ida" she said. But
do not know what 60 do"
There's nothing the matter with
Haroidy'
"Oh. no. Ida"
''Nor with my Charles9"
mo. no."
Ida gave a sigh of relief. "You quite
frightened me. dear" said she. you
can't think how solemn you look. What
IL Il. them"
II believe that papa intends TO ask
Mrs. Westmacott TO marry him"
Ida burst out laughing. What can
have put such a notion into your head.
Clara?"
1T is only too true. Ida. I suspected
II before. and he himself almost told
me as much with his own lips tonight.
don't think that II Is "A laughing mat
ter"
"Really. / could not help IT, II you
had told me that those two dear old
ladies opposite. the Misses williams.
were both engaged. you would not have
surprised me more. II II really too
funny"
Funny. Idai Think Of anyone TAX
ing the place OF dear mother"
But her sister was OF more practl-
cal and less sentimental nature. 81 am
sure" said she. that dear mother
would like papa 10 DO whatever would
make him most happy We shall both
be away and why should papa not
please himself2"
"But think how unhappy he win be.
You know how quiet he his In his ways.
and how even little thing win upset
him. How could he live with a wife
who would make HE whole life a series
OF surprises? Fancy what whirlwind
she must be In a house. A man az his
age cannot change his ways / am sure
he would be miserable"
Ida's face grew graver. and she pom
dered over the matter for few min
utes, Il really think that you are right
as usual" said she al last. II admire
Charles aunt very much. you know.
and l think she Is n very useful and
good person, but / don't think she
would do as a wife FOR poor, quiet
papa"
but he Will certainly ask her and /
really think that she Intends 20 accept
him. Then II would be too late 10 in
terfere. We have only a few days at
the most, And what can we do2 How
can we hope 20 make him change his
mind2"
Again Ida pondered. "He has never
tried what II Is 10 live with a strong
minded woman" said she, III we could
only get him 10 realize u IN time. on,
] Clam 1 have II. have ~ such a love