The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-02
CHAPTER XIV.
The Key to a Dilemma.

illness in terms which al
layed alarm; but when the
afternoon paper referred to
it ominously, the good
woman set out thru the first
snowstOrm of the season for the POr-
ter house, carrying her campaign out
fit, as the general called it, in a suit
case. Mrs. Whipple's hopeful equa-
nimity was very welcome to Evelyn,
who suffered as women do when de-
MED the privilege Of ministering to
their sick, and forced to see their
natural office usurped by others. Mrs.
Whipple brought breath Of May into
the atmosphere of the house. She
found ways Of dulling the edge of
Evelyns anxiety and idleness; she
and busted herself disposing of In
quiries at the door and telephone to
save Evelyn the trouble. In Evelyn's
sitting-room Mrs. Whipple talked Of
clothes and made it seem a great ia
vor for the girl to drag out several
new gowns for Inspections kind Of
first view, she called it; and she sighed
over them and said they were more
perfect than perfect lyrics and would
appeal to a larger audience.
She chose one of the lyrics Of black
chiffon and lace, with high collar
and half sleeves and forced Evelyn to
put it on; and when they sat down to
of Evelyn in the same gown, which
Chase or Sargent must paint. She
managed the talk tactfully, without
committing the error Of trying to ig-
more the sick man upstairs. She made
his illness seem incidental merely. and
with bright side, In that 1t gave her
Il chance to spend few days at the
Hill. Then she went on:
Wary and Mr.. Saxton were at the
house last night. It's delightful to
see men so devoted to each other as
they are: and it's great fun to hear
them banter each other. I didn't know
that Mr.. Saxton could be funny, but
in his quiet way he says the drollest
things!"
Il thought he was very serious. "
said Evelyn. II rarely see him, but
when 1 do, he flatters me by talking
about books. He thinks I'm literary!"
II can't imagine it,
Evelyn laughed.
"Oh, thanks! I'm making progress!'
Its funny" Mrs. Whipple con-
tinued, the way he takes care of
Wary. The general says Mr.. Saxton
Is a Newfoundland and Wary fox
terrier. Warry's at work again, and
1 suppose we have Mr.. Saxton's In
fluence to thank" -.
"A man like that could do a great
deal for Wary" said Evelyn. 1T
Wary doesn't settle down pretty soon
he'll lose his chance" Then, her ia
ther coming into her thoughts, she
added irrelevantly: Mr.. Thompson
will probably come home. Mr.. Whea-
ton telephoned that the directors had
wired him.
"Oh, yes" said Mrs. Whipple, looking
at the girl quickly-"so much respon-
sibility-I suppose it would be hardly
fair to Mr.. Wheaton,"
II suppose. not said Evelyn.
Ill.,
Is in the army continued Mrs. Whip
the military establishment. "The
pie, who referred everything back to
bugle's got to blow every morning
whether the colonefs sick or not. j
suppose the bank keeps open just the
same. When a things once well
started it has a way of running on
whether anybody attends to it OF
not
But you couldn't get father to be-
lieve that said Evelyn, smiling ir
recollection Of her fathers lifelong
refutation Of this philosophy.
mo indeed assented Mrs. Whip.
pie But in the army there is a gooc
deal to make a man humble. If he
gets transferred from one end of the
land to another, somebody else does
the work he has been doing, anC
usually you wouldn't know the diff
ference. The individual is really ex
tinguished; they all sign their report:
in exactly the same place, and one
signature is just as good at Washing
ton as another This was a favoritt
line Of discourse with Mrs. Whipple
she had reduced her army experience
to philosophy, which she was fond O.
presenting on any occasion.
The maid brought Evelyn a caro-
before they had finished coffee.
It's Mr.. Wheaton," she explained
Il asked him to come. Father wa:
greatly troubled about some matter
which he said must not be neglected
He wanted me to give the key of hi!
box to Mr.. Wheaton-there are som,
papers which 1t Is very necessary fo1
Mr.. Fenton to have. It's something
hadn't heard Of before, but it must b,
important. He's been Eighty this
afternoon and has tried to talk abou
It."
table with troubled look on her face
as If expecting counsel; but she wa
thinking of the sick man upstairs ant
not of his business affairs.
yes; don't wait for me- said thu
older, woman, as tho it were merel.
a question Of the girls excusing her
self. When Evelyn had gone, Mrs
Whipple piled her, spoon in her Gu,
long after the single lump of suga
was dissolved. Mrs. Whipple had
way Of disliking people thoroly whe1
they did not please her, and she die
not like James Wheaton. She wa
wondering why, as she sat alone at tn
table and played with the spoon.
The maid who admitted Wheatol
had let him elect between the DRAWN,
room and the library, and he chos
the latter instinctively, as less forma
and more appropriate for an interview
based on his dual social and bushes
relations with the POrters. His slim
figure appeared to advantage in even
ing clothes; he was no longer afraid o
rooms that were handsome and spa
cious like this. There was nowaday
no more correctly groomed man il
Clarkson than he, tho Wary Rari
dan had remarked to Wheaton at tn
Bachelors that his ties were com
posed a trife too neatly; tie to b
properly done should, Raridan hello
leave something to the imagination
Wheaton heard the swish of Evelyn
skirts in the hall with quickenin
heartbeat. Her black gown intensi
fled her fairness; he had never see
her in black before, and it gave
new accent to her beauty as she cam
toward him.
1T was q great shock to us dow
town to hear of your fathers Illness
He seemed as we'll as usual yester
day
did you think SO? I thought h
looked worn when he came home las
81 evening. He has been working yer
1afo lay