The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1904-11-04
CHAPTER xv.-(continued,,

have spoken once or twice about nav.
ing her visit, she hopes that I may
be able to manage 1t now"
Emma perused the letter.
She never asked our advice SO long
as that-venerable fossil was alive. l
nave always considered that he was
largely responsible for the kink that
got into Eleanors brain. Poor old
man! Those eyes Of his haunt me
still"
He is dead; let him rest in peace.
He adored Eleanor and she adored
him.
! was very fond of him myself,
Harold. He was dear old soul, but
you must admit that he was quixotic,
and that he had large eyes. Well, I
forgive him." she added, noticing that
her husband looked grave. Il am sure
that he meant well. What answer are
you going to send?'
why don't we both go? You have
never been West, and it is time that
you saw something of our own coun-
try. Illinois is not very far off, and
after We have visited Eleanor, we can
pass few days at Chicago and Gin
cinnati and st. Louis l can get away
for three weeks as well as not"
Emma tapped her foot contempla-
lively.
II. 7 suppose could CO. 1t is certainly
quite an idea" .n&&
And you would be able in that case
to satisfy your curiosity all the
sooner"
Curiosity I assure you that
mine In regard to Eleanor is of the
mildest order. am curious merely as
one Is curious in regard to what any
crazy creature will do next But, as
you say, Harold, it is just as well that
l should see how dreadful the West
really is. OF course, If the child actu-
ally needs you, suppose you are
bound to go to her, in case you can
leave your business; though I think it
is rather cool of her to ask your adj
vice, considering that she acted d.
rectly contrary to all that you have
ever given her. But if you go, | shall
certainly go with you" 4 Z
The upshot was that week later
they set out for Clavering college, the
Illinois institution of learning with
which Eleanor had been connected for
the past five years. During those years
Emma had seen but little Of her recall
citrant niece, who, SO to speak, had
taken the bit in her teeth on her re.
turn from her uncle Phineas Baldwin's
house with the offer of tutorship
from the seminary in question in her
pocket. An earnest scene had fol.
lowed, or, rather, two scenes; one in
which she had brought to bear upon
the culprit every argument in her ar
senal, and a second and final one be-
tween the culprit and Harold, whose
sternness Mrs. Stage had
hoped to keep unmitigated, by giving
him to understand that she would be
an unseen listener. But she had heard
in vain. Harold had begun well |
enough with a big,mouthed, What is |
this cracked-brain scheme of leaving |
us that your aunt tells me of, Flea
nor?" But from there on he had
gradually weakened, until in place of
putting his foot down once for all, he
had suffered himself to be argued into
admitting that If her heart was set on
there was no especial obliga-
ton why she should continue to live
with them; and as to the marriage
which was proposed for her, that he
was not prepared to advise her TO
marry q man she did not love.
Since her departure the years had
ylided away without leaving much
account of themselves, SO far as con.
.erned Emma's relations with her.
When the disappointment of seeing all
Ter efforts set at naught had lost its
,dge for Emma, she had accepted the
ituation, as one learns TO accept the L
and had even felt grateful
hat, inasmuch as Eleanor had insisted
II icing peculiar, she had selected a
leld for her eccentricities where she
you'd never be heard Of by the class
4 PEOPLE who had expected from her
etter things. They had been brought |
nto personal contact but twice, and
hen only for short time on each
ccasion, when Eleanor had come East
q vacation time. The first summer
he Stages had been abroad, SO that
] had been good two years before
hey had met at all, and then, it was
Or a fortnight at Beverly, during i,
vhich Mrs. Stage had been excessive III
? polite to her guest, except SO, far
s informing her that she looked thin ,
nd needed fattening up could be con-
Idered az antagonistic. Her eagle eye lie
ad watched haughtily to detect the
gins Of barrier-breaking which shell
lit sure. must sooner or later. mani IL
,st themselves as the result of assoc 7
ation with mixed college; but she
ad been forced to admit after EleanorrIar
ad departed that they had not been i 2
,rthcoming. In the summer follow
lg. Eleanor was to have paid them q
scond visit, in the glory Tor, as Mrs.
tagg might have put It, the shame)
her advancement to the rank of Is