The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-23
MISS DIANA'S DUTY
By John Lanwdon Heaton he Interna tionaI Literary and News Ser vice.


 tticence on the subject. And because she held Miss Talbot mainly responsi- ble she found 1t hard to forgive that young woman. Still, as they had been lin former years the closest friends and Jwere yet intimate. she felt it her duty to call at Dr. Talbot's and acquaint lDiana with the rumors.
 "Yes," said the young zoologist, look ling out with sad eyes from wan. un- smiling face, T had heard the--the sto- Tries. Do you--do you know?'
 T know absolutely nothing about it?'
 "what does Arthur think?" What he thinks can't say, because irm not a mind reader. and he doesn't like to talk about itsas you might sun. pose He says he has not the slightest Idea where Mir. Matteson is, that all This business affairs are in perfect or lder. and so on. And that Is absolutely iaII that I can get out of him. really think he knows nothing. He isn't wor- ried as much as should be. but then. men are queer." l A few days later Arthur Rankine called to St. Louis by business, dropped Unto a costly hotel, where he found Matteson in good spirits, but eager for news from home. l T am glad you didn't tell me where you were going" said Rankine, puffing laway at his cigar. with his feet com fortabIy resting on the table in Mat lteson's room. By the time got your letter the town was wild. By the way. lone of the Boston papers has published Iyour picture. with a." 1 Hang the papers! How about Di- lanai" She's got a grouch on. Things aren't going her way. The school com mittee is keeping her out of the tenn ples of instruction with a club. and they're right. Children who 20 to work at fourteen have more use for fractions than zoology. Of course it's important. zoology is; but. hang it all, l If we tried to learn one- tenth part of the important things"
 | "oh, shut up! Quit preachinge' l If she wants to teach kids compara- tive zoology" Rankine went on, un- moved. she'll have to open a private school and lasso 'em into 1t, and Dr Talbot won't stand for that. May went to talk you over with her and have a good comfortable cry the other day."
 | She had heard?"
 "Oh. sure! Before that. It's my pri- vate opinion, in which the wife of my bosom shares. that Di is lonely without Iyou."
 | wen, Arthur, you're no end of a good fellow to take all this trouble for me. When you get back I wish you'd tell Mrs. Rankine you have heard that l am in New Orleans. You don't know what I'm doing there. and that's no lie either; you won't know. I don't know yet myself. Tell her it's very conf dential and"-
 NO. no; that won't do. She's take 1t too literally and keep mum. I'll tell n he eral, as you doubtless have reasons for privacy, but that think perhaps it's her duty to tell Miss Talbot" All right, old boy: you know your own women folks best. Say it's duty and 1t goes." ''
 few days. later Matteson received m New orleans the following letter:
 Nepontic. Mass. May fe
 My Dear Mir. Matteson-I feel if my uuty 10 inform you that rumors are anoat in town which may seriously in terfere with your future usefulness and | you promised not to speak to me again l until sent for you. I wish to see you | now, for your own sake.
 Your friend,
 Diana Talbot.
 The young manufacturer reached Ne- | pontic looking ''as fit as a fiddle and as | fine as silk" as Rankine put 1t. ,"rhe | rest has done him a world of good" he | would add cheerfully in commenting upon Matteson's appearance to villagers of standing.
 Stayed away till he got good and | over u. was the more cynical verdict | of the townspeople.
 Gossip was less severe upon the rreat | mans falling from grace--or, at feast | less busy--because of a new sensation John R. Hawkins was paying open | court to Doe Talbot's girl' and seem | ed quite in her favor
 MT. Hswkins was an eminentlv re- | spectable citizen of substantial means | and character. The fact that he was | something like 70 years old and over | burdened with the care of five ouita | young grandchildren left in his charee | by his only son when dying. gave his | wooing, in the eyes of the townspeople | a comic rather than roman. 1 tic appearance. Still Hawkins was | like other desperate men, rival not to l be desplsed.
 She's atchully goin' t have the op | coot sos t git them children O his'n | m learn 'em bugs m mice n things" {" | said Uncle Nate Arkwright from tbe | armchair by the grOvery stove 'sI do | know wut the worlds comin' t these | days. In my time mos any girl n | jump half out'n her skin t git n man like Bert Hatteson. yit yere this Talbot | gal, she goes a-palaverin' round trvir' | t git hor O other folks chiIder t teach | em lot O follolls n contraptions 'n, even willn' t take roomatic ol cuss like John Hawkins throwed in if she cn' git a few on 'em. I'm a good min, t git my oP courtin suit out'n the at. | tic n go n cut i'm out myself!"
 "Go in and win, Uncle Nate" sa ii | Bub Saulsbury
 If An had gal Iak dat An spank him mabbe two, tree tam a week, ouafte strong" said Antoine Le Caron, but no | one paid the slightest attention to his disciplinary Ideas. q wonder the or fool ain't got no more sense imself." Lije Curry ven tured al last.
 He aln't in no ways t blame" said Uncle Nate emphatically She done most O the courtin' herself, they do say jes t git hol' O them childer Wants learn 'em about bugs," And Uncle Nate spat comprehensiveIy at the box of sawdust. "S for John Hawkins. | he'd do wuss'n that t git shet O them young ones. Can't do nothin' with 'em John he can't. Johnny's a terror, he | is. N ye know wut hi'ed help is now adays."
 An answering murmur of cordial as- sent greeted this appealing statement. Nothing Is too astonishing to be true,