Smyrna times., 1904-02-03
HUCTIMS OF
" A RECOIL
BY Louise j. Strong
Copyright, 1908, by T. C. Mcclure

"Wh-e-ew! This is the hottest day
that ever broiled!' Mr..J. Sanborn, ell
derly, somewhat portly and very iras-
chile, glared about, defying contradic-
ton.
The old gentleman in front of him
bristled aggressively.
Mr.. Sanborn. with an eye out for Of
Tense, observed the brstling and reiter-
ated dogmatically. "The very hottest
day!
NO such thing! There's been mil
lions hotter" The old gentleman flash
ed around like a pugnacious bulldog.
''The very hottest dayw Mr.. Sanborn
bawlcd stubbornly.
Not even the hottest this season!
On the 10th the thermometer registered
is degrees higher" his opponent ex-
planned with aggravating exactness.
Then the thermometer lied! All ther-
mOmeters dor
MY thermometer is exact! It's the
best made"
81 don't care if it's the only one made.
it lies if it says there's ever been hot
ter day than today" Mr.. Sanborn
mopped his face in exaggerated dis
tress.
People were smiling at the absurd
contention, and a girl across the aisle
giggled. Both disputants looked at her,
and with gesture of authority the old
gentleman ordered:
Here, miss, you look cool and rea-
sonable. Tell this lump of obstinacy
that today is frigid beside the 10th"
ooh, don't ask me to be umpire
don't know anything about thermome-
ters. l always go by my feelings" she
cried.
"The only sensible way" Mr.. San
born affirmed.
The way of ninnies and numskullsr ~
stormed the old gentleman.
Your station, sir" the conductor in
terrupted. The old gentleman bounced
off, trailing his statements and asser-
tions to the platform.
The train started Mr.. Sanborn
stuck his head out the window and
shouted, "The very hottest day.
Then he settled back and laughed
The girl laughed, too, and slipped
across into the old gentlemans place.
Il wound him upr' Mr.. Sanborn ex
planned with satisfaction.
Il expect he thinks it is pretty hot
by now,' she smiled but, really, you
know, we have had hotter weather"
"Oh, yes," he assented unexpectedly
Il suppose I'm doing my own roast
ing"
"Fuming?" she intimated.
Like a boiling kettle. Think I'd ex
plode but for easing off on the ole
gentleman" he chuckled in memory Of
the exploit.
you should take things easy in no
weather. It's the only way to keel
COOL" she remarked sagely.
Take things easy! Look here, wheI
you've had a blow that's knocked al
your life plans helter skelter you don
feel either easy or cool"
"No; that's true. One might max
new plans" she suggested.
New plansw he scOffed. II don
know why I'm the one to make conces
sions He owes all he is to me-"
She looked polite inquiry, and he cor
tinued: 'You see. it's my nephew. Nv
raised him and been father to him
done we'll by him too; given him tn
best advantages mOney'll buy. And a
I've asked of him is that he'll go ahea
and be a credit to us"
He paused reminiscently.
"And hasn't he?" she asked. A glo7
lit his face
'He has! He's been on top all til
time, taken the honors everywhere, an
he stands to pull off the biggest of a
now"
81 should say that was satisfactory,
she commented.
satisfactory! Pm chock full of prid
But I'm justified in being proud. Fl
graduates from c. university-nO Ii
tie college, mind you-with the honOl
Of his class. Why, with my money b
hind him he might be anything he chO'
anywhere And what does he do b'
deliberately kick over his own pro
poets Here I've been planning all sor
of things for him when he gets throug
travel, where and as long as he please
marriage with the best when he's reaC
for it, and the young jackanapes b;
gone and engaged himself to a mil
maid.' .
"a milkmaid," she repeated family
Farmers daughter, he said, b
they're all milkmaids. l suppose
dad raked up a little money and Sc
her to the university to take on son
polish and take in some young ldl
like Maurice He's the star, and s.
couldn't do better, though she mig
end some with more money"
"Have you SEGA herT'
"No, nor want - either. l know nc
81. 1.-1-.. ...........l...-,, nnd cnnrsn wi