The Washington times., 1905-08-27
CHAPTER VII
Ghostly Counsel.


Ghostly Counsel.
A man whose intelligence is 50 Hra-
tied as that OF Sam Sleeny IS always
too rapid and rash IN his inferences-
Because he had seen Farnham give
Maud a handful OF roses. he was ready
to believe things about their relations
that had filled him with fury; and now.
because he had seen the same man
talking with a beautiful girl and her
mother. the conviction was fixed In his
mind that Farnham's affections were
placed In that direction, and that he
was therefore no longer to be dreaded
as a rival He went home happier, In
this belief, than he had been for many
a day: and so prompt was his progress
in the work OF deceiving himself, that
ne at once came to the conclusion that
little or nothing now stood between him
and the crowning OF his hopes His
happiness made him unusually loqua-
cious, and at the supper table he ex-
cited the admiration OF Matchin and
the surprise of Maud by his voluble
history of the events of theN day. He
passed over Ofitt's visit in silence.
knowing that the Matchins detested
him: but he spoke with energetic en-
phasis of the beauty of the house, the
handsome face and kindly manners of
Farnham. and the wonderful beauty
and sweetness of Alice Beiding-
Did that bold thing go to call on
him aIone?" cried Miss Maud thorough
" aroused by this supposed offense
against the proprieties of life
WHY. no. Matte" said Sam, little
disconnected Her ma was along.
why didn't you say so, them? asked
the unappeased beauty
az -
IT forgot ali about the old lady, though
she was more chinny than the young
one. She just seemed like she was
a-practisin' the mother-in-iaw. so as to
do # without stumblin' when the time
come"
..HuIlo, Do you think they are
strfkfn' a match?' cried Saul. IN high
gIee. THAT would be first-rate- Keep
the money and the property ali to-
gether There's too many OF our rich
girls MARVIN out of the State lately
keeps buildin' dull
II don't believe a word Of it" Maud
interposed. He aint a man to be
caught by a simperin' schoolgirl And
as to money, he's got a plenty for two.
He can please himself when he mar
ries'
aYes. hut may be he won't please you.
Matte, and that would be pity"
said the ironical Saul
y *
The old man laughed loudly at his
own sarcasm. and pushed his chair
back from the table. and Maud be-
took herself to her own room. where
she sat down. as her custom was. oy
the window, looking over the glow
To
tiny as she gazed into the crimson and
golden skies She did not feel at all
so sure as she pretended that there waa
no danger of the result that Sleeny
had predicted; and now that she was
brought face TO face with It, she was
confounded at discovering how much
IL meant to her She was carrying q
dream in her heart which would make
or ruin her, according as it should prove
true or false. She had not thought
of herself as the future wife or FARM
ham with any clearness OF hope, but she
found she could not endure the thought
OF his marrying anyone else ana pass
ing forever out of her reach She sat
there. bitterly ruminating. until tho
evening glow had died away from the
lake and the night breeze spread its
viewless wings and tapped heavily in
over the dark ridge and the silent
shore Her thoughts had given her no
light of consolation; her chin rested
on her hands, her elbows on her kneess
her large eyes, growing more luminous
in the darkness. stared out at the gath
ering night, scarcely noting that the
sky she gazed at had changed from
a pompous scene of red and yellow
splendor to an infinite field Of tender
and dark violet. fretted with intense
small stars
What shall 1 dog" she thought II
am a woman. My father is poor.
have got no chance Jurildy is happier
today than 1 am, and got more sense"
She heard a timid rap at the door.
and asked, sharply:
who's there2"
ITS me-" said Sleeny's submissive
voice
What do you want?' she asked
again. without moving.
Mr.. Bott give me two tickets TO his
seance tonight''-Sam called is
''seeuns'-.'and 1 thought mebbe you'd
like to 60"
There was silence for a moment Maud
was thinking: AT any rate il will be
better than TO sit here alone and cry
all the evening. So she said: TT
come down in minute" She heard
and thought what a different tread an
other person had; and she wondered
whether she would ever do better
than take Sam Sleeny; but she at once
/ can't put my hand in hand that
smells so strong of Sawdust as SamG
But he is good soul, and am sorry ,
for him, every time look in the glass." !
CTo Be Continued Next Sunday.s