The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-09-14

IUeuOIlfllk spefci1 hS ~ ul'lI uGtieS
and responsibilities.
"Gcntlcmen. he finished addressing
lfardy and Robertson You alone Of
this august body are single mrn-the
rest are dignihed men Of family. It Is
your solcmn-onlY TIE married know
how solemn-duty II marry and have
homes for your owl eel3ce and Tie
entertainment of Ills organization.
You should choose frola Wcstrrville.
for her fair ones must not FAN into
alien hands This Is all Gentlemen
your health and happiness; ana we ex-
poet you to act according to orders"
After the applause ceased Hardy rose.
His speech, pithy and brilliant, was
again and again interrupted by clap
ping. and he waited for silence At the
last he turned directly to Alidas father
and took up the last clause in his rec
concentrations.
owe shall" he said-"for I speak
also for Robertson-obey YOU. doctor,
rs far as In us lies. But, suppoSing that
your daughters will none of Us and our
homes, what then? You have coun-
seled US. 1t Is therefore your duty to
uphold us In the way that never did
run smooth Will you aid and abet
us? In any such scheme have we your
cooperation and support = your con
sent?" The words. lightly spoken had
still an undercurrent Of serious mean
ing. do you pledge US your fatherly
sanctlonf' He paused for a reply, and
at a signal from Judge Payne they
rose as one man and uttered a solemn
I'VE do"
A few days later Dr. Marston
| brought Judge Payne home from the
chess club for a midnight lunch. The
light burned low In the library, but
passing through the dim hall they
heard sounds of mirth emanatlng from
the dining room. The doctor pushed
| aside the portieres.
In the soft candle light Aida presid-
ed at a dainty lunch Philip Hardy
sat opposite, and at her right William
Robertson faced Eleanor Payne. The
young folks rose gleefully.
"Join usw they cried, but the doc
tor shook his head.
"The Judge and have outlived mid
night lobster salads and Welsh rabbits.
Wen have Dutch lunch In the library.
You seem to be having a good time"
He beamed on them. May l ask II
these festivities mean anything in par
ticuar?'
"Only an informal attempt to satisfy
hunger, daddy" Aida answered. 1--WE
have been at cards all evening"
Hardy leaned over and said to Rob
ertson in a low tone, "As well now as
ever they are both in high good hui
NOR" Both men arose, and the girls,
hardly knowing why arose too.
"Sir," spoke Hardy, this is some
thing rather especial. We are celebrat-
ing the consent of two fathers to the
engagement of their daughters" Judge
Payne looked approvingly at his daugh-
ter and Hardy, while the doctor re-
garded Aida and Robertson with
scarce concealed satisfaction that his
plan had carried so perfectly. But all
at once before the astonished parental
eyes an ineXplicable shifting of part
ners seemed to be taking place. Hardy
tooE-Alida by the hand. Robertson
put an arm about-Eleanor The pa
rental tribunal stood gasping, not trust
ing themselves to speak till some one
should explain. Then William Robert
son, NJ. D., came to the rescue.
Judge" he began. and doctor, we,
as faithful Twenty-fyers, are follow
ing Instructions. The other evening
you, doctor, babe us establish homes of
our own with a Westervile girl in
each. You, Judge, with the others,
pledged us Your support and consent.
have also the consent of your daugh-
ter, whom ! have wanted since we
were in college together May l have
her soon Then, before the judge
could reply. Hardy addressed the doc
tor:
Doctor redeem your word to sane
ton with your fatherly consent any
attempt of mine to marry Wester
vile girl. l have been among you six
months-six minutes was enough to
make me want Allda-and you knew
my father" The two young couples
faced the old gentlemen, who finally
found their tongues.
"But thought
81 wanted Philip" Aida interrupt
ed.
And | wanted WILL" added Eleanor.
The judge laughed
"And they wanted you-and you don't
want US just ut present, take it, Doc
tor, where's the llbrery and that Dutch
lunch? ! think we had better adjourn
and adjust ourselves to the new order
Of things. They would have it their
own way anyhow. you know! What do
you say" For answer the old doctor
suddenly kissed his daughter Then
he pushed her toward her lover
The two old men left the room to-
gether.
Eot Ouf nF the Wonds Vet