Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-10-07
An Unworthy
Suitor
By ELLA n. PEARcE
'NOODBY." said Eva June, gayly,
u and her companion lifted his

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the girls cheeks turn to a deeper
pink.
Eva closed the gate. and walked
briskly to the steps Of the old-fash
toned mansion that stood in the midst
of spacious, well-kept grounds.
Once the June estate had been vel
in the suburbs, but now the growth
of the town had almost overtaken it.
From the wide balcony one could see
rows Of dwellings, and at the corner
an enterprising builder was erecting
a large block of fats; but the ole
house and grounds remained as they
had been for many years.
AS Eva stepped across the threshold
of her home an elderly man advanced
from an adjacent room.
IVA that Lon with your" he asked
mo, papa" replied Eva, turning
toward the stairs.
oval a minute" said her father
with a show of irritation. "WhC
was it?'
Eva looked down as she answered
NIL LdASs IlG ulCI ulG III LuC City.
Mr.. June's brow clouded.
Il do not like that Wilfred Lang.
wish you to have nothing to do will
him," he said. II don't like thai
smooth, ~hypocritical way of his; he
doesn't appear to me like a gentle
man"
"Oh, papa, how can you say SOP
protested Eva. His are ir
reproachable."
ooh, / know he's handsome and
dresses WELL" said the other; 'but
don't like him-that's enough. He will
never be welcome in my house, re-
member that"
AS Eva assembled the stairs, her eyes
filled with tears at her fathers un'
usual harshness.
Such injustice!" she thought.
But it is partly Ions fault; he has
prejudiced papa. l shall hate him il
he continues to interfere with me. ]
wish Ire were not coming tonight"
Nevertheless, she arrayed herself
that evening in a most becoming cos
tune of rose and black, and fastened
a spray of flowers coquettishly in her
dark hair; then, to prove her complete
Indifference to her expected caller, she
seated herself at the piano and began
singing a popular song, although she
heard his footsteps along the hall.
Lon Swarton approached; but Eva,
with persistency, kept on singing verse
after verse, till at, last he bent over
her and laid his hands upon the little
fingers touching the keys.
"Oh, is it you?" she said, airily
wheeling about. How mean of you
to interrupt me-"
How long would you have me
waltz" asked her visitor. 81 like te
hear you sing, Eva, but, l wanted al
least to be made welcome"
Lon Swarton was tall, dark and dig
nified; his serious face and quiet man
ner were a decided contrast to the
blond, effeminate beauty and dashing
ways of Wilfred Lang.
He never liked to find Eva in this
teasing, rebellious mood; he was nc
trifier himself, and lately he had be.
gun to fear that the girl he loved was
drifting away from him.
II don't know whether you are well
come or not" said Eva, with a little
toss of her dainty head. 81 am vexed
with you, Lon. You have known me
for a long time, and, l dare say, fee
much interest in my welfare; but you
presume too much Of our friendship
when you try to prejudice my father
against my friends"
What are you talking about?" asked
her companion, quietly.
about Wilfred Lang. Papa has for.
hidden him the house, and it is your
fault" replied Eva. HE believes
everything you say. and when you
tell him that Wilfred Lang is not a
gentleman, or fit company for his
daughter, of course he takes your word
for it."
EVA, you are unjust" said Lon.
Il admit that l do not like Wilfred
Lang. He is a man of whom we know
little; but | never tried to influence
your father. But what is Wilfred Lang
to your"
The deepening flush on the girls
cheeks, the downcast eyes, the silence
hat followed his question-all served
to rouse the jealous passion in the
mans heart.
"You have seen him lately; you
wish to see him again!" he said, fierce
ly. EVA, is it possible you really care
for that mans society? Do not trihe
with me-! Have you promised to see
him again?"
"You have no right to ask" an,
swered Eva, cresting her head.
II have a right" he said. More
than that forbid it,"
Eva faced him in sudden, girlish
passion.
II deny that you have a right to
dictate to me. l shall do just as |
pleased"
Lon Swarton rose, pale and deter
mined; the affair was beginning to
assume a serious aspect. He felt that
he was injured, defied, and that an
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