The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29

4
ncter," even as a literary man; he had
mover hoped for so lofty an alliance And
yet he could not say that he wholly liked
lit This was q strange crcature--hlghly
| gifted, doubtless. but hardly comfortable.
| I1o was too thick" with ghosts. Ono
scarcely knew whether he spent most OF
his time ''on earth or In hell" MS Saul
cridely plrased 1t. The faint smell OF
! phosphorus that he carried about with
! him. which was only due to Ills imperfect
| additions after his seances, impressed
saul's imagination MS gbing to show that
| Bot was q little too intimate With tho
underground powers He stood chewing a
shaving and weighing the matter In Ills
mind a moment before he answered. lie
thought TO himself. After all. lie is
making living. I have secn az much
Ms nvo dollars at one Of his scetinses"
But the only reply he was nblc to make
to Bolts pointbank question was:
| well, dunno"
The words were hardly encouraging,
but the tone was weakly compliant. Bott
felt that his cause was gained, and
thought he might chatter a little.
"Of course he said. IL would like TO
have u few things understood TO start
with. am very particular in business
matters"
That's right" said Saul, who began
to think that this was n very systematic
and mcthodlcal man.
II nm able TO support wife or
would not ask for one" said Bot.
"Eexactly," said Saul, with crusion:
that's just what l was saying 10 my.
SELF
ooh, You was!' said Bot, scowling and
hesitating. You was, was your" Then.
after moments pause. In which no eyed
Saul attcntively, he continued: Well
that's 80. At tho same time. am a
| b(lSncEs 7 xlnp nj In IT,,
you can do for your girl"
Not much Of anything Mr. Bott. II
| you must know. Matte is maxim he,
own living
Yes. That's nil right. Does she pay
you for her board? r.
Look here. Mr.. Bot, that ain't none
OF your business yet. anyhow She don't
pay no board while she stays here: but
that amt no body's business"
| oh, no .offense, sir, none In the world
Only am business man, and don.t
| want MISUNDERSTANDING So she don't
| And suppose yon don't want TO part
! with your last child--now. do you? It's
like breaking your hcart-strfngs, now,
| amt it?' he said. In his most scnt,
| mental lecture voice
Well, no. l can't say It is. Matt!e's
welcome In my house while live but,
| OF course. she'll leave me some day. and
| III wish her JOY"
why should that be? My dear sir,
why should that hc?" Bolts voice grew
greasy with sweetness and persuasion.
why not all live together? / Will be
to you as a son. Maud will soothe your
| SAUL"
The old carpenter looked IN with a
| keen twinkle OF his eye.
You and your wife would like 10 boar.l
with US when you are married? Well.
mebbe we can arrange that"
This was not quite what Bot OK.
pected, but he thought best to shy no
/ more on that subject FOR the moment
Saul then asked the question that had
all along been lowering on his lips
have you spoke to Matte yet 2"
The seer blushed and simpered, II
thought it my duty to speak first TO
| you: but I do not doubt her heart"
| oh! you DON'T said Saul. with a
! world OF meaning. You better find out.
| You'll find her in the house..
| Bot went to the house. leaving Saul
ponderlng Girls were queer cattle. Had
| Matte given her word to this s,nbsidc,l
lnnky fellow? Had she given sam
seeny the nItten for him? Perhaps she
| wanted the glory OF being Mrs. Professor
Rott. Well. she could do as she liked.
but Saul swore softly to himself, III
Bott comes to live often me, he's got to
pay his board"
Meanwhile. the seer was walking not
without some inward perturbation. to
tho house, where his fate awaited him
It would have been hard to find c,ar
more confident and more fatuous: but
even such fools as he have their moments
! OF doubt and faterng when they an.
hroach the not altogether known. He
had not entertained the slightest tues-
tion OF Mnud's devotion to him. the
night she asked from him the counsel OF
tho spirits But he had seen her several
times since that, and she had never re-
newed the subject He was In two minda
about It, Sometimes he imagined she
might have changed her purpose: ana
i then no would comfort himself with the
| moro natural supposlton that maiden
nodesty had been too much for her
and that she was nnxlously awaiting ms
| proffer He had at lnnt girded up his
Joins Hike a man and determined to know
his doom. He had first nscertained the
a amount OF Maud's salary ut the library
and then. as we sec, had endeaNored 20
porvide for his subsistence at Snulis eH-
pensc: and now nothing was waning
but tho mniden's consent. He tremnlca Q
,ittle but It wns more with hope than
| fear. Hc could not mako himself believe
that there was any danger--but ne WISH
ed It were over and all We're well. ne
paused as no drew near the aoot, az
i was conscious that his hands were als-
n,greeably cold and moist ne TOOK OUT
he handkerchief and wiped them, rub
h ,,n then, brskly together. though the
dny day was clear and warm, and the per-
But there was escape Re kne %hd q +
tic door, which was q 9peneu by MAUD NAV ans
pper kindness that restored his conf,
a snnno They sat down together, ana
MaMd chatted gayly md pleasantly
about the weather and the news w., NV
s no s.n apush's n qt new wsp1ny
Iur!' eo,,,t to marry the third son OF nm
a. Mna fish earl. Maud discussed the nd
, EmsMsm Of tho match on either sldo
va If she had been the friend from
ah,1dhood of both parties,
nmddenly. while she was talking about
~ sort looming wedding, the thought
anenrred to Bot, "Mebba this Is hint
sor ma" and he plunged into his avowal,
Tnrning hot and cold at once. and wrln.s'
inn his moist hands ms he spoke, 10