Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-02-16

pcct you 70 act according 70 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 Allda's father
and took up the last clause In his rec
concentrations.
I'VE SHALL" he said-"for I speak
also for Robertson-obey you, doctor,
as far as In us lies. But, s%upposlng that
your daughters Will none Of us and our
homes. what then7 You have coun-
seled us. 1t Is therefore your duty to
uphold us in the way that eve did
run smooth! VIII you aid and abet
us2 In any such scheme have we your
cooperation and support 90 your con-
sentT' The words, lightly spoken, had
still an u~ndercurrent of serious mean
ing. do you pledge us your fatherly
s~anctlOny' He paused for a reply, and
at a signal from Judge Payne they
rose as one man and uttered a solemn
Eve do"
A few days later DR.. Marston
brought Judge Payne home from the
chess club for a midnight lunch. The
light burned low I'm the library, but
passing through the dim hall they
heard sounds OF mirth emanatlng from
the dining room. The doctor pushed
aside the portleres.
In the soft candle light Aida presid-
ed ut n dainty lunch. Philip Hardy
sat opposite. and ut her right William
Robertson faced Eleanor Payne. The
young folks rose gleefully.
Join usF' they cried, but the doc
tor shook his head.
'The judge and l have outlived mid
night lobster salads and Welsh rabbits.
Wen have Dutch lunch I'm the library.
You seem to be having a good timel"
He beamed on them. MAY 1 ask If
these festivities mean anything in par
ticular?"
''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.
"Slr," spoke Hardy, this is some
thing rather especial. We are celebrat-
ing tie 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
took-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, land doctor, we
al faithful Twenty-fivers, are follow.
ing instructions. The other evening
you, doctor, babe us establish homes OF
WI with a Westerville girl Ii
each. You, judge, with the others
pledged us your support and consent
l have also the consent Of your daugh
ter, whom l have wanted since W,
were in college together. May l hav,
her soonT' Then, before the judgl
could reply, Hardy addressed the doc
tor:
Doctor, redeem your word to sane
ton with your fatherly consent any
attempt Of mine to marry a Wester
vile girl. 1 have been among you ST.,
m~onths--six minutes was enough t
make me want Alida-and you knew
my father" The two young couples
faced the old gentlemen, who finally
found their tongues.
But / thought
"I wanted Philip" Aida interrupt
ed.
"And I wanted WILL" added Eleanor
The judge laughed.
"And they wanted you-and you dom
want us just at present. 1 take it, Doc
tor. where's the library and that Dutcl
lunch? / think we had better adjourn
and adjust ourselves to the new orde,
Of things. They would have It thei
own way anyhow, you knowl What d,
you say2" For answer the old docto
suddenly kissed his daughter. Thel
he pushed her toward her lover.
The two old men left the room to
gether.