The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-11-26

fut5tfN tauRbA UT NJ IL AhC StipNei
d me out tell you turning on Sci
u wyn. children are whai make ~
y worth VIII He ceased abruptly at
G gentle tap from his wife's foot, an,
J. Selwyn looked up.
Whether or not be diylned the inter
! ference. he said very quietly; I'D rath
er have had children than anything II
J the world They're about the bes
there Is In life agree with you
, Austin"
His sister, watching him askance
was relieved to see his troubled face
become serene, though she OWNED the
, effort.
kids are the best" he repeated
smiling at her. Failing them for
second choice I've taken 10 the labora-
tory. Some day m invent something
i. aud assonIsh you. Nina"
"We'll 6t you up a corking labora.
tory" began Austin cordially There
Is'-
you're very good Perhaps you'll
all be civil enough to move out OF the
house II | need more room for bottles
and retorts"-
"Of course PIN must have his labora
tory" insisted Nina There's loads
/ Of unused room In this big barn. only
I you don't mind being at the top OF the
house. do you, Phll?"
Yes, do want TO be In the
a ro xpGpy rnnp, nr unpna a. bara On that
you all may enjoy the odors and get
1 the benefit Of premature explosions.
| Oh, come now, Austin, II you think
I'm going to plant myself here on
YOU
Don't notice him. AUSTIN said
Nina; "he only wishes to be implored
And by the same token you'd both
better LET me ippore you to dress!''
She rose and bent forward In the fire
light to peer at the clock Goodness!
DO you creatures think I'm going to
give Eileen half an hours start with
her maid and | carrying my twelve
years handicap too? No, indeed I'm
decrepit. but I'm going TO die lighting |
Austin, get upl You're horribly slow
anyhow. Phil, Austln's man-such as
be is-will be at your disposal, and
your luggage is unpacked
In the hallway Selwyn and Austin
encountered radiant and bewiIdering
vision awaiting them Eileen In all her
glory.
"Wonderful!' said Gerard. patting
the Visions rounded bare arm as he
hurried past. Fine gown, fine girl,
But I've got to dress. and so has Phil
ip.' He meant we'll
do you like 1t, Captain Selwynr
asked the girl. turning to confront
him where he had halted Gerard
isn't coming, and-l thought perhaps
you'd be Interested"
The formal, half patronizing compli.
ment on his tongues tip remained
there unsald He stood silent, touched
by the faint underringing wistfuness
in the laughing voice that challenged
bis opinion. and something within him
responded In time:
Your gown Is a beauty. such won.
derful lace. OF course anybody would
know It came straight from Paris or
from some other celestial region"
She colored enchantingly and. with I
pretty. frank impulse, held out both /
her hands to him. I
"You are a dear Captain Selwyn! 1t
Is my first real dinner gown. and I'm s
quite mad about II. and somehow | /
wanted the family TO share my mad
ness with me. Nina Will She gave II c
10 me, the darling Austin admires II
too. Of course but he doesn't notice =
such things very closely. and Gerald
sn't here. Thank you for letting me :
show II TO you before 20 down"
She gave both bis hands a friendly
little shake and. glancing down at her :
kirt In blissfui consciousness Of Its 7
perfection, stepped backward into her u
,wn room. u
Later while he stood at his dresser =
an immaculate knot In his .
white tie, Nina knocked
Hurry. Phil! Oh may come Inf =
iou ought to be downstairs with us, !.
ou know And 1t was very sweet OF y
ou 10 be SO nice to Eileen. The child u
lad tears IN her eyes when went In. ~
ID. Just a single diamond drop In each
our sympathy aud interest did II. ~
hink the child misses her father on an ~
ccasion such as this-the beginning Of W
fe, the iirst step out into the world
len do not understand what II means ~
} us. Gerald doesn't, I'm sure, I've o'
cen watching her, and | know the "
hadow OF that dreadful tragedy falls 'i
u her more often than Austin and
re aware Of You are among your ne
wn people, anyhow" en
His own people. The impatient ten ~,
aruess Of his sisters words had been n,
,unding IN bis ears all through the -
'enIue. They rang out clear and In. g.
sieni amid the tumult OF the dinner
2 heard them In the laughing confn ~ ~
on Of youthful voices They stole ~
10 the delicate undert0nes OF the mu. -.
c 10 mock BIN The rustling OF silk
"a lace repeated them. The high pr
.els OF satin slippers echoed them In as
ony
His own peDplel ~
The scent OF oHerteated flowers. the Ia;
Idden warm breeze eddyIng from q 70
prlclous fan. the mourning thrill OF bii
e siollns, emphasized the emphasis OF an
e words. be
And they sounded sadder and more IN
now 10 him. here 10 bis
70 room. until the mono,ony Of their
mockey began 10 unnerve lar
10. COS
he turusd on the electricity. shranl me
Dm f. exiingulsfed Il And for OF
az time be sat there 10 the dark 'en
- Of early morning bis untitled pipe an.
,tched N his neryeless hand shi