The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-11-19

VI tteiinS beneath her air OF calm n
attention. The young man before her. n
though usually OF enviable seif-posses- n
sion. wore an expression approaching a
guilt. The fact was that MIR. Simms s
MIR. G, F. S. Simms. North Carolina. /,
his card read, In the generous style in \
which southerners imply that they are c
known throughout their state-Mr. @
Simms was asking Mrs. Sloan for the h
privilege of marrying her daughter. G
and Mrs. Sloan very properly had
asked him several questions, one OF ,
which he had declined 20 answer {
Hence the strained situation.
Not that 1t should be inferred for
moment that so practical and farsee
ing person as Mrs. Sloan had not
made investigation anent MIR, Simms.
and his position. financial and social.
long before his ardor had reached the
present crisis. Left for many years
a widow, she had proved herself an ex.
cellent woman of business, and when
young Simms became devoted to
Nathalie. she had as a matter OF
course, written to a lawyer in the
town from which he came, and asked
certain questions which she felt sure
tina, Mr.. Sloan would have asked had
he been living
| The reply had been satisfactory @.
f. S. Simms was the only child and
| heir of McRae Simms. a man rich.
| philanthropic and eccentric. Mr. |
Simms had left his son this, that, and |
the other real estate. valued at an |
amount that would have gone far to
content Mrs. Sloan had his social posi-
ton been not so satisfactory as II
was. She knew, besides. that he had
come to Boston well introduced, was
a member OF two good clubs. was good
looking. with the dark hair and eyes
that northerners think is more typical
of the south than is true. and was
we'll read, and altogether a desirable
match for Nathalie.
OF course Nathalie knew nothing OF
her mothers researches. She had
been asked to be the handsome young
fellows wife, and she had said that
she would II mamma was willing.
There was look In her blue eyes--a
look strikingly like her mothers, too
that said that she would even II
mamma were not willing
And now this painful interview II
, had not been painful until after Mrs.
Sloanshad asked her questions-very
spontaneously be II said, to the credit
OF her dramatic power--Rnd received
/ replies to them which corroborated
: her North Carolina correspondent. and
at last had said with her most gracious
= smile, for she could be very winning
' my dear Mr.. Simms. see no rea
I son why you and Nathalie should not
( be happy, and as for me. | shall be
glad TO have son as well as a daugh
ter"
Simms had beamed upon her. and
had thought her charming. with hei
fine figure, and snow-white hair rolled
high above her still fresh face.
But she spoiled 1t all. Mr., Simm'
had known that It must come. soonei
or later. but he wished that II hat
not come just now, when he was Sc
happy.
1T seems curious TO think that
though we know you so well. we don
know your first name. What am e
call my SOM"
Mr. Simms flushed, but answered
without hesitation: MY family ant
my intimate friends have Away
called me c."
&c? How very strangel and wha
is II really?"
oh a curious name OF my father
selection. I've told you, haven't
that he was eccentrlc7"
Il always say that child ought no
| 10. l.. AZ
to be consulted about IL. And your
is systematically.
Simms felt that he must take hi
stand at once, and he replied witt
decision.
my name, Mrs. Sloan. is very dis
agreeable to me, and | have neve
Z used anything but my initials. NJ,
family and friends. as I said. hav
le called me G. and should prefer no
at TO tell my Christian name even Il
"a you"
. II was here that Mrs. Sloan's az
pearance Of calm attention wa
RULED Just a wee bit by the Irritation
N she was experiencing. and that tn
Young man on the other side OF III
~ room wore distinctly guilty look.
-. But wouldn't il be better for u
to talk it over frankly now You se
! there will be so many questions aske
IN about a newcomer. Norman Is lis
Concord and Andorer-it requires
residence OF three generations. q
least. to remove the stigma Of being
late arrival.
She said Il very well. but she ha
met with an obstlnacy equal 10 he
:, own.
= Should II ever be necessary Niri
" Sloan. you may depend upon me ia
meeting the necessity: and. until ther
let me ask that you will not refer I
the matter"
n And Nathalie?'
Nc Il suppose may see her now
returned Slmms. wilfully misuEaei
standing her.
Mrs Sloan went TO cali her daugl
ter. and C" told her all about II. an
~ she said that she didn't care III
IT. least bit in the world what his nam
4. b,d any At ali