Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-20
SIOan'S
Curiosity
b. NabrH Shippie CMfke
Copyright. by shorts,ory pub. Co..

scene OF eMDarraS.h' was !"
progress in Mrs. Parker S!onh H.
brary. Mrs. Sloan was YER, much
woman of the world. yet 1t WAS ell
dent that there was an mndercurret
Of feeling beneath her air Of calm
attention. The young man before A":'
though usually Of pnviable self-posseS-
sion wore an expression approaching
guilt. The fac: was that Mr.. Simms
MIR. G. r. s. Simms, North Carolina.
his card read, In the generous s'yie IN
which sonthsrners imply that they ar"
known throughout their state MI
Simms was asking Mrs. Sloan for me
privilege OF marrying her daughter
and Mrs. Sloan worry properly had
asked him several questions. on" OF
which he had declined TO answer.
Hence the strained situation.
Not that it should BE- inferred for Il
moment that so practical and far-s'"
ing a person AZ Mrs. Sloan mad h"'
made investigation anent Mr.. Simms.
and his position. financial and social.
long before his ardor had reached the
present crisis Left for many years
~ widow, she had proved herself an "<-
r.llcnt woman Of business. and when
Young Simms became devoted 70
Nathalie. she had, as a matter ot
course. written to a lawyer III the
town from which he came, and asked
certain questions which she felt SaT''
!at Mr.. Sloan would have asked mad
be been living.
Tie renly had been satisfactory. &.
F. s. Sinms was the only child and
heir of McRae Simms. n'an rich.
philanth,opic and eccentric. Mr..
Smms had left his son this. that. and
The 6ther real estate. valued a. an
amount tina, would have gon" far to
content Mrs Sloan had his social posi-
ZION been not SO satisfactory as II
WAS. She knew. besides. that he hac
ccn" 10 Bos:cn well Introduced. was
q member OF two good clubs, was ScOl
looking. with the dark hair and eyes
,ha, nortl,erners think is more typical
Of the south than is true. ana was
we'll read. and altogether desirable
match for Nathalie.
or coursr Nathalie knew nothing OF
her mothers researches. She Ia"
hecn asked to 10 the handsome yonns
fellows wife. and sh" had said that
She would II nlammn was willing
There was look in he; blu" eyeS--H
look strikingly Hike her notices.. too
tina, said that she would even
mamma werr no: willing
! And now this painful interview. j
had not been painfm! until after Mrs
Sloan bad asked her t.ucsticns--ve-y
spontaneously, be !, said. to the cr"d''
OF her dramatic power-and received
/, replies to them which corrcbornte ct
; her North Cnroiica correspondent. arf
AT has, had said With her 'nsos Egraticn'
smile. for she could be very winning
; My dear Mr. Simms. sec no rea
son why YOU and Na;hali" should no
: h.. happy. and As for me-. | snail b'
-,od TO have n son as well as II dangh
! ter"
Sinus had bcarrd upon her. ans
t had thought her q armipg. WITH he
| fine figure, and snow white hair rolled
, Gl.0 ADCNe UeT StAI 'i'"h irs'.
But she spoiled i: all. Mr. Sinm
had known that it must come. soDne
i or later, but he wished that II hn'
no. come Just now. when he was 81
happy.
! 1T seems curious TO think that
! though W.. know YOU 80 we'll. We don
, know your first name. What am ! t
, cal my son
! Mr.. Simms flushed. hut answered
! w:,hou, hesitation: My famfl! an
nv intimate friends have a!waI
! ca'i.,6 mo C.
&C. How very strange: and VIA
is I, really"
; Oh. a curious l. ne OF my ia;:r'.
1 sels:tion. I've ted you. haven
! iha; he vas ecccr;ric
! 4 always say tina; child ought -
{, have a name until he Il old 3cu':'
! 70 no consulted about Il. And yonr
, s."-,cn;ativelr.
Simms fol. 'ha, he must 'as" NJ
| stand n; once. aud y" replied vii,
/ decision.
! NJ name. Mrs. S:oan. - Ne'y d'S
| ,ur,cah,r to ~. and hGv" nc"'
u...I anything but my initi1!s y
family and friends. sS I said III .
! called me G' all | should U'"sc: n"
! 30 ,r:i my Christian ram" even u
! you"
| II vas here 'ha: Mrs. Slo1as "r
rarsocr Of CAIN attention va
ru~cd tus, a We" hi, ny Tho i''ri'a'i"
.bc IVES e.v.riHncing. and 'har IN
! vornS man OF III" otacr sid" OF VI
| room wore q distinctly Sr''y loon.
But wouldp'' i u" br'seT for
| tn AK IL over fran.!y now. We" ="
| .h.rr will b. SO manv questions ask
| about nevcou"r. N"rha:' - We
! concord ard >nd"v"T-f: Teg''T"s
| residence " fhr"c generations. q