Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-03

Now, now, my DEAR" the steel maj
protested, I'm sure this naval chaI
is interested in what have to say. L
he invents guns himself he ought to bt
interested, and he. certainly paid at
tention."
Mrs. Durant's lips curled.
Paid attention." she shifted. q.
guess he paid attention because yo,
are Frances father, not for any othel
reason"
Durant pricked up his ears at once
Frances father?" he asked. How
should that interest this fellow?"
The father was plainly put out. He
had too long held the idea that the
name Of Durant in the steel worlt
would be perpetuated by the marriage
of Frances and his protege, Edward
Pinckney, for him to hear with equa-
nimity that penniless naval officer
was paying her any attention.
Now, look here, George Durant,
exclaimed his wife Indignantly, don't
you dare to pretend yourself that
Frances is not attractive!"
81 never pretended any such thing,
he protested.
"You did!" she declared insistently.
But, my dear
| Didn't you say you were surprised
that this naval man was paying heI
attention? That's the same thing a.
saying she's not attractive, and want
| to tell you that Frances is the pref
tiest girl in Pittsburg, even If she is
your daughter"
George Durant smiled placidly.
well, my dear, you see. she's bound
to be pretty. Think Of her mother"
Now, don't try to soft soap me just
because I'm your wife, George. Re-
member I've had twenty years Of your
blarney and I recognize it."
"All right, my DEAR" he agreed
We'll let it go at that. Let the naval
man pay attention to her. 1t won't
do him any good"
Il should hope not!" exclaimed his
wife piously. "The idea Of any gir
marrying a man who couldn't come
home nights more than one-tenth OF
the time!"
Edward Pinckney entered from the
library, where he had been to arrange
some business matters for his chief.
your stenographer is ready, sir
whenever you want-hers" he said.
| Mrs. Durant threw up her hands In
horror.
Good gracious, George, you are not
going to work on your first night
homer"
He looked at her in an apologetic
guilty fashion.
We'll, my dear, you see," he hesi-
tated, .'the work has to be done some
way, and 1 just wanted to get start
have to go over some matters with
Edward about this Rhinestrom sun
and also about this gun invented by
Sommers which we are casting for the
government. 1t won't be much work
and I have my stenographer and Sec
retary all ready"
Before the wife could protest fur
ther Frances and Sommers entered the
drawing room. The old steel man did
not give his wife a chance to argue.
"Ah, Sommers," he exclaimed gen.
tally, Il was just hoping you'd come
in! l owe you an apology, my wife
says, and / wanted to deliver it."
Apology! For what?" exclaimed
the lieutenant. mystified.
Durant winked at him.
why, Lieutenant Sommers," he
said, with assumed seriousness, 81
thought owed you an apology for my
| converation at dinner discussing the
truck gun work and steel and gun
making generally-those subjects In
which you have no interest and could
not understand"
Sommers, catching the spirit Of the
scene, bowed seriously.
Your apology is accepted, Mr.. Du-
rant" he said. Il thought myself II
was rather strange that you should
choose a subject on a thing neither one
of us knew anything about; but, OF
course, as you were host l Clipped In
and did the best l could. I hope my
remarks on the subject weren't alto
gether foolish"
| Durant turned to his wife.
There, my dear You see I've done
everything you asked. I've apologized
But really we only talked on that sub
ject because we both thought it was
the one thing you were interested in
so We'll have forgiveness all the way
round. And now I must get to work
| George" she pleaded.
He paused for one second, his hand
on the door.
only a little while. You'll all ex-
cuse me?"
Sommers and Pinckney bowed, but
Frances laughed out loud.
Dear old dad, what difference would
1t make whether we excuse you OF
not? We know you'll go anyway"
We'll. 1 won't be long," he protest
ed: really won't"
When the door had closed behind
him Mrs. Durant drew a long breath;
then she brought her foot down with
emphasis that was almost stamp.
I'm going into that study" she de-
clared, "and stay there until l get him
out. The idea of his beginning busi-
ness on the first night home! he
won't stay long after come in"
Indeed he won't" agreed Frances
You know" she went on, with
laughing explanation to Sommers
"whenever mother decides that father
simply shall not work she goes into
the room, takes a seat where he Is
lbound to see her and just sits there
staring at him reproachfully. She call:
it moral suasion."
But does it work." asked Sommers
Does it work." interpolated Pinck-
ney. IF you'd ever seen 1t you'd un-
derstand it would work"
Yes, indeed" exclaimed Frances
Father will struggle along for five oi
ten or even fifteen minutes, but at last
that steady stare gets too much for hi:
% o,ly ,tctn ntynS