The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-01-14
: His ~ ~
(: FIXTURE v. BY
: Wife," s sissss
Copyrighted 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.


! 9 Copyrighted. 1868. by Associated {
| & Literary Press <
| xss&44.4s@S@S@ A3,A@4@@@@@@@1
The judge fingered the dainty note
refectively. narrowed his keen gray
eyes breathed little faster-and star
tied himself by blushing. Yet the con-
tents Of the %issive were very simple,
very commonplace and ran as follows:
Pecan Grove, Oct. 90
My Dear Judge-Billy is very anxious
to have you run down for the week end
and has asked me to write and urge you
TO come.
a dozen of us-and We are going to wind
up with a big Halloween ball Saturday
evening, the 3lst
Come and learn who is to be your flu
ture wife. With best wishes.
DIANA lands.
Judge Underwood was abruptly con-
sctous OF Il vain and frivolous desire
to be young again. He even took out
bis pocket mirror and studied his re-
flection critically. noting the little fur
rows between his straight black
brows with an apprehensive heart
Would Miss Lands have written so
cordially had she dreamed of the reck.
less tide of emotions surgng within
him at the bare sight Of her we'll re-
membered little scrawl: Would she
have written at all? He thought not.
for Diana was but nineteen, and he
was lowering very close to forty.
Ten years ago he had taught her the
three Rs in the village school at Pecan
Grove, and five years ago she had been
the first to discover the half dozen sill
Yer hairs that had since grown into
the little tuft of gray above his left
temple.
Still. he could no more control the
feelings that obsessed him than he
could clip off the years that stood be-
tween him and his hearts desire. so
with al inpuIsive hand he seized a
pen from the rack and dashed down
his answer:
New York Oct %
Dear Miss Landis-Your kind invitation
reaches me at most opportune time, and
you may be sure l shall enjoy taking a
week off down at the Grove
The prospect of finding a life partner
! appeals to me almost much as the an
ticipation Of the visit as l am beginning
to need ballast very badly Sincerely
yours, r. II. UNDERWOOD.
AS soon as he had dispa tched his let.
ter the judge thrust aside the clamor.
Ing pile Of briefs on his desk, picked
up his hat and hurried down to his
tailor's.
When Informed by his sartorial ex-
cellency that the pearl gray, just com.
pleted made him look like boy" the
judge was again so foolish as to allow
his face to grow red, but he merely
scowled in reply and ordered the suit
sent to his rooms at once.
The next morning at he left on his
Journey, reaching Pecan Grove at in
the afternoon. Billy Lands was at the
station with a smart little trap, and
they had an exhilarating two mile spin
through the hectic autumn woods.
The judge longed to ask some cues.
lions about Diana. but kept craftily
silent. hoping that Billy would present
ly volunteer little information.
And after thrashing out every otheI
subject under the sun-so it seemed to
his .guest-Billy finally remarked: 1--WE
have six girls-angels. all of them-and
six Of the opposite variety of brute, in
GLIDING you and myself. Di has plan
ned no end Of thrilling stunts for every
day in the week, she and Teddy Car
stairs"
The judge felt his heart drop like a
leaden plummet but he forced him.
self to say. matter Of factly: Il don't
think / ever heard OF the name down
here. Is he
"Of course you didn't" interposed
Billy quickly. They're nice Eng
lish family who have leased the ad-
joining plantation. Teddy is the old
est boy He's brick too
Judge Underwood was keenly con-
scious of desire to kick himself clear
back to New York. Why ever had he
succumbed idiotically to the tempta-
ton Of the moment in allowing himself
to be inveigled down here? He had
permitted himself to be made fool of
by girls offer Of friendly hospitality,
by tailors stupid drivel, by his own
arrant imbecility.
But he managed adroitly to box up
his feelings and observe with a sur
prising degree Of enthusiasm: ut was
awfully good of you all to have me
down. I was just on the verge of stag
ma ton, and this little breath OF fresh
air will set me up considerab bly,"
Then with the deadliest sensations
be had ever experienced the judge
pulled smile to his lips and light to
his eyes as they drove up with -four
ish under the porte-cochere.
The first person his gaze rested on
was Diana herself. She ran out with
both slim brown hands extended in
welcome and a beautiful flush show
ing wildly through the apricot tan Of
her cheeks I'm SO glad to see you,
Judge" she said. 1T seems like a GEN.
fury since you went away, yet it's been
only two years, hasn't it?'