Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-30

4 yAA ACAS IAN <
more than usual that morning. For
four year she had been plotting her
nephew. a young minister, past all
kinds Of matrimonial snares. only to
find that when the right girl came
along he was as blind and as unre-
%sponsive as though he had been made
of wood.
True. he had never been even slight
ly conscious of the aforesaid matrimon-
ial snares. and had not known that she
was plotting him past anything. How
should he?-for nature, While giving
him six feet of height, n power and
logic and eloquence in the pulpit. had
ordained that he should be as clay in
the hands of potters when it came to
worldly affairs.
AS for Mrs. Lynn, while he was In
his study busy with next Sundays SER
mon, she was expressing herself an
sparingly to old Jane.
It's really rather too bad Of Dick
it's not at al! what l expected of him!"
she declared. Here's Grace Noble.
pretty and sensible, and with so much
taste-and a sweet voice-and I can't
endure a screeching woman-and no
relatives to speak of never could
dream of having Dick marry "a woman
with an odious mother to come here
and dictate to me-and she has little
money, though I'm not particular about
that have enough for Dick
She paused to take a breath n to
sigh a little. which gave Jane an oppor-
tunity TO remark fatuously:
Perhaps he hasn't noticed her. He's
not worryin' about no woman"
mo he hasn't noticed her." replied
Mrs. Lynn with spirit. Il have her
here to dinner, and go off and lie down
afterwards on purpose. and he sits up
there and talks books the whole time.
Books! And once he came out and
met her in the moonlight, and he stood
there and talked flowers. No wonder
h doesn't like to come over here.
When he was gone that last time l
pretended that he was to be ava all
night and begged her to stay with me
almost lying for his sake, Jane-an-
other little bit and it would have been
a falsehood!-and he came back and
wasn't in the house five minutes be-
fore he was off to see old Pennypacker
becaues he was ill! What is anyone to
do with a man like that?"
Il wouldn't worry myself with no
man." said Jane s~ententiously, thus vir-
tually admitting hat the problem was
too much for her.
Yes. but / can't leave him alone"
said Mrs. Lynn. with II tragic emphasis.
IF l do he is likely to marry just any
body-perhaps that sandy-haired
Gaines girl-and think of her mother!
Someone's at the door Jane"
Mrs: Lynn was still reviewing the
situation and grieving over it desper-
ately when Jane returned.
That young Harrison to see you
ma al she said with the privilege of
age and Mrs. Lynn went to meet the
young Tom Harrison.
When she emerged from her con-
ference with the much embarrassed
young man a cOntemplative look was
upon her face and a new look in her
eyes.
I'll see what can be done, Tom"
she said cordially, and a sense of jus
tice to Tom, forced her to add, but /
don't think you need expect anything"
I'm not hoping much he confessed
gloolnily. But l knew you were so
intimate-and perhaps if she knew you
thought we'll of met
"Of course" said Mrs. Lynn, busily
plotting treason against Tom. Good
by. Tell your mother I'll send her that
pickle recipe next week.
With an innocent countenance and a
gufleless heart Mrs. Lynn made her
way into the study.
DO you NOW how you like Tom
Harrison, Dick" she said with a warm
and graceful interest. Wei he's just
been here-and he wants you to UNI
dertake a very delicate mission for
him.
What is it? ! should be glad to help
Tom said the Rev. Richard Moore,
pushing his books away
Il knew you would" Mrs. Lynn hast
ened to assure him. II told Tom you
would. He's in love with q girl, you
know, and he's SO timid and feels so
unworthy, n so afraid Of a refusal
and he thinks If you would go first
and talk to the girl about 1t, and tell
her how much everyone thinks of Tom
how much you think, especially
He lowered before her, agast.
We'll, 1 should certainly call that too
delicate a mission, he cried. Let him
go himself"
Il told him you would CO., said Mrs.
Lynn. unmoved. He'd never go-and
therell be his happiness spoilt for his
whole life. Grace thinks so much of you
its Grace you know-shell listen to
what you say. She went by with her
sketch book a little while ago. You'll
find her out in the park, l think"
He did not move.
You mean Miss Noble? 2" he asked.
Don't o think she is rather superior
TO Tom?" she said. with great
cheerfulness. "Of course she is-but so
IS every Woman to any man she is like
equals they'd all die old maids. Go
along with you. Dick. and do the best
you can for Tom.'
When the young man found Miss
Noble h had carefully established
herself in a remote corner OF the park,
and the sketch she was painting. he
! saw as he came up, should have in
cluded a bending tree with a glimpse of
water under it. What was there about
such a picture to make one TURF it up
side down with frantic haste and shut
the books over 1t? She stood up the
color rushing to her face and the minis
ter stood and looked down at her. He
i WOE a II Mt 0pn@~ fH>A