The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-04-22
The Siege
| of the
Seven SuitOrS
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright. 1910. by Meredith Nicholson

@. certainty 1o. MT. noIiisttt. rur
may as well assume that, as Wiggins
Is specially favored In the number OF
letters I'm his singularly prosaic and un
romantic name, 1t is Miss HOLSTERS
plan to keep him dallying seven years
He seized me by the arm and forced
stood or and eyed me flercely.
"You speak Of serving and Of service
VIII you tell me just why you are here
and what brings you into this affair
What are you doing In my sisters
house, where I have to come like q
thief in the night to see one Of my
own children2"
I fastened to declare my profession
and that had been summoned by Miss
HOLSTER to examine her chimneys.
could not, however, tell him that until
my arrival the chimneys had behaved
themselves admirably.
you've admitted your friendship for
this Virgins person-that's enough,
he said when I had concluded. ~ nd
wise you to leave the house at once.
tell you he's got to be eliminated from
the situation. Understand that | do
not threaten you with violence, but l
will not promise to abstain from visit
ing heavy punishment upon that fell
low. And you? A chimney doctor? |
am man OF considerable knowledge
Of the world, and say to you very
candidy that | don't believe there Ia
any such profession.
''rhen let me tell YOU" replied, not
without heat. that am graduate Ia
architecture. 4 am your sisters guest,
and rs she IL perfectly competent to
manage her own affairs | shall stay
here as long as 1t pleases her to ask
me to remain. And now, one other
matter. How did you gain this roof
tonight, when by your own admission
you are not on such terms with your
sister as would justify you in entering
II openly"
The moonlight did not fail to convey
the contempt in his face, but thought
he grinned as he answered quietly:
You don't seem to understand.
young man, that you are entitled TO no
explanations from me. You strike me
as singularly fresh young person. 1t
would be positive grief to me to feel
that my conduct had displeased you.
And now, as the night grows chill, |
shall beg you to precede me into the
hnrSc by the way you came"
u first" persisted, "let me ask Il
Question. II Is possible that you your
self have some preference among your
daughters several suitors, Mr.. Hollis
ter. Would you object to telling me
which one you would choose for Miss
Cecilia?"
Beyond question the man for Ce.
ella, II have any voice In the matter.
Is Lord Arrowood."
"Arrowoodr' | exclaimed. "You sur
prise me greatly. | saw him at the
inn, and he seemed to me the most In
significant and uninteresting one of the
lot"
THAT proves you person OF poor
gifts Of discernment, Mr. Ames" And
his tone and manner were quite rem
iniscent of his sisters ways, and his
further explanation proved him even
more worthily the brother of his sis
ter.
AS ] was obliged" he began, low.
Ing to an unfortunate physical handi-
cap. to abandon my art. that of a ma.
rine painter, | have given my atten-
ton for number of years to the
study of the Irish situation. met
Arrowood by chance In the highway
yesterday, and | found that he holds
exactly my ideas, which favor Irish
Independence. This certainly had the
true HOLSTER touch,
And So" Bassford HOLSTER con.
Guided L naturally incline toward
Arrowcod, thoue = he is so poor that
he was Obliged to come over in the
steerage to continue his wooing of my
daughter"
He let himself down into the dark
trunk room, waited for me courteously
and walked by my side to the stair.
way, both of us maintaining silence.
was deeply curious to know how he
had entered and whether he expected
to 60 down the front way and out the
main door. We kept together to the
third floor hall. | could have sworn
to that Then suddenly, just as we
reached the stairway, out went the
lights, and we were in utter darkness |
smothered an exclamation, clutched |
my matches and struck a light, and
as the stick famed slowly / looked !
about for Bassford HOLSTER. But he
Bad vanished as suddenly and com.
pletely as though trap had yawned |
beneath us and swallowed him. | !
found the third door switch, and It
responded Immediately, flooding the