The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-12
Queer
Mr.. Gunter
BY F. A. Mitchell

sEilu uuLnOI lnut lew PCAoohS eAeSA
stood. If he did one a favor he ac-
companied it with a slap; II he gave
q slap he accompanied 1t with favor
The consequence was that the object
Of his favors and his slaps didn't know
whether to love or to hate him.
Possibly the only person who thor
oughly understood Mr.. Gunter was his
daughter, Clara. The reason OF her
understanding was that she was
chip of the old block. She was the
apple Of his eye Whatever she want
ed of him she got; whatever he wanted
OF her he didn't get, though there was
nothing he wanted from her except a
demonstration of affection, and she
was so much like him that the more
she loved him the more indifferently
she treated him.
Well, the time came-as 1t usually |
does with girls-when she got a lover. |
She went into the country for the sum- |
mer and came back engaged. On her
return she said to her father:
Papa, have met the man ! wish
to marry. He viii come to see you to
ask you for me. That, of course, Is a
mere form. l am too like you to be
thwarted in anything / desire There
fore you have only to give your con- ;
sent, though hope you viii be
! pleased"
/ Gust So" remarked the parent
Miss Gunter turned away, but paus-
ed. looking at her father with bit Of
anxiety in her expression.
"Papa," she said, 81 hope you won't
perpetrate any of your peculiarities on
Mr.. Auchincloss. Please remember that
he is a stranger to you, and even II
he had known you all his life he would
not understand you"
"My dear, am too much like you to
refrain from whatever may occur to
me. shall doubtless do as you would
do II similarly placed. am sorry to
have a daughter with so many Of my
own imperfections and am sorry to
have SO many of my daughters imper-
fections."
That Miss Clara was uneasy was evi.
dent. Nevertheless she said no more.
The same evening Mr.. Auchincloss call.
ed, asked for Mr.. Gunter and was In
troduced into that gentleman's study.
Possibly, Mr.. Gunter," he said. "your
daughter has informed you
"oh, yes; she has told me all about
1t. You we're to call for my consent to
her marriage with you, but since my
consent is a mere matter of form You
| NAV ns well cut IL short"
! The young man looked much sur
prised.
! ~ trust" he replied. that Clara will
1 have your hearty consent, for | am
/. sure that If she does not have 1t heI
i happiness will be greatly marred"
: Don't you believe 1t. When Glars
a makes up her mind to do thing Her
: cuies himself isn't strong enough t
" prevent her."
The young man, who by this tint
a showed considerable agitation, started
: "As for doing you favor In givini
a her to you" continued Mr.. Gunter, 9TH,
boot is on the other foot. She ha
n bossed me ever since she was born
n and need rest. Have cigarT
!, mo, thanks; don't smoke; at leas
q | don't care to smoke just now. 70,
= surprise me by the character you Civ
Clara. have found her a model o
~ amlability and not in the least dispose
i to claim her own way"
. "Just you wait till you're married
!, perceive that you are ignorant OF tn
,s wiles Of these creatures. They ar
honey till they get you In their toll
a and nitric acid after the knot Is tied"
n "But-Clara-it can't be possible the
~ one so childlike"-
a. "Childlikel Kittenish you shout
say. It's that kittenish way she ha
N with her that am speaking Of She
"a de you with a rope Of flowers and ga
"A you with a ripe peach. Then She
proceed to rife your pockets. On thi
10 account | think 1t essential that
a. should provide the family pocketboo
with ample funds. l will at least TAX
away the necessity for her to rob 20
"a by providing her with what she wi
!, need. Besides. | feel under obligation
Il to you for taking on yourself a yok
that has always been mine II 20
% viii name your income 1t will enabl
a me to know what sum VIII be necei
n sary to keep you from being ruined"
!. when my aunt dies | shall inner
" from her about $1,000"
a. "She won't die. Old women who al
no use to themselves and whose proI
"a erty is needed by younger persons me-
az er die. Besides. the sum you expet
T" will not be-
:, But my salary is $1,000"
g. whats $1,000 for a girl like Clara
No. l see that shall have to stan
=, in the breach. 1 have $4,000 in fir
:. mortgage 9 per cent bonds that WI
give my daughter, and If she gets I
!. In the middle of the night and goes Il
i, your pocketbook the more fool you Il
leaving 1t where she can get at It"
:. At this juncture the object Of the
structures burst into the room, tire
~ her arms about her fathers neck an
covered his face with kisses The
she took her lover by the arm and Il
him away.
~ isn't your father a BIT queerT' as
- ed Mr.. Auchincloss.
"a "Queer? No. Why do you thiI
~ him queerT
- why he told me that you were
- "oh. yes. | heard it all Papa nee
to be understood So do l."
The young man looked bewi1dsred.