The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1916-03-23

below lie nad seen Mr.. Blithors ap-
preaching in the distance. and with
an astuteness that argued well for
HIS future success In life. calmly sat
down TO wait instead OF pedaling his
decropit bicycle up the long slope To
the villa.
He delivered a telegram and kindly
youchsafed the information that 10
was from New York.
Mr.. Bllthers experienced queer
sinking Of the heart a. he cared az
the envelope. Something warned him
that II he opened Il In the presence
OF the messenger he would say some
thing that young boy ought not TO
hear.
ats from Maud" said the obllging
boy. beaming good nature. II cost
him a quarter. that BIT Of gontility.
for Mr.. Bllthers at once said some
thing that messenger boy ought TO
hear and ordered Jackson 90 80
ahead. II was from Maud. and Il said:
shall stay IN town few days longer
II u delightfully."- cool here Dear old
Miranda is az the Rita With me, and Ne
are having nne spree Don't worry
about money. ! ind ! have = stnggoring
balance IN tho bank The cashier showed
me where I had made mistake In sub
traction Of an even ten thousand. I was
amazed 90 md what big difference a
little ngure makes. Have made no den-
mite plans but will write mother tonight
Ploase give my love 20 tho prince. Have
you seen today'a Town TRUTH or. worso
has he seen u? Your loving daughter
MAUD
A little later on. after he had cooled
OF to a quite considerable extent. Mr..
Bllthers lighted a cigar and sat down
IN the hall outside his wife's bedcham-
Der door She was having her beauty
nap. Not even he possessed the to
merity to break in upon that lie sat
and listened for the nrst sound that
would Indicate the appeasement OF
beauty. occasionally hitching his chair
trife nearer to the door In the agony
OF impotence. BY the time Jackson
returned from the village with word
that a copy OF Town Truth was not to
be had until the next day he was 40
close to the door that n any one had
happened TO stick hatpin through the
keyhole at precisely the right instant
II would have punctured his left ear
with appalling results.
What are we going 90 do about itr'
he demanded three minutes after On.
tering the chamber His wife was
PROSTATE on the luxurious couch from
which she had failed to arise when he
burst IN upon her with the telegram In
his hand.
ooh. the foolish child" she moaned.
IF she only knew how adorable he il
she wouldn't be acting In this perfect.
ly absurd manner Every girl who was
here last night Is madly In love with
him. Why must Maud be- so obsti.
nate?"
! Mr.. Blithers was very careful not to
mention his roadside experience with
/ the prince. and you may be sure that
he said nothing about his proposition
10 the young man. lie merely de
clared. with a vast bitterness In his
soul. that the prince was coming to
dinner. But what the deuce was the
usel
"She ought TO be soundly-spoken
TO-" said he. breaking the sentence
with a hasty gulp. Now. Lou. there's
Just one thing to do must go TO New
York on the midnight train and get
her. That woman was all right az a
tutor, but hanged II | like to see a
daughter OF mine traipslng around
New York with schooltesoher
She
You forget that she has retired ON a
competence She is not In active en-.
ployment. VIII. You forget that she Is
one OF the Van Valkens."
There you go. talking about good
old families again. Why IS II that 20
blamed many Of your fine old blue
stockings are hunting Jobs"-
"Now. don't be vulgar VIII" she
cut in. MAUD is quite safe with MI
randa. and you know II perfectly
well. 30 don't talk like that | think
II would be a fearful mistake for you
20 so 20 New York. She would never
forgive you and. what IN more 20 the
point, she wouldn't bulge a step II
you tried 10 bully her into coming
home with you. You know It quite
az we'll as do"
Maud's continued absence was ox-
plained 10 Prince Robin that evening
not by the volcanic Mr.. Blithers. but
by his practiced and adroit better
half. who had no conjunction In
ascriblng Il 10 the alarming condi.
ton OF a very dear friend in New
York-one Of the Van Nalkens. you
know.
"Maud Is 80 tender hearted. 10
loyal. 20 really sweet about her
friends. that nothing in the world
could have induced her 10 leave this
dear friend. don't you know"
81 am extremely sorry not 10 have
met your daughter" said Robin. very
politely.
"oh. but she will be here in a day
or two. prince"