Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-18
The
From OtevsS
wife
By JANE PHELPS.
IN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CHAPTER XCIV

was brought to me. was calmer. Mu-
\ sic always soothed me, so l asked
, aunt to receive him, telling her ]
would be down in a moment. l could
not forget that this man, kindly, clever
If bit uncouth at times, cared for
me. Woman-like l wished to appear to
advantage to him even while thought
of him only as my very good friend
smoothed my hair, just touched
my pale cheeks with rouge and pow
der, then Joined him and aunt.
I heard you playing; do not let me
interrupt you" he said after greeting
me warmly Il am very fond of music
altho l know nothing about til sim
ply know when like it,
You probably are a better judge
than most people who claim to know"
] said lightly. Il was playing in the
dark. Mr.. Forbes is out, and so aunt
and | were amusing ourselves
Il had hoped to find him at home, =
l sensed an undertone of disappoint-
ment in his voice, and felt anxious at
once. What was it he had wished to
say to Neil? l so wished he would tell
me. Perhaps he would if l tactfully
led up to it.
Aunt has been trying to impress
Neil with his duty to himself. That
he really does wrong to attend to
business in the evening She hasn't
yet been successful, however, as his
absence shows"
1t is too bad that we men have that
habit" He turned to aunt But some
times it seems necessary. There is so
much competition now-a-d days and so
. often men come from distance and
have to make the most of their time.
That is especially so in New York
with big concerns, or with men of
large interests. l guess it does make
it sort of lonesome for the women
folks, he added in his kindly way,
but most of them are willing to put
up with it, if it means more money"
All women are not mercenary, Mr..
Frederick aunt returned in her most
4 severe manner.
No indeedf many of them not
enough so. But it costs lot of money
to live in New York-to live we'll. It
keeps men hustling pretty lively.
often think how lucky l am not to
have to live here. It's a great town all
.right-the greatest in the world. Fine
I&I.A To Nd Lot oFe
few days Of it l am ready for nay lit
4 tie western town where a man can
wear a soft shirt and let his manners
correspond with his shirt. Here every
81 one seems to be starched up, all glossy
and shiny on the outside anyway. A
N bit uncomfortable for some of us who
a are used to being well-just sort of
natural human beings without the
Il frills."
But society calls for form and for
manners. | should think those western
mining towns would be, well, rather
demoralizing," aunt replied. I could
see she did not understand Mr.. Freder
ick's smile, or his point of view. She
twas most conventional in all her ac-
fions and ideas.
Not at all, dear madam! sometimes
think they bring out the very best
fhere is in a mana real man. The
sone who becomes demoralized in mi
ling town would become equally so
ID New York or any other place. Water
% alro I M a
Believer in the theory that often hard
Knocks in the beginning of career
bring out the best there is in man,
easy places of the world make a man
oft
loved to hear him talk, to watch
the play of expression on his strong
face. But just then l was more inter
4 ested in knowing what brought him
4 Than in hearing him discuss his theo-
res with aunt. So interrupted:
4 'Have you seen Mr.. Scott lately?''
would find out if he had changed
& bis mind and been with Neil the night
pefore.
B mo not for few days. Scott is a
god sort, common, perhaps, and bit
qalgar sometimes" with deprecating
lance at aunt, but honest all the
yag through"
~Yes, I have heard you say so.
mix him a good influence for Neil,
Replied bit timidly.
50 don't know about the good influ
nee in some ways. But he is as
raight as a string in business A bat
an to make an enemy. That was one
sason I hoped to see Mr.. Forbes to
\ ght."
There he comes now. He expected
- late-I am so glad. Neil, Mr.
rick is calling" | rose to NEE
Y husband.
@Just the man / want to see Fred
icki Excuse us please, we will g
to the library" Neil had ignored M
Messing his remark to aunt. / s.
shed they had remained in the must
ON. l wanted to hear what the
idAs | babe aunt good night a fey
ments later. ! wondered what ha
ppened-had Neil offended Mr.. Scot