The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-04-20
HIS CHOICE
By NELL AoAlR.
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busy hours passed in gratifying
achievement, while a widowed sister
managed satisfactorily his home.
All Spencer's daily needs were well
provided, and love came not to
trouble. So when Clara, the sister.
told him frankly that she was weary
of her monotonous life as his house
keeper, and intended thereafter to
make her home with her daughter
and grandchildren, the professor was
much disturbed.
"What shall / dor" he asked in con-
sternation, and Clara briskly replied:
get married."
Patiently his sister drew forth a
chair.
Aow. my DEAR" she began in the
tone which she had used in his child
hood, there Is no reason why you
should not be able to find compe-
tent and admirable wife. You are
stin young, and you are good looking.
Also, your position is one to be proud
of. But as you have never evinced
Interest In women, or shown pleasure
In their society, / have taken it upon
myself, Spencer to direct your choice
Matilda Moore possesses just the
qualities to be desired in your pro-
| spective wife.
you will never realize what a
blessing l have been to you, Spencer.
But now--we must lose no time.
Daughter is anxious to have me come
to her at once; the children are i'll.
You must call upon Matilda Moore
this afternoon, Spencer, and prepare
at once the way for your counting.
It's the only reasonable way out Of
the difficulty"
So, too bewildered to refuse, the
professor found himself half urged,
half coaxed by his dominating sister,
out into the street.
The residence Of Miss Moore was
| quickly found, the chauffeur was
opening the door for him to alight,
before Spencer had considered his
best mode Of introduction.
Calling upon women was so entire
ly out of the professors line that he
felt called upon to make some pre-
tence for his visit. But Clara had
evidently been before him with the
telephone.
The wide front door Of the Moore
residence opened at his approach,
while a small hand was thrust for
ward In welcome. "How nice" came
a SWEEP feminine voice, land how I'M
expected, to see yon. Your sister
informed us that you were coming to
see our victrola, Plpfessor. Cobb
said you thought ofabaying one.
will put on some reed II foF YOU.
Spencer breathed ii SIGH Of relief,
1t was quite simple after ali; he adj
mired Clara's cIeverness.
And when he was In the long room
with the shaded lamps and the CHEEKY
log fire, he admired also his sisters
choice. Surely no daintier, fairer
maiden ever smiled across a mahog-
any box, or was more agreeable in
her demonstration Of placing records.
The professor did not know when he
had been so interested and enter
tanned, and when the charming girl
added her own voice to that of a
noted singer Spencer thrilled the
more to the sympathetic quality OF
her tones, and told her so. 1t was
many years since he had danced or
had thought Of dancing, perhaps
back-very far baek-at boyish
dancing school. But when little Miss
Moore came fitting and swaying like
some happy child toward him, the
professor took easily her out
stretched, tempting hands and Joined
In the dance. Laughing and glowing,
the girl stopped him at the farther
end Of the room.
ITO think" she exclaimed, "that
you are really the dignifed teacher
whom see passing my window every
day. Truly l used to think that you
lived In some high intellectual plane
of your own, unconscious Of us poor
interiors about you. To find that
you are human after ALL"
She paused to smile up into the
professors shining eyes. "Nicest kind
of human" she added softly, while
+, sudden happiness flooded the profes.
sor's heart 1t was astonishing how
the afternoon fled. Spencer realized
recklessly that he had made every
bald excuse to keep the delightful
little creature at his side. Records
grew stale in repetition, and though
Miss Moore showed no WEAKNESS, she
/, must have grown weary In her re
t sponses to his request for the same
numbers upon the piano.
When Spencer Cobb finally diA biz
his hostess good-by 1t was with tn,
promise of repeated visit.
His sister regarded with satisfnc
tion his pleased face, when he re
(. turned. "Then Matilda did come
: home" she asked, "and you met her
e That silly spoiled young sister o
: hers told me over the phone that Ma
!, tilda was out She offered to rul
: over the records for you herself
that was the only plausible excuse
e could think of to pave the way TO
5 your visit. But knew your aversion
| A. LnninIor. n.i.l. IN Dnnn. Anorol