The Mother of Mcdora

Cromwell Argus, 6 March 1905, Page 3

The Mother of Mcdora

By Kate M. Cleary.

(Oeprrtabt MM, by Author* Bvndle*t».) "ttt ELL, I wouldn't look so trafM Vy about it. if 1 vriTf you'." "Oh, re*, vou would!" sighed Medora. She tossed her preposterously Ion? vellow braids back over her shov',der. leaned forward in her low. bed room rocker, and with a round chin popping on a pink palm gazed into the sparkling fire with dark, solemn eyes. "You shouldn't have become engaged to him in the first place," asserted Nell. "That's easy *« **T ! " Medora Verne exclaimed in »nwf *iasper»tion. "How's a body going to help becoming engaged <o a fellow who haunts yon like your shadow, an .1 is the only presentable man within a month of miles, and who makes the other girls furious by giving you alone his persistent and flattering attentions'?'' Nell Harmon's plain, pleasant, fare looked back at. her gravely. "But you weren't in lore with him, dear!" Medora pared meditatively at the slim feet on the fender. Fairy feet they were in their pretty boudoir slipper* of blue silk and swanedown. "I—l didn't know anything about being in love th«n," she confessed, meekly. "And —you do -now?" Medora nodded, her ■white brow ruffling into a perturbed little ptirker. "Who i* he? l>o 1 know him?" A series of rapid little nods from tha girl in th<" r hie kimnna. "It isn't Reuben Dever?" "I should say not!" indignantly. "He's fifty!" •■ft—it rnn't he Gregory Bowers?' "Nell-- -that eh.'ld!" A. disdainful toss of the y»""". braid*. "He isn't grov\ n up J"'" "T can't think of anyone else unless, it mighl be Dave Rogers." Miss Verne raised heavenward a pair of appealing eyes. "May the Lord give you senee!" she petitioned. "Pare Rogers! That imbecile!" Then there was no sound in Nell Harmon's pretty room save the whispering of the fire, and the purr of the family cat. A sudden suspicion caused Miss Harmon to nil upright—to Hash at her guest a suddenly illumined glance. "Medora—it's perec Mauriee?" The face in the flooding fireehine kindled rosily. The lids drooped over ihc blr«-black eyes. The reply canie in a v\ hisper. "\>s it's Maurice!" aha ufctea-ed the nam* 5 tenderly. "Well!" gasped N»ll Harmon. Be* great astonishment held her eileni. "My-my brother! I never dreamed —Does he know?" "Oh. you stupid—thing! Wow should I know—if he didn't! He had to tell me--hadn't he? That's hj>w | came to find out I was in love!" "Oh!" breathed Nell, and found «o further word to say. But the floodgates of Miss Verne'a confidence were set wide. , "And here Maurice adore* ma has for five years, he saya, but I'i.a sure it can't be that long, for T was only in short dresses then. And," miserably, "I'll die without Maurice —I know I shall! And here I'm engaged to Thomas Elder -a fussy, flnioal, tiresome, old-j'oung creature! He won't let me off. T've tried to mnlc him hate me since T found out that Maurice was the only man in the world for me. But he won't! He thinks I'm perfection—and will al ways be perfection, and that mamma will be perfection when he meetfe her! She's to get back from Europe on Saturday. I've told him she must live with us. V tearfully, most men detest a motber-in-lajr—-and mamma wouldn't leave Vr ovrn house, for any man alive nor even for me! He says," in a despairing tone, "he -he hopes so! T've told him she has no money. Think of that! Tou know what mamma's income is! He declares that doesn't make a particle of difference, t said she —she warn--was bad-tempered! Oh, Nell! Think of my swept mother being bad-tempered! He vows that's impossible-if she's my mother! Nell—whatever am I to do?" "Well, of all the sublimated Kan phiras I've ever met you're turned into the worst, Medora! If that's the effect of love on you, T pity Maurice! There--there! You little •illy! As if I wouldn't gi?e- uh. what wouldn't 1 give to ha'** you for a sister! Hark: Come in. Keturah!'' Keturah came in—a fail, stout, redfaced woman, with the aspect of a grenadier and the stride of an Amazon. "Are you ready, Miss Nell? thai! J brush your hair now?" <*Not lor ten minute*, thank you," Nell answered, politely. When the door had closed behind geturah the visitor drew the folds of her Japanese negligee around her with a fastidious little shudder. "I can't congratulate you on your taste in choosing a. maid. Nell! That old creature is hideous. And your uotheff a»JTS she has a volcanic tem'*oh€ i« very faithful—very de : voted *o me. You see, 1 rescued her from unhappy conditions several years ago, and trained her in my Service. She ia not charming to Joofe at, I confess —ami her temper smly conquers her when the other ■errant* arc dieagreeable. But let fgg j«J& of ycur lor* aSair, dear."

"i;"> yoUJ" i ;:;•:.. Ted ia#--UaVc. ". you ever been in love?" "1 fancied so- once!" Sh*> apeke in a low tone, a burnssf fiueh aulfueing her cheeks. "1 —I WM jilted for a younger--a prettier woaaan." "Nell—my deareat!" Mien Harmon rose, went to he.r desk, look from it a letter which •he brought to her frie*&. "To* read tbis," she sjud. A sharp excramatioa* of eurpris* broke from Medora at sight of the chirography. She e**o <Sw letter through, it was a hriel now-. «nd a brotnl e»e. The writer ha* been mistaken. He had fancied his affection for Miaa Rarmoe w»» on* that would prove deep w and permanent. Within the Last few weeks he had met at The Ce*e*de« a girl fairer—if possible—youstger. is? he aaight be. permitted to epeeh so fra-ajcly—and wealthier—net, that weelth counted. He herewith returned hflee Hersnon's l«§t**sm aw* hoped tossy might he friend* ia the future. "The Ceeeedeel That date!*' eftad Medora. "It ie from Thomas TClde*—and he—he meant me! Oh. Nell—why didn't you tell «ne before?"

"It might seem as thomjsh I wern revengeful!"

"I'm revengeful now! Well, we must think ou» a way to make him break his engagement with me! 1 know T can't use this letter as a reason. T would never drag you into a position of such humiliation I I have it! Listen!"

It was after midnight when Miss Harmon's hair had been properiy brushed and Medora's, too. by the way. Keturah shook her head at Ihe craeklint" note* extended. "Vou may take the money," her mistress said. "Tou are doing me a favor as well as Mis* Verne."

The next day Thomas JHder, sittii g down to his desk. trim, well-clad, shrevrd-faced. alert, pounced on on* particular envelope out of the pile Bwait.inghisinspection. A large nqnare envelope of palest aaure. with a silver seal, and the Tagrant odor of mignonette clinging to it.

"From Medora!" murmured Mr. Elder, placidly. "From my Medora!" He was charmed at the contents. To call at five—to meet her mother, who had that day arrivsd from New York! And was anxious to meet him! Ah certainly! It was Medora herself —Medora exquisite in a street gown of crimson cloth and black mr- ri en -• who met him in the little recent ion-room.

"No—l can't go with you! Tou must meet mamma alone'" He found her bash fulness entrancing. "She is in the library. She is expert*«f you. tlo rich! in!"

The suitor boldly did a* bidtVe*. Ui the waning light of the winter day the room was shadowy. A flpaunf. red-visaged erealttre In a gown of parrot-green con fronted him. A mighty hand crushed hie. A peer of sliaro gray eyes pierced his soul.

"Glad to meet you, Thomas Elder! Hope you'll make ;t good aou-in-law! I suppose Medora has told you fin coining to live with you? That's right. Tou aren't jifraid of panth.er eats, are you? I've got, y, tame one that will eat out of your hand. He sure y°U get n good southern room in the house for my birds. Three— I've three of them. They never stop singing if they get light enough. I've been gadding around the world so mueh I've gathered some live euriosities- bargains. 1 call them. Tt was jotoh a comfort to me to know Medora was going to get married, so I'd have » place to keep my pets. Not." critically, "that I think she did the best she could have donewith her looks! I'll give a good die) of vegetables bes*, kind of diet for you. I'm a \;-.£vtartan, you know. No in i"> house! Medora say* i.i.f told you I lost my money in that wheat failure. Didn't tell you all the fortune she had was swallowed up in that Rank of frilead crash? No didn't telj you 'hat? T'm surprised. ! Well, it don't make any diffevenoe to yon, son-in-law! Day not named yet? Oh. we'll bs*e to hurry things!" r

Escape Thomas Elders finally sffecieii. TTovr lv'- v.ffei- knew. So »x« cited \s -< - h*. Mint »><me sound in an pdjofolng room seemed to resolve itself into an irreprejj*ible ripple of laughter. That nighl Keturah, in » narmt-grccn jjown. a* heartily as her mistress, when between g,ihp« or merriment. Medora re*d aloud » letter from her admirer, in which he deplored the fact that a suddenly-developed case i,i cardiae collapse had convinced him that ha eould not sak any woman to share the life of a hoj'eless invalid. "What's the joke, girls?" trimii Maurice Harmon, shrugging off his overcoat as he iHiue into tlic parlor; a tine, matdy young fellow, with pfejtdy eyes and a strong, beautiful month. "Jove! Isn't Keturah ie» stylo!" Keturah. utill fhs 1 with mirth, took his coat *>iirt v. put out. Jfell stood up and kissed him. vlt's all right, old boy." tfee »n)d. ••'Medora will tell you about it." She laughed again al the thought of Eldfd's dismay wh.cn he. should, meet the real molher of Medora a sweet, gracious. cultured gentlewoman. ''All's fair, you know, in love and war!" "This was both!" cried Medora. Nell was still laughing when she went out, and softly closed the door^

Am K>u»«« v . ' ~"» An artist rentes that one day he wbb in front of » huge poster which represented a well-known actor in the character of Henry V. Two men strolled by and stopped to look at it. Finally one of men turned to his cp.ifl\pa,oio.a with a look of disgust and, ssked impatiently: \ § "Henry V.—what?"— Youth's Compaaioft- -wlflijSSMf