her he had known margaret ever george washington s la t she was a bit of a baby and had often carried her in his arms when she was a little girl and even after she grew up to be right big he had thought frequently of late that he would be willing to die if he might but take her in his arms it was therefore with no little that he observed what he considered his friend s growing fancy for her by the time had taken a few in the garden and a horseback ride or two with her was satisfied that he was in love with her and before a week was out he was consumed with jealousy margaret was not the girl to indulge in on account of her lover s if had had a finger ache or had a drop of sorrow but fallen in his cup her eyes would have softened and her face would have shown how fully she felt with him but this � this was different to his heart was a part of the business of her young it was a healthy process from which would come greater devotion and more loyal constancy then it was so delightful to make one whom she liked as she did look so miserable perhaps some time she would reward him � after a long while though thus poor george washington s last spent many a wretched hour cursing his fate and cursing pick he thought he would create a diversion by paying desperate attention to margaret s guest but it resolved itself on the first opportunity into his opening his heart and confiding all his woes to her in doing this he fell into the greatest contradiction declaring one moment that no one suspected that he was in love with margaret and the next that she had every reason to know he adored her as he had been in love with her all her life it was one afternoon in the drawing room rose with much assured him that no woman could have but one reason to know it inquired what it was rising and walking up to him she said in a mysterious whisper � tell her after that he had been telling her for years into a declaration of helpless perplexity how can i tell her more than i have been telling her all along he groaned rose said she would show him she seated herself on the sofa spread out her dress and placed him behind her now do as i tell you � no not so � � o � washington s last now lean over � put your arm � no it is not necessary to touch me as with prompt apprehension fell into the scheme and declared that he was all right in a and that it was only in the real drama he failed now say i love you said it they were in this attitude when the door opened suddenly and margaret stood facing them her large eyes opened wider than ever she backed out and shut the door sprang up his face very red lawyers know that the actions of a man on being charged with a crime are by no means evidence of his guilt � but it is hard to satisfy of this fact if the were composed of women perhaps it would be impossible the demonstration of a man s arm around a girl s waist is difficult to explain on more than one after this margaret treated with a which came near destroying the friendship of a lifetime and became so desperate that inside of a week he had had his first quarrel with who had begun to pay very devoted attention to margaret and as that young man was in no mood to wash s la lay on a bruised wound mischief might have been done had not the major arrived on the scene just as the quarrel came to a heat it was in the hall one morning there had been a quarrel had demanded satisfaction had just promised to afford him this peculiar happiness and they were both glaring at each other when the major sailed in at the door ruddy and smiling and laying his hat on the table and his riding whip it declared that before he would stand such a gloomy atmosphere a that created by a man s looks when there was so much sunshine lying around to be in he would agree to be in his own fat why i had expected at least two affairs before this he said as he pulled off his gloves and i ll be hanged if i shan t have to court somebody myself to save the honor of the family with dignity informed him that an affair was then and intimated that they were both interested when the major declared that he would advise the young lady to both and accept a and a wiser man they announced george washington s last that it was a more serious affair than he had in mind and let fall a hint of what had occurred the major for a moment looked gravely from one to the other and suggested mutual explanations and but when both young men insisted that they were quite determined and proposed to have a meeting at once he changed he walked over to the window and looked out for a moment then turned and suddenly offered to represent both parties that such a proceeding was outside of the code this the major gravely admitted but declared that the affair even to this point appeared not to have been conducted in entire with that system of rules and urged that as mr was a stranger and as it was desirable to have the affair conducted with as much secrecy and as possible it might be well for them to meet as soon as convenient and 