Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-04-04

can perhaps get there before Peveril
does, and thereby escape u lecture a yard
long about the 'propriety of married
ladies being out after dark To hear
the blessed man talk one would suppose
that nothing in the world was improper
for unmarried ladies'"
She beckoned to the conductor-the car
stopped.
She spraug out. but to her surprise. not
to say dismay, Peveril Mcrrion stepped
nimbly out after her.
Don't be in such a hurry. ma'am,'
said he, in a low, insinuating voice.
"Allov me TO see you safe home. Pretty
girls shouldn't be out alone after dark.
Ahal you think I'm n wizard, but such a
little white hand as yours can only cor
respond to a pretty face. Take my arm,
miss.
Mrs. Merrion took his arm according
". convulsed with inward nirth. lie
pressed it after . most friendly fashion.
Don't walk too fast, said he. "Lct
me carry your bag"
Mrs. Merrion rave it to him. They
were nearing their WI door when. to
the surprise Of the gentleman, who had
perhaps expected to walk half II dozen
blocks or SO further. his fair companion
paused on the threshold.
"You-you're not stopping hereF he
exclaimed, nearly stumbling over the
ferrule Of his own umbrella.
Eyes, | am" said the lady, in a high
treble voice, quite different from her
usual accents. Il am going TO see Mrs.
Merrion and tell her Of your un-war.
rantable-conduct.
"Oh, don't do that" cried the hubbard
in a furry. Just think a minute how
foolish it would be, urG how very I'M
comfortable
"But ! shallI' squeabed the assumed
f~alsetto. "a man of your age't-3r.
Merrion twisted himself u~neasily about
ought to know enough 70 let the pretty
girls alonel You need Il lesson, strand
you shall receive one"
Sosaying She pulled the bell vigorously.
"Is Mira. Merton at homer
mo, ma'am," said Norah, "she amt
got home from shopping yet"
LIr. Merriou drew an audible sign Of
relief.
"No matter" said the relentless little
Nemesis. I'm come in and wait for her"
She pushed past MIR. Merton into the
reception room, and seated herself de-
liber2sely under the little chandelier that
Norah had just lighted. while M. M2r-
rion, shifting from one fooJ to the other,
had turned the color Of tallow.
Nov, my good girl, how very unroa-
sonable all this ISL he argued. And
Vhy, Fanny, it's you'll"
For Mrs. Merton had risen and thrown
of the Disgusting folds Of the water
proof and the mask like veil and stood
there with eyes sparkling full of mis-
chief.
yes, it's l." said she. And now,
NY dear. what have you got to say 70,
yourself? Because, you know"-with q
comical imitation of his own deep, so
norous tones-''you never Airti Oh. deaI
nae. mol"
If Peveril Merrion had been a whipped
dog, groveling on the floor, he could not
have looked, or perhaps felt, meaner.
my dear" said he, Il didn't-that is
what l mean TO say is-we're all hu-
man, you know, my dear!"
Exactly so, said Mrs. Merrion. ITS
what have remarked myself a o OF
times. Only it isn't fair to expect me to
be a pattern of perfection set up on a
pedestal above the rest of the world,
when you are SO very humans it, now
Fanny" said Dlr. Merrion, Il ac-
knowledge myself in the wrong, Don't
be merciless, my dear. II am very
sorry. | won't do it again"
"And you pledge yourself to leave off
finding fault with me for the future?'
II will pledge myself to anything, my
dear"
And then they went to dinner. for
which Peveril Merton had very little
appetite.
The next time Fanny danced with
George Harland, Mr.. Merrion made nc
objection. If he had Fanny was pre-
pared with the insinuating whisper:
Don't be in such u hurry ma'am. Al
low me TO see you home
And it would have acted like acharm.
Boston Globe.