The Worthington advance., 1900-12-07
MAUREEN'S LOVER
BY Constance Halkett. !
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of men have been guardians some
times (as amy to a young and pretty
ward.
But my wife and l agreed one day
that, among the lot of them, nobody
could possibly give more food for
thought and anxiety than did Maureen
O'Connor, our niece and ward.
To say she was pretty sounds tame.
She was as fresh and sweet as wild
flower. She was as wild as any deer
on our hills. She feared neither man
nor beast. rode horses many boys would
have declined to mount, could swim Like
a fish and run like hare. When l add
that she was just II. and had shut up
her lesson books with decided bang
the day before her birthday, you will
perhaps understand why my wife and l
were sitting looking at each other, dis
cussing Maureen.
She was, or would be, an heiress, and
she knew about as much on the subject
ofmoneyas as, those birds yonder near the
marsh. She could spend it,, though, for
she loved giving. No tale of distress
was ever told to her in vain, for she had
the warmest of Irish hearts. The only
way, indeed, one could influence her, I
found out long ago, was to appeal to
that-it was mo good lecturing Mau-
reen.
My wife was looking rather helpless.
Maureen adored her, but ruled her
absolutely. My wife worshiped Maui
reen, and spoiled her horribly, but to
me she always played the role of duti-
fdl ward, though she knew perfectly
well that it never deceived me for one
moment.
''She ought to go to the city and
make her social debut" she said, firmly.
II quite agree with you," said 1, but
will she go?"
IL don't know
"Ah!" I laughed, "you see, we can't
exactly make her co."
Have you ever been able to make her
do anything?" my wife asked, scorn.
fully.
She spoke as if she had been in the
habit of enforcing obedience on Maureeu
every other minute, and was riled..
II haven't heard that your attempts
in that direction have been so very
successful" said, Grossly.
Whereupon we both laughed 1--WE
possess sense of humor-a thing
which saves so many situations from
becoming serious).
Juat then, through the open win.
dow, we caught sight of a dainty
charming figure, in the simplest OF
draperies, tearing across the lawn
three or four dogs at her heels.
I went to the window and called
her back. She came reluctantly.
Gam I in for a .scolding?" she
asked, her lovely face mutinous, he1
eyes SO full of laughter that they
would have disarmed the severest
guardian, almost think.
"Come in here" I said, 1--WE want
to speak to you seriously" > r.!
She groaned and gave backward
glance across the flower-spangled
meadows and the sunny garden.
q Fancy being serious on such a
day!" she said. :It's wasting one,
time positively, I do assure you"
However, =. she lifted her dainty
skirts, and with one bound was. ir
at the window.
i: - my DEAR" I said, you're grown u
now, you know" - III. -
M Her answer was an affectionate hug
and: IF you only knew how funn,
you look when you try to look solemn
said she. f;ss, sa3..s.. 4, ..s. l..ss5@
Well, we sat down, one on each sid.
Of her, and we propounded the socia
debut. n talked what I believed t<
be common sense. My wife said gool
deal about parties and beautifu
gowns, and seasoned the lump with .
little worldly wisdom, which I firmly
believe she had learned out Of a book
as she, hasn't particle Of her own.
Maureen sat there as quiet as
mouse and listened patiently, but t5sh,
said nothing until we; came to full
4 stop. II is . trife diffcult to 20 o1
adducing arguments In support Of !.
plan when nobody says anything L
contradict you. & N N
That was what we both felt, So v,
4 paused. Maureen still sat silent fo1
2 moment, then she spoke. had never
Is heard Maureen's voice with that in:
A fiection Il my life; she was actually
nv dears, z she said, and she slippeG
B $ one hand 4 into mine. and another mt