The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-12-01
MAUREEN'S LOVER
By Constance Halkett
NF COURSE, know that any number
of men have been guardians some

0F COURSE, l know that any number
of men have been guardians some
times las 1 ann to a young and pretty
ward.
But nv wife and I 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 a 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 a hare. When d
that she was just II. and had shut up
her lesson books with a 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
of money 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, L
found out long ago, was to appeal to
that-it was no good lecturing Maui
reen.
NV 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 a duti-
full 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.
81 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 60"
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 neutrality-suspicious. o n Maureen
every other minute. and l was riled.
81 haven't heard that your attempts
in that direction have been so very
successful" l said, GROSSLY.
Whereupon we both laughed 1--WE
possess a sense of humor-a thing
which saves SO many situations from
becoming serious).
Just 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.
l went to the window and called
her back. She came reluctantly.
"Am 1 in for a scolding?" she
asked, her lovely face mutinous, her
eyes so full of laughter hat they
would have disarmed the severest
guardian, 1 almost think.
Come in here" 1 said, "we want
to speak to you seriously"
She groaned and gave a backward
glance across the fiower-spangled
meadows and the sunny garden.
Fancy being serious on such :
day!" she said. Its wasting ones
time positively, I do assure you"
However she lifted her dainty
skirts, and with one bound was il
at the window.
"My DEAR" 1 said, you're grown VI
now, you know"
Her answer was an affectionate hug
and: eff you only knew how funny
O look when you try to look solemn,
said she.
Well, we sat down, one on each sid,
of her, and we propounded the socia
debut. 1 talked what 1 believed t,
be common sense. My wife said a goot
deal about parties and beautiful
gowns, and seasoned the lump with
little worldly wisdom. which ] 6rml,