Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-06-28


1t seemed to Amy that she had
asked the question thousand times
that afternoon. The long room
hummed with the buzz of conversation.
The scent of flowers weighted the
air. The green-shaded lights that had
taken the place of the carefully eX-
Guided sunlight gave the scene a
ghastly tinge Amy's head ached. The
two score or more of middle-aged
women who stood IN groups or sat
with their heads close together talk
ing volubly between tea sips were
more than ever repellant to her. She
felt a reckless desire to sweep the
fragile cups and saucers TO one side
and flee from the room.
Lemon or cream and sugar?" she
asked, mechanically, as a shadow
darkened the table
Just sugar, please, and plenty of
it," answered deep voice, and Amy,
glancing quickly up gave a little ex-
clamation of delight.
"Youl" she cried, joyfully. "Where
in the world did you come from?"
Judge Baldwin pointed solemnly to
the ceiling and, then, in response to
Amy's mystified look, explained
"l've been in consultation with Mr..
Laws in regard to some legal matter.
He has a sprained ankle, you know.
Then, when | came downstairs, |
caught glimpse of you, and you
looked so doleful couldn't resist com
ing in. What is it to-day? The Society
for the Amelioration of the Condition
of the Zulu Savage, or the Association
for the Instilling of Aesthetic Princi-
Piles in the Hearts of Newsboys?"
Amy laughed. Its neither" she
said. They've been discussing con
yicts, and it's been very exciting"
The girls do look rather warm"
said Judge Baldwin, frivolously. "But
surely it wasn't the heated argument
that made you look so very glum a
minute ago"
Amy's pretty face clouded, and she
looked at her friend in some perplex-
ity. Whatever she saw in the kindly,
clever face was reassuring, apparently,
for she propped dimpled chin on q
hAAAAHANh manu- ia a uNllE lulll GOun
dental manner and said, solemnly:
I'm to be married in three months"
1t was Judge Baldwin's turn to look
perplexed.
Married, childl" he exclaimed, in
credulously.
'I'm 20, you know" retorted Amy,
with resentful dignity.
teruvaptvD XVb,r no. ., 10 ,,,ro 7
beg your pardon" said the judge.
"And to whom am | to offer my con
gratulations2" he asked.
81 don't know" answered the girl,
simply.
Judge Baldwin gazed at her blank
ly.
ITS like this" she continued, hur.
riedly. "Aunt, you know, is going to
be married to DIR. Wright in April. He
has intimated to her that in their new
home there will be no room for her de-
pendent niece. You know 1 haven't a
relative in the world but aunty. I've
been a half-servant, half-companion to
her ever since l left school, and while
there are many little things l can do
well, there is nothing by which 1 can
earn my own living. Aunt said the
only thing for me TO do was to get
married"
There was nothing that could have
accentuated the girls youth more than
the simplicity and directness with
which she told her story. Judge Bald
win listened to it impassively but
there was an unpleasant CLEAN in his
eyes when they rested on a middle
aged, spish-looking woman who
was the center of an excited group of
women across the room.
'And have you thought of anyone in
particularY' he asked, gravely, when
Amy had concluded her brief explana-
tion.
"NO," she answered; "and that's one
reason why l was so glad to see you
just now. l wanted to ask your advice
II seems" with a little laugh, "that
I've been asking your advice all my
life. Don't you remember when aunt
said l should put away my dolls, and
felt so badly about it you gave me
such good advice?"
The judge nodded.
'Well, you must help me now" she
said. there's Harry Diamond" she
continued, hesitatingly, and with a
vivid blush. "You know he"
Loves you" supplied the Judge
bluntiy. "Yes, know, but he's no al
husband for you"
The girl looked relieved. "Pm
glad You think So" she said, naively