Holbrook argus., 1901-09-07

except, perhaps, the military men.
"Oh. assure you, the officers will be
perfectly wild about it. It's just the
thing they can understand"
Dear me! You astonish me. Yet,
perhaps, peace which contains no
element of shame"
"Oh, it's all right in that way"
Would appeal even to an officer In
his maJesty's service.
The canon leaned back in his seat,
and meditated on this new view of life,
while the lady resumed her newspaper,
and the express painted out of the Box
tunnel, and was encouraged to hasten
by the scent of Swindon in the dis
lance.
The canon felt in his coat pocket and
found Reggie's letter. 1t was just the
sort Of impetuous boys letter which ir-
ritates the middle-aged. Canon Beck
ford read 1t once again: /:
Dear Governor: I'm awfully sorry
to disobey you. but whatever happens,
1 am determined to marry Cissie. If
you would consent to see her, am sure
you would like her. She Is the best girl
in the world. If you cut off my al
lowance of course shall have to chuck
the law and try what can do on the
stage. 1 daresay 1 shall get on all
right, because Cissie is just the sort of
girl to help a man. But. all the
same, should be grieved If you turned
your back on your affectionate son.
REGGIE"
Consent to see her. indeed!' NUT
tered the canon, as the preposterous
conduct of his son stood out before him
in its most outrageous colors. He tore
the letter across and across, and threw
the pieces on the floor Of the carriage
You have dropped the envelope"
said the young lady, sweetly, handing
it to the canon.
"Oh, think you-thank you! Pardon
me, was agitated-annoyed. A pure
ly personal matter"
The lady picked up her dressing bag
and put 1t on the rack taking care to
cram the label into obscurlty. Then
she sat down opposite the canon.
"Tell me-" she said. you needn't
mind; we may never see one another
again-and a woman can often help
man."
The canon stared. But pretty wor1-
an who offers assistance is not gen
orally denied.
You could scarcely understand" he
said. But I'm bothered about a son
Of mine who wants to marry a girl
fron-from the footlights."
And why not?"
"Oh, obviously"
You have never seen her"
God forbidP'
And does she insist on-on your son
marrying herr"
81 should assume that she would be
glad of such an alliance"
The young lady leaned back a mo-
ment and thought. Then, bending for
ward, she began again:
Canon Beckford-"
How did you known asked the
canon, as she hesitated.
"Oh, saw your name on the envel-
ope. But what 1 was going to say is
this: That If she was a good girl,
really q nice girl, she wouldn't want
to marry your son at the risk of drag
ging him down. If she felt that she
would ruin him she would send him
away, and-well-and perhaps she
would ruin herself to save him. You
see what mean"
eff she took that view"
Perhaps she does. You've never
seen her."
Young women of that class" the
canon began, and hesitated. But, of
course, you know nothing of them"
"Oh. but do! Do you know, I'm in
precisely the same situation. An OBJ
durate parent refuses his consent to his
sons marriage with absolutely re-
fuses"
why does he refuseT asked the
canon.
Because he thinks am not worthy
of his son."
HE has not seen you" said the
canon.
HE has," replied the young lady.
Frankly, I can't believe it." said the
canon. IF he had seen you, he must
have consented"
Tickets. please" called the inspect
| ors.
For two minutes conversation was in
terrupted, owing to the stop at West
bourne park. Then the train began to
slide into Paddlngton.
what are you laughing at?" asked
the canon.
do you really mean you would have
consentedp
Certainly. But may call you a
cab, or"
Thanks, I'm being met" said the
young lady.
The train drew in to the platform in
It's deliberately weary way.
The canon opened the door of the car
riage, lifted out the young lady's dress
ing bag, and tried with his finger to
bring the label into the line Of vision.
AS he tried a young man stalked up
to the platform and linked his arm
in the canon's.
"Hullo, Governor he said, extending
the other hand to the owner Of the
dressing bag ut was jolly of you to