The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-04-17

sat down sulkily in a deep chair and
looked defiantly at his aunt.
Mrs. Penrose got up and pointed to
the door.
Young man, you either apologize at
once for that remark or you leave this
house and you do not come back into
it!''
Archie gathered himself up quickly
and stammered: Il, forgive me.
Aunt Constance! l did not mean that!'
"Of' course not. You got your pro-
nouns mixed. What you meant to use
was the first personal. With that I'M
Outstanding 1 accept your apology"
Archie sank back into the chair and
Mrs. Penrose at once recovered her
equanimity.
"Tell me what you said, Archie. So
she never gave you any answer at all.
Do you think it is a case of silence
gives consent"
Hardly" Archie groaned. Il asked
her to hear me, to take time to think
it over. did not press the matter. /
simply wanted her to consider me as
a possible suitor.'
MAYBE that's what she left you so
suddenly for
"Why?" asked Archie suspiciously.
maybe she wanted time to think it
over"
"Oh, I'm a.
THAT'S right-a fool, Archie! Didn't
I warn you? You never had any
chance. Luella is deeply in love now
with John Gordon
"Why doesn't she marry him, them?
Archie asked with directness.
81 don't know" Mrs. Penrose replied
thoughtfully.
81 would go anywhere with Luella,"
Archie groaned.
even into Hope House?"
Eyes, would; even there"
"Then you must be very much in
love. Poor Archie" Mrs. Penrose
spoke with a touch of compassion.
Its no use"
"But tell you, aunt, mean to mar
ry Luella Marsh. l don't give. up just
for one rebuff"
mo? She's never really given you
an answer yet, Archie. Make her say
no, at least"
'She will say yes at last" said Ar
chic doggedly. His aunt looked at him
half contemptuously, half wondering
~.
Not so long as you are Archie Pen
rose" she said finally.
You'll see,'' Archie said as he rose
and went away. Mrs. Penrose thought
fully sat and unused until dinner was
announced.
II have known stranger events to
be-" she muttered to herself. But
Luella Marsh is a million times too
good for him. Why does she not mar
~ John Gordon if she loves him? She
will miss heaven, here and hereafter,
If she doesn't"
John Gordon and Miss Andrews had
turned back into the library after the
visitors had gone.
THAT Mrs. Penrose is quite a re-
markable woman, Mr.. Gordon. Did
understand that she was a relative Of
yours?'
"No; she was an intimate friend of
my mother. She has always taken a
good deal of interest in me. 1t would
not be surprising if she came to our
assistance. She has abundant means
and leisure; lives in a palace Of a
house on Park avenue; is a widow
with no nearer relatives than that Ar
chic Penrose. Her mention of julius
Chambers was encouraging. Oh, if
Mrs. Penrose would only use her in
fuence it might move something's Cor
don uttered groan. But these So
ciety women have no hearts except
when they feel remorse. That's her
trouble. She may be enthusiastic over
fad like Hope House, as she calls it,
but it won't last. Her old social ambi-
tons are too strong to be broken or
changed into new ones"
Judge Chambers is new factor"
Miss Andrews spoke softly. II won
der what he will prove to be. That
first act of his when he was seated was
enceura ging. How would it do to bring
case against Tommy Randall is his
court?"
"Just the thing! don't believe Tom
my owns him. We have got to do
something and do it hard. If Tommy
Randall puts up those double deckers
contrary to the city ordinances, have
we got to confess that there is no such
thing as justice in a city like this, in a
country like ours, after twenty cen