The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-10-14
E 10. and lntelllseqcer:
BEL AIR, Md, OCT. "a, 1904.


pose for each other. lnCrrl my father
thinks my main reason for being is 10
give him IL chance of calling you
daughter. 70 bring them II th2ir
sruSeS We must pretend not Oaiy t.
have taken III their '.uarrrl. bur that
We are going TO marry somebody else.
You'll have an excellent c!aH,r {"
do Tiff you say sweet things to ESQ
Clayton" lean said. But it's differ
ent with me. dont know Il soul |
would dare propose to
Il know several who are simply dy
ing for Il chance IL Propose u you,
though Rob said g;llIntly. playing
pigs went to market with hct fingers.
Aunt Mary tried Ia look :'c;tldaiZrd.
but ended Ly laughing heartily. jean
drew down the corners CT her mouth
and pretended To sigh, ASKING: "WEc""
shall | find them. Robby, dear: l am
simply pning To say YES ana
'Thanky' to somebody"
There's DO time like the present
and you have never accepted me out
right" Rob rctortCd. "Hut ut the par
ty you arc to smile Your sweetest on
Ben Lloyd Ben only. l know it's
pretty tough on him. but he has prom
ised not to mind Seeing he can't have
you himself. he's ready to do IL mans
part to help you get me-"
Then the three fell talking all at
once. 1t was late afternoon when Rob
went home, humming love tune and
smiling as he rode along.
The Hymes party turned out to be
far and away the grandest Hopewell
neighborhood had ever seen. Notwith
standing, Major Hymes got up the
morning after with Il sense of aching
| loss. He sighed all through dressing
and at breakfast SwOre because there
were no wattleS only biscuit, mullins
and batter cakes. At least he said that
was the reason. Rob, with his eyes Oh
his plate and Il general air of dreams
smiled and waited prudently for the
storm to gather or blow over. But
lightning struck him when he was
least prepared for it. Mid-meal his ia
| Their turned square upon him, growing
| out: whereabouts in your travels did
| senses: l think you had better 90
! back and try to find them.
whats the row, governors" Rob de-
manded innocently. The major eX-
ploded:
That's what Id like to know. There
must be row between You and Jean
Bascom-last night you hardly We're
,,;x- IN hnr htit ttt
| after that Clayton creature
There's the RaScom temper-lm
afraid it's hereditary Elsie
| Clayton says she would permit the
minister to Leave obey i'll the mar
riage service" Rob began.
His father cut him short. If mat
| ters have gone as far as that" he said,
lust you listen to this. Unless YOU
marry to suit me. you'll find that my
will ties up things as tight as that old
simpleton. Jimmy Jackson. tried to
tie up all he left
why, | thought you disbelicved in
the will:' Rob interrupted.
His father turned relder than ever,
but went on. pounding the table hard
| must please ne or You'll have hard
shedding. Elsie Clayton, indeed! Look
ut your mother, sir. and lie properly
ashamed of your taste"
Il have nothing against Jean Bas-
COM" Rob began judiciously. But she
is taken up with Ben Lloyd. Then.
too. she evidently takes her fathers
| ..i,I | h.lr f.tl.
Then you're Il fool for your pains,
sir" the major fairly shouted. of
course. she takes Ter fathers side
| that's the natural. the right thing for
Il woman. But yUu-if you were half
Il man, you would have shown her that
you two had nothing TO do with the
case. You must be bewitched with the
| Clayton fried egg eyes"
Not particularly" Rob said. mask
ing il laugh with Il fit of coughing.
But did make up to Jean. far enough
to find out she would have nothing to
say 10 me-not unless you apolo2iZed
to the squire which | knew WAS out
of the question"
Indeed. You had better not know
SO much" Major Hymes said wither-
ingly. But if that's the hitch. why.
it's mighty easily Strengthened. Come
along with me, sir. BY George. t
makes re think Lore than ever CT
Jean, II she sticks UP this way for
her father what won't she do for Il
husband or Il SOM"
Five minutes afterward they We're
galloping together toward the Bascoln
place. rs luck would have il. Squire
Bascom met them just inside the gate.
Major IIymes did not wait for word
of welcome. Twenty yards of he roa'
ed out: Say, John Bascom. I've come
to beg your pardon and ask you fer
your daughter Give 'em to me quick
else I'll be making Il fool will for Other
folks to quarrel over
Il reckon I've IL right To ask youl
pardon, major" Squire Bascom said
smiling and holding out his hand. But
the daughter-th there you've got me-
can't speak for her.
"Ol, all we want is Il chance IL have
her speak for herself" the major an
Swered
Rob smiled to hear him. Down il
his heart he knew what Jean would
say.