Smyrna times., 1904-07-27

y
were when papa rushed in. You stood
between him and me and said. Sir
your daughter has consented to be-
come my wife! Oh. Dick. wasn't it
funny?"
Yes" he said slowly. Sometimes
1t seems funny to me and sometimes if
seems strangely tragic That we were
such babies is the only saving fact
Poor kids.' lie sighed and turned his
eyes from the girls face Il suppose
you're engaged now?" he said.
"No."
How does that happen?"
She shook her head. And your
she said.
Engaged? No, indeed. l never saw
but one lOvable girl in my life"
And she wouldn't marry you?"
she wouldn't. There will never be
another. l lost track of her"
But you didn't forget her?" the girl
asked softly.
Il never forgot her for minute.
But it's too late to find her now. She
! doesn't care for me anyway"
"Oh, Dick, don't say that. ANY girl
ought to care for you. Just the fact
that you stay true to one woman
should be enough. Don't give up and
spoil it,"
will you give me a recommenda-
tiOn? he asked, smiling. "Say that
none of my relatives were hanged or
something like that?"
II could say much better things. It
IS beautiful that you want to find her
like it, Dick. And think the girl
will like it."
Roberts looked deep into her eyes.
but lie saw no self consciousness He
forgot what he had read many times,
that women are clever actresses.
y our advice may be good" he said
after few moments of silence. "Rut
what would you have said yourself.
Peggy, if had hunted you up and had
told you about caring for you? The
girl is very much like you What would
you have said?"
oh that's silly, Dick" shr said
quickly. You know you wouldn't"
She looked past Roberts and frowned
uneasily. ITS going to rain" she mur-
INJURED, "and I'm cold"
"Oh, | suppose So" Dick said gloom
Ily. shed say that too That's why
| didn't hunt her up"
But it's going to rain. There, l felt
4 drop, Dick"
Roberts rose quickly and looked to-
ward the fort.
by JOve, it is, Peggy. l didn't no
tice those clouds. Here comes the
wind. Wen have to stand under those
trees till it blows over Pm mighty
sorry that l didn't notice it." He
Slipped off his coat and wrapped it
about the girls shoulders.
"Oh, don't, Dick" she protested.
"Please, You know girls don't take
cold as easily as men. They're used
to exposure"
They ran to a clump of trees and
Roberts made the girl kneel by a low
stone wall that ran at the side of the
road.
Dick. l don't want you to stand
there in the rain. Please take your
coat
He smiled down at her. What a
foolish little girl it is" he said. But
I'll kneel beside you if you think it's
safe"
She raised her questioning eyes to
his. Il wish you would" she said.
Il don't like to have you take such a
terrible risk, and just to protect me,
when l can keep dry in this corner as
well as not"
Roberts dropped to his knees and
leaned against the wall.
Peggy" he said, Just to protect
you | would give my life. Didn't you
know that, dear?" There was tender
ness in his tone and conviction. He
spoke not passionately. but truly.
Peggy locked her hands tightly to-
gether and her lips quivered. 1t seemed
a long time before she could raise her
eyes. Then she met the earnest, ques-
tioning gaze of the man.
You may" she said simply. "Dick,
you may"
The rain had ceased and the clouds
had hurried on their way toward the
east when Peggy and Captain Roberts
entered the reservation and were met
by the jovial colonel.
'Well," he said heartily, Peggy,
I've had a searching party out for you,
but l just heard that you two were
coming up the river road. This looks
bad, bad. Why, we began to think
you and the captain, here, had elOped.'
Peggy flushed and glanced at the
younger man. Then she smiled at the
colonel.
I'VE did" she said demurely, "six
years ago"