The Press., 1904-06-22
.her mind for some nlausible excuse.

| to make her forget herself to such good purpose that by the end of the evening
 she was laughing and chatting as un-
 concernedly as if Mrs. Grundy did not exist
 With this excellent beginning things
 went smoothly for awhile. Walks, ldrives and theaters followed, and ap. parently Miss Fosters fear of appear
 ing ''kittenish" slumbered. To Mallory each hour spent in her society made him long for more She was so deli
 ciously contradictory. tf@ Then Of a sudden all the old prim re. straint returned to her manner. Three consecutive invitations were, refused | with excuses so fiimsy that even the most obtuse person must have seen | through the.n.
 AS before, he divined the meaning ol | it all-some idle word that had aroused | all her dormant sensitiveness. and she
 was writhing under it. She doubtless imagined that people were saying that that old maid, Marion Foster. was try. ing to catch Mr. Mallory. and her man | ner was her fierce, wOrdless refutatiOn i of it. The lines of care were deepen | ing in her face day by day. and his heart ached for her. . -....-... | 'I want to speak to you, Miss Eos | ter" he said in a determined way aa | she was about to pass him in the hall | one day with her usual brief greeting Certainly" she replied somewhat the quiet drawing room together. | Something is bothering you," he be | gan, fixing his glance searchingly upon her. Come now, be frank. If there is any way in which I can be of service | to you tell me"
 Its nothing" she protested hastily,
 "or, at least, nothing much" Then | with an attempt at lightness she add | ed, 'Women who have neither fathers \ nor brothers to look out for them often
 have to worry. you know"
 | Another sort of woman might have | added husbands" but to Miss Foster. \ whose consciousness upon the subjects | of love and matrimOny was as shrink ing as that of a young girl, such a 10 mark would have been impossible. | Even in that moment Mallory chuckled to himself. yet would have liked to | take her in his arms and put himself between her and the world forever. Marry me-" he said softly Give me the right to take care of you. l
 shall count it great happiness" Her face went scarlet. "Such subject seems scarcely the | proper one for jest" she retorted with dignity. If you will excuse me, ! have duties to attend to-" and she rose | to leave him.
 ''One moment"
 His voice rang a trifle sharp and clear with command. The Mallory
 who achieved what he wanted in life was speaking. Miss Foster seemed to feel this, and she sat down again as obediently as a child, though he could see that her hands were quivering neryously.
 You have misunderstood me-" he
 said in calm, decided voice which somehow thrilled her with the certain | ty that he would bend her to his will. "I have no intention of indulging in | the sentimental talk of a man of twen- | ty-f1ve," he went on, taking one of her slim hands in his and looking at her. a bit quizzically. Love, of course, is a \ matter of years. A man and woman of \ fifty would only be ridiculous if they
 essayed to speak that language" But Pm only thirty-ninev' she ex-
 claimed, surprised into protest. Mallory could have roared with laugh ter at the innocent .'only." AS he had y4 @H,-% %<,k,< ly thought herself outside the pale; it was only as one sensitively afraid that she ought to think sO He could not entirely banish the teasing smile from his eyes, and she felt vaguely
 that she had walked into the trap he
 had set for her. But of course it's absurd for you to
 say such things to a woman of my age and for me to listen," she continued courageously, though Mallory noticed
 that she no longer made as if to leave him.
 My dear Miss Foster" he said per suasiyely. we won't talk of that phase of the matter at all. I should
 not be saying this to you if had not
 very deep regard for you. and you,
 I fancy, would not be listening" There was a little incoherent mur-
 mur which he took for assent. Then
 he continued with an anxious air. But there is an ethical side to the matter. that persons of our age should
 consider. You would be doing beau tiful act if you would take my children
 and me in hand. and I could make
 things so much easier for you and
 your mother"
 That will bring her," he exulted to
 himself. .-s-... s..
 But I thought your children were grownT
 They're over twenty" he admitted boldly, but that is the very age at which young people most need the con- trolling influence of home."
 He could see that she was awaken ing. and he wisely refrained from fur ther persuasion, murmuring only, "We need you. dear" aa..+---.. ..s
  On the steps of her new home as the carriage dashed up the drive she mo- ticed that a small group awaited them. A moment later she was clasped in Q bear hug by a bright faced girl who
 said, My dear little new mother" so
 warmly that she loved her on the spot
 as well as the manly youth who laugh ingly took her next, pleading Me too. !" And this is my husband, Ralph," "
 the girl explained as another young
 man stepped forward. And this. Ja- l net, Harry's wife" -..s.....s -- Then a nurse moved forward into
 the circle, holding bulky armful.
 And this, mother" continued the girl proudly, 'is your little grand l daughter" "
 So these were the "chiidren' who needed her. E-ts =ss