Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-07-15
NO. 43.

tue quiet drawing room tORetner.
Something Is botherlng you" he be.
gan, fixing his glance searchingly upon
her Come now, be frank If there Is
any way In which can be of service
to you tell me-"
ITS nothing" she protested hastily,
'or, at least, nothing much" Then
with an attempt at llghtness 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 young girl, such re-
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 n 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.
zone moment"
His voice rang trife 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 al
obediently as child, though he could
see that her hands were quivering
nervously.
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
II have no intention OF INDUCING In
the sentimental talk Of man of TWEEN
ty-fiye," he went on, taking one of her
slim hands In his and looking at her
bit qulzzically. Love, OF course, Is
matter Of years. man and woman Of
fifty would only DO ridiculous IL they
essayed to speak that language"
But I'm only thlrty-nlne" she ex-
claimed. surprised into protest.
Mallory could have roared with laugh
ter at the innocent "Only." AZ he had
supposed, then 1t was not that she real
ly thought herself outside the pale; 1t
was only as one sensltively afraid
that she ought to think 3d. He could
not entirely Danish 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 woman OF my age
and for me to listen" she continued
courageously, though Mallory noticed
that she no longer made as II to leave
him.
my dear Miss Foster" he said per-
suaslvely. 1--WE won't talk OF that
phase Of the matter at all. | should
not be saying this to you If had not
very deep regard for you, and you,
| fancy. would not be listening"
There was little lncoherent muir
muir which he took for assent. Then
he continued with an anxious air.
But there IL an ethical side TO the
matter that persons Of our age should
consider. You would be doing a beau
tiful act II you would take my children
and me In hand, and | could make
things 40 much easier for you and
your mother"
THAT will bring her" he exulted to
himself
But 1 thought your children were
grownT
They're over twenty" he admitted
boldly, but that IL 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, 1--WE
need you, dear"