The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28

had only s25 to my name. and said
that carriages were too slow and that
we would much better take a car"
Il had forgotten that" Peggy said.
but 1 remember how fighting mad you
were when papa rushed in. You stood
between him and me and said, Sir,
your daughter has consented to become
my wife?' Oh, Dick, wasn't 1t funny?''
Yes he said slowly Sometimes IL
seems funny TO me and sometimes il
seems strangely tragic. That we were
such babies is the only saving fact.
Poor kids" He 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. 1 never saw
but one lovable girl In my life"
And she wouldn't marry your"
"She wouldn't. There will never be
another. I lost track Of her"
But you didn't forget herr" the girl
asked softly.
It's too late to find her now. She does
mt 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."
"Win you give me a recommended
tion?" he asked smiling. Say THAI
none of my relatives were hanged. or
something like that?"
II could say much better things. n
is beautiful that you want to find her,
like it, Dick. And 1 think the girl
will like 1t.
Roberts looked deep into her eyes,
but he saw no self-consciousness- He
forgot what he had read many times,
that women are clever actresses
Your advice may be good" he said
after a few moments Of silence, but
what would you have said yourself,
Peggy, If had hunted you up and had
told you about caring for you? Tbs
girl is very much like you. What
would you have said?"
"Oh, that's silly, Dick" she said
quickly. You know you wouldn't
She looked past Roberts and frownsd
uneasiIy. Its going to rain" she mur-
INJURED, "and I'm cold"
"Oh. 1 suppose so.' Dick said gloom
lily. Shed say that, too. That's why
didn't hunt her up"
But it's going to rain. There I felE
a drop, Dick"
Roberts rose quickly and looked to-
ward the fort.
by jove, it is. Peggy. I didn't natics
those clouds. Here comes the Wind
Well have to stand under those hes
till it blows over. I'm mighty sorry
that 1 didn't notice it, He slipped on
his coat and wrapped 1t 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. 1 don't want you to stand
there in the rain. Please take your
coat
He smiled down at her What a
foolish little girl II 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 I
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 1 would give my life. Didn't you
know that, dear?" There was tender
ness in his tone, and conviction. He
Peggy locked her hands tightly to-
gether and her lips quivered. It 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
We'll" ne said heartily Peggy. I've
had searching party out for you. but
I just heard that you two were coming
up the river road. This looks bad. bad
Why, we began to think that you and
the captain. here, had elOped."
Peggy flushed and glanced at the
younger man. Then she smiled at the
colonel.
1--WE did," she said demurely. "six
years ago."