The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-09-23
Maureen's Lover.
by CONSTANCE CRAIGIE uALKE1


OF course, know that any number of
men have been guardians sometimes (as
ann to Il Young and pretty ward.
But my wife and agreed one day that,
among the lot of them. nobody could
possibly give more food for thought and
anxiety than did Maurcen o. Connor, our
niece and ward.
To say she was pretty sounds tame.
She was as fresh and sweet as wild
Hover. She was as wild as any deer on
our hills. She feared neither man nor
beast, rode horses many boys would have
declined to mount. could swim like fish
and run like hare. When add that she
was just seventeen. and had shut up her
lesson books with Il decided bang the day
before her birthday, you will perhaps un-
dcrstand why my wife and were sitting
looking ut each other, discussing Maui
rccn.
She was, or would be. an heiress, and
she knew about as much on the subject
of money as those birds Wonder near Ike
marsh. She could spend it. though. for
she loved giving No tale of distress was
ever told to her in vain, .0r she had the
warmcS; of Irish hearts. The only way,
indeed, one could influence her, found
out long ago, was to appeal to that-it
was no good lecturing Maurecn.
My wife was looking rather helpless.
Maurecn aGored her, but ruled her-ab-
solutelv. My wife worshiped Maureen,
and spoiled her horribly, but to me she
always PLAYED the role of dutlul ward.
though she knew perfectly we'll that il
never deceived me for one moment
"She ought to go to the city and make
her social debut, she said, firmly.
Il quite agree with you," said |, but
will she go:'
IL don't know"
"Ah." laughed, won see, we can't
exactly make her go"
''Ilavc you ever been able to make her
do anything :" my wife asked. scornfully.
She spoke as if she had bccnin the hab-
it Of enforcing obedience on Maureen
every other minute, and was riled.
81 haven't observed that your at
tempts i'll that direction have been SO
very successful" said, GROSSLY.
Whercupon we both laughed I'VE pos
scSs Sense of humor-a thing which
saves so many situations from becoming
serious.
Just then, through the open window,
we caught sight of a dainty, charming
figure, i'll the simplest of draperies, tear
ing across the lawn, three or four dogs
at her heels.
went TO the window and called her
back. She came reluctantly.
Gam in for scolding:" she asked,
her lovely face mutinous, her eyes SO full
of laughter that they would have dis
armed the sevcrcst guardian, almost
think
Come in here" said eve want to
speak to You seriously"
She groaned and gave backward
glance across the tlower-spanglcd mead
ows and the sunny garden.
Fancy being serious on such a day"
she said. Its wasting ones time posi-
lively, do assure YOU"
However, she lifted her dainty skirts.
and with one bound was in 1T the viii
dow.
My dear" said you've grown up
now, you know"
Her answer WAS an afirctionatc hug,
and "If You only know how funny you
look when YOU try to look solemn, said
she.
Well, we sat down, one on each side OF
her, and We prnpuunded the social debut
talked what believed to lie common
sense. My wife said Il good deal about
parties and beautiful gowns, and season.
ed the lump with Il little worldly wis
dom, which firmly believe she had learn
! ed out of a book, as she hasn't Il particle
| of her own.
Maurcen sat there as quiet as Il mouse
and listened patiently, but said nothing
until we came to Il full stop. 1t is a tritlc
difficult to 20 on adducing arguments i'll
support of plan when nobuuv says
ANYTHING to contradict you.
This was what we both felt, 50 we
paused. Maurccn still sat silent for a
moment, then She spoke. ! had never
heard Mature en- voice with that intlec-
/ ton in my lie; she WAS actually serious.
"My dcars," She said, and she slipped
one hand into mine and another into my
wifc's, "youvc been very good to me all
my life," add there was Il thrill i'll her
voice as she said it which made my eyes
grow suddenly dim. 1--WE lost both
| father and mother, but you have been 81
kind to me that | never missed either
can say more? But don't make me do
this thing. What is the idea 1shall be
rich some day, and know you think me
/ pretty, therefore you would like me to
make grand marriage. don't care il
marry or don't but I'm quite sure it
/ would hc hateful to live i'll Il dirty old
city, and I'm not going to do it, so that
is quite settled, isn't it ?"