The San Francisco call., 1904-06-05

He would have proposed to her the
second day of his visit, never doubling
what answer she would make, but that
his sense of propriety forbade. Be
sides. il would not do TO dazz,e her
too suddenly-he must let the great
prospects break gently upon her. as
dawn broke over the world. So he
had been nobly impartial in his de-
voirs-so much so he had twinges of
conscience whenever he thought Of
Prue. She was hardly more than a
schoolgirl. TO be sure, but quite mature
enough to break her heart over loss of
him, il she once let herself seriously
believe she had a chance Of being Mrs.
Byram.
OF Tom Rodman he had taken no
more account than to set him down
as an impertinent puppy with knack
Of coming in at all hours-especially
when Mr.. Byram least expected or
wanted him. To discover him kissing
Bess in the face OF everybody made
Benjamin the Blatant simply furious.
All the more furious that Jenny cried
out gleefully: Mr.. Byram, Mister
Byram! Come help me hold EN-. They
tried to skeer me, but I'm beatin' 'em
at their own game
Let loose, you little varmintl Shut
up" Tom commanded. Prue made
dash at the tangle and deftly un-
twined Jemmys fingers, letting Bess
escape Mr.. Byram stood speechless in
wrath and amazement, until Amelia,
siding up to him, slid her hand within
his and said, with the least toss of the
arTrl. H.
Mister Tom will be Aunty Bess'
nephew when he marries me-and the
Fairies always kiss their kinfolk, if
they amt too far off and. great big
stuffs into the bargain - Prue and
Aunty Bess said so the first night you
came"
Indeed" Mr.. Byram exploded.
With my coming, / suppose, for text.
Well, young ladies, / see in all this the
hand of Providence. A just and ever
watchfuI God would not permit me to
fall victim to your mercenary. designs
No doubt you were tempted by my
wealth and position, although you are
so wholly incapable Of appreciating
man Of my character"
Kindly come outside with me be-
fore you say any more Tom Rodman
interrupted, setting Jenny down with
a thump and putting himself in front
of Bess, who had grown very white
and had eyes OF scorching flame. Prue,
contrariwise, had flushed so scarlet 1t
hid all her freckles. Tom reached a
hand to her and drew her toward him,
while he went on steadily: Your
talk needs a man to hear and answer
II. I'm that man. Bess and Prue have
no brother, and Mr.. Fairlie is past
flghtin' age. But Prue belongs to me.
and that gives me the right to stand
up for 'em. So you come along! Well
settle this the minute we strike the
turnpike and neutral ground
Hush, Toni Remember he's our
guestl" Bess pleaded. Prue gave her
sweetheart a roguish and heavenly
smile. Amelia looked fit to cry over
the topping Of her aircastle, but
Jenny turned handspring by way of
showing his Joy in the ''melley." AS
he came up standing, he stepped in
front of Byram, swelled out his chest
and said. stoutly;
Don't you try no crawfish gamesi
You know you wanted to marry Aunty
Bessl You told me so. and said 1
must court her for you. 1 amt very
big, but II you try to go back on her
I'll let you know l can shoot my little
gun-and that's more than you can do.
We won't have a regular duel, like
grandpa tells about Let's try buttin'
match instead, and II butt you over,
like David did Goliath, you'll propose
to Aunty Bess same as ever and gimme
that Shetland you been talkhn' so much
about"
Ladies and gentlemen, good-by,"
Mr.. Byram began in his most ceremo-
nious voice. He got no further. Jem-
my went at him like catapult, bowled
him down and out of the door, only
stopping when his enemy lay pros
trate upon the hall threshold. There
the grown-ups came to the rescue, and
so managed 1t that Mr.. Byram went off
an hour later. somewhat bruised in his
person and self-esteem. but as to his
outer man, whole and speckless. When
the carriage rolled away with him,
Tom Rodman drew long breath, and
said, as he tossed a foreign letter to
Bess: your sweetheart is comm
home by the next steamer; had cable
this mornin'. You see, have been
writing him things. He will agree with
me and the late Byram that in all this
there is Enthusiastically the hand Of
Providouoe