The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-12-27

Gee Q
) HIS PROMOTION.
by w. n. ROSE.
eeeo

SHG 49,
He hesitated a little.
Douglass comes of an excellent
family. I greatly esteem his father.
AS far Us I know the boy has a good
reputation. He is a little too boy
ish for his years, perhaps, but that
isn't a serious fault"
"And you would interpose no OBJ
jection?"
mot if you loved him."
She was silent a moment. Then
she smiled.
you mustn't forget that Wednes-
day is my birthday, and you are to
take supper with me here. There
is to be an exchange of surprises,
you know"
81 remember" he said. 81 will
come. Good-by."
AS he went down the front steps
the girl called to him.
George" she cried, eff you see
Douglass at the Office tell him I'd
like to see him, please"
AS he walked away the young
mans face clouded.
when John Lamberton urged me
to be the guardian of his child he
didn't know that he was asking me
to play with fire." he muttered.
Every day she grows more charm
ing, every time I see her my peace of
mind is freshly shattered. But Doug
lass-oh, well, it will have to be all
right if she fancies him. There is
n thing certain-I must give up
this guardianship"
AS for the girl, she fingered a mo-
ment in the doorway looking after
her guardians departing figure.
Poor George" she murmured.
"But he's too silly to deserve any
pity. AS if I couldn't see that he
loves me so much that he's actually
afraid of ME. And all that pretense
about lecturing me for my extrav-
agance! Why, he's as transparent
as glass. Poor George!"
That afternoon Ethel Lamberton
had a caller, a chubby-faced youth
with clothes of extreme cut and a
hat with a p~arti-colored band. 1t
was young Douglass Gaines, and
young Gaines looked a little worried.
"Hullo, Ethel" he said.
"HoW do you do? Mr.. Edgar gave
you my message?"
eyes, II was afraid it might be
something serious"
cit may prove serious" said the
girl.
He looked at her helplessly.
"You haven't seen dad, have your"
mo-"
"Maybe you know what he
wants."
maybe I do"
"Then you know he wants me to
marry you?"
81 have heard something of the
kind"
He looked still more helpless.
"You do not look pleased" said
the girl.
There seemed to be a lump in the
young mans throat. "Are you
pleased?" he stammered.
THAT isn't fair" said the girl. 81
mustn't show my feeling until
well, until you make yourself more
definite. Are you pleased?"
NO." he blurted out Then he
mustered all his courage. II like
you first rate, Ethel. You're a jolly
girl all right. B-but l don't like you
in the way-well, in the way father
wants me to like you."
The girl frowned.
"That isn't %1attering, Douglass.
Your father"
He interrupted her.
"You know my father wants you
in the family? It's your money he
wants"
The young man drew a long
breath.
Il wish some I knew had a little
money. Enough at least to impress
father"
The girl shook her head at him.
"Then I have a hated rival?"
"N-not a rival, Ethel. She is very
fond of you. She thinks you're a
wonderful girl"
"Then I know herr"
eyes"
SIS it Emily Robbins?"
eyes. How did you guess?"
"Never mind. And you prefer
Emily Robbins to me?"
Eyes. You don't care very much
do your"
"And you want to marry Emily?'
"Of course"
docs Emily know"
"She knows. It's all right-excepi
for dad.
Suppose I bring a little influence
to bear on your father?"
"Can you-will your"
Would it do any good to have
George Edgar talk to him?"
"Of course it would. He's the very
man. Whatever George Edgar say
always goes with dad. There ISM
a finer fellow on earth than George
You ought to hear what they say
about him in college. He was The
great half-back of his year, yol
know. But he wouldn't speak tt
dad, would he?"
Tho oirl smiIad