The Holly chieftain., 1906-11-09
A Great Gun

nOdding across at her son. But you
won't wonder at 1t when you hear the
new sweetheurt's name-Sarah- Susan
Miss Sarah Susan Gunn.'
Billy turned all cOlors. Connor. his
chum, laughed explosively and said us
soon as he could speak: Billy. call
that positively immoral! You had bet
ter he counting twins. How ever will
you tx itY You may propose to Susan
and be rejected or accepted by Sally.
You may even he married wrong
Think, too. of being always a mere
gunper's mate
shut up" Billy interjected. his face
scarlet. but grinning in spite Of him
self "Wait till you've seen her at
= least. Mother makes fun of her names
because she can't find fault with her
any way else. And Sue isn't to blame
She didn't name herself or choose the
family she had to be born in
"N but you do choose the family
you marry into" Mrs. Wheat cooed.
She was less than twenty years older
very lively woman.
Connors thought her stunning. So
did his Uncle Tim Harking back sud
denly In his mind to something year
old, he whistled aloud and asked alb
ruptly: "Say, Nanny Wheat, is 1t the
same way with Tim? Did you turn
him down because you wouldn't he
Mrs. O'TooleT
1t was mammy's turn to blush The
blush made her younger and prettier
than ever. who says l had the
chance to be Mrs. ,O'Toole?" she began.
but stopped as both the youngsters
growled derision and unbelief.
Tim was the worst ever" Connors
said decidedly; couldn't eat or sleep;
used to hang out Of the windows all
prom. week just to stare up the street
toward where you were staying; In
the greatest fidget, too, to get his place
fixed up new. And then. after he'd
walked about with you one teeny half
hour. he quit-cut out everything ex-
cept my allowance and scooted across
the pond with just half a steamer kit.
Don't say you don't know why, mann
my! 1t won't do any good-not with
Us two. We know. He wented-be-
cause you sented him. Poor old Tim!
You have a heap on your conscience,
nanny! How could you do itT'
Don't you understand, Larry. dear?'
nanny said, still blushing. 1T was
all on your account. l couldn't bear to
supplant you" Her eyes laughed, but
Larry COnnors saw under the laughter
III that was your game you went
blind" he said. Don't you see, Tim Is
20 near the years Of indiscretion-they
begin at forty-fve-he'll sure fall vic
tim somehow somewhere. You ought
to have taken him, nanny. Then, in
deed, my future would have been se-
cure"
where is he? Have you heard from
him latelyY nanny asked, her eyes
suddenly downcast.
Larry shook his head. HE was tear
ing around toward the midnight sun
thought maybe the icebergs would re-
mind him of you," he said. But that
was six months back-long enough for
him to be buried or married"
He always talked of Ireland"-
nanny began, signing family.
But he didn't care for it unless you
were there TO see it with him." Larry
interrupted. Il think I'll cable him to
come back right away. Maybe he will
be ready to sacrifice himself for your
whim-carry of the adorable Gum and
SO save Billy"
II had rather-almost-she had Billy
nanny said inconsequently. Tim
Is dear, but-'Hon. Mrs. Timothy
O'Toole" Dear me, could cry when
l think of It! Why wasn't he born
something else?"
Smith, Jones, Brown or Robinson"
Larry commented
Mrs. Wheat got up and walked quick
ly away.
Billy went to the window. Larry,
staring after the vanishing lady. was
amazed to see her head droop and her
bosom swell. Clearly she was ON the
point Of sobbing. He followed her soft
ly and said as she flung herself on a
couch: "Tell me, nanny! You're play
ing a game. What Is it?'
How did you guess?" nanny said,
speaking very low. with her finger on
her lip. "You mustn't ever let Billy
guess It." she said. HE doesn't know
about our money. 1t came to me from
my uncle, the dearest. straitlaced
soul. He thought second marriages sim
ful-splritual bigamZ, be called them.