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

The young mar smiled.
"My youthfulness is an offense that
I cannot Immediately correct" he
said. "Give me time. I'll try to
live it down"
The girl frowned. "You seem to
delight in treating the subject flip
PANTY" she said. Don't you think
I'm old enough to choose my own
GUARDIAN"
He smiled. He seemed to have
an ~inexhaustible fund of good ma
ture.
81 would prefer not to answer that
question" he said. "In the eye of
the law you are still an infant"
Gan infant" she echoed. well,
1 fancy I'm a pretty lively infant.
I'm the sort of infant that knows
enough to claim it's rights. It's money
I'm clamoring for just now"
eyes. At the same time 1 think
your allowance is quite large enough.
1t is the amount fixed by your father,
and I do not feel justified in raising
it."
The girl pouted.
"Well, 1 can't make it go round"
"But do you try?"
"Of course I do
"You mean you think you do"
His quick eyes rested on the girls
hat lying on the table. "Here's a
little object lesson" he said, as he
picked up the hat. "You bought this
hat at Nine. Filbert's last Tuesday.
You paid SAC for it."
The girl stared at him.
GLOW do you know" she cried.
ga guardian must know many
things. Very indiscreetly you told
who you were as o as you entered
the shop. You are known to be an
heiress. This Immediately advanced
the price of any hat you might Sc
lect."
"I don't believe it."
"It is quite true. You finally picked
out this hat. Madame condescended
to let you have it for SAC. The real
price was $25."
Impossible! How can you know
this?"
lone Of the saleswomen in the
place is the sister of one of the young
men in my office. She told him how
the girls laughed over madame's
cleverness after you left the shop.
The young man thought I would be
interested in the story"
cts a shame!" cried the girl.
I'LL never go there again!"
Certainly not" said the young
man. He eyed the hat critically.
Besides, it isn't the style of hat
that becomes you. There's too much
droop to the brim here. 1t hides
your face too much, and gives you
a rakish air."
She stared at him again.
"Are guardians expected to know
all that, too?" she asked.
"This guardian is simply trying to
do his duty" the young man replied.
There was a little silence.
"Ill have that hat retrimmed,"
said the girl.
"Good," cried the guardian.
"And you'll let me have $500"
He laughed aud shook his head.
st don't suppose it would be polite
for me % say that you are the stingi-
est guard:,.n I have ever had," she
SAID.
He smiled at her accusation.
81 can't help it," he answered. ST
would rather have your good opinion,
of course, but I'm trying to do what
your father expected me to do"
She came to him and put out her
hand.
"You must forgive me, George
she said in her quick way. 81
wouldn't wound your feelings for
the world. VIII you forgive me?"
"Why, of course, Ethel"
Her face beamed.
George" she cried, eff you were
only twenty years older 1 would kiss
YOU"
He drew his breath sharply.
Come, come" he said, remember
that you are no longer a child. How
old are you your next birthday"
"You know that, too. It's next
Wednesday,"
He nodded. 1T may have a little
surprise for you," he said, "if you
are real good"
IT make no promises" she an
swered. Perhaps I'll have a sur
prise for you, too"
He looked at her sharply. "You
haven't been falling in love, have
your" he asked.
She tossed her head airily. "And
what if I have?"
well, it's a guardians business
to know something about the man.
At least, the guardian should be
consulted"
She tossed her head again.
Have you ever thought that
might-might want to marry-to
marry?"
He started a little.
"Then there is somebody?"
tt am not quite sure"
SIS it Douglas Gaines?"
"Why do you mention him?"
He has seemed to like your So
ciety. Other people have noticed it.
His father is my law partner, you
know, and he has spoken to me about
this attachment, as he calls it. He
told me yesterday that it would
please him greatly if you favored his
son-and he asked me to use any in.
fiuepce 1 could bring to bear. l dc
not regard it as any breach OF conf.
dence to tell you this"
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