The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-07-12

her hobbies! Natalie wasn't particu-
larry stubborn about other things,
either. She always admitted that she
| loved me, but she invariably supple
mented the admission with a long
complicated argument about loving her
career" more. She had broken our
engagement SO many times and for SO
many different kinds of career that
| had become quite sanguine that Q
there would be nothing left for her to
make a fad of, except myself.
Natalie" | remarked, p~ointedly,
you're a good fellow, all right, but
do vol know. | sometimes fancy you
lack sense?" Natalie smiled calmly.
Don't row. Bobbie." she said sweet
ly. ITS too hot"
May | go with you, wherever you
are going?" | asked stifiy.
you may not" Natalie replied. Il
shan't have all the fun of my fresh
air children spoiled by taking a hui
man thunder cloud amongst them!'
Natalie's mother swept into the
room with a silken swish.
MY dear boy, sit down. she MUIR
INJURED, sinking into a chair. $50 you
have been around the world in the last
six months! Poor fellow'-she grew
confidential--'I can see by your face
that Natalie has snubbed you dread
fully this morning. I'm sure / don't
know from whom she inherits her in
corrigible tendencies. She positively
doesn't appreciate the fact that she
vas born on Beacon street.
There are other and greater facts
which she fails to appreciate" |
laughed; "but tell me about this latest
freak of hers-something to do with
a fresh air fund or something, isn't
it?"
Unfortunately yes" replied Mrs.
Marshe. Bob, Natalie behaved beau
tifully all spring. She went to dinner
parties and luncheons religiously, and
always managed to be somewhere In
the house on our at home day. I'm
luckily, that dreadfully philanthropic
Miss Marley RAJ calling one day last
week and insisted on giving us a de.
tailed account of her latest charity.
It's a settlement house in some UNI
heard of part of the city. They needed
some M to take charge of the chill.
dren's picnic department and Natalie
Immediately volunteered her services
for the next two months, and her
principal duty is to take twenty of
the dirtiest, slummiest boys and girls
and babies in Boston for an outing
twice a week."
leaned back and roared.
Mrs. Marshe groaned See here"
she said with spirit, you're a man;
you should do something. This is
Natalie's first day with those little
imps, at a place called Ocean Grove,
near Nahant. Cant you do something
to disgust her with them?"
Shortly after, ! swung off the train
at Nahant and inquired for Ocean
Natalie was trying to interest a
of young demons with drop the
handkerchief" The noise of the stock
exchange, which ordinarily is my only
grievance against life, rose in my mind
the dignity of a symphony when
compared to this wild, awful discord!
At times, as the clamor became UNI
bearabie, Natalie's slender white
fingers pressed her temples spasmodi-
cally. She looked pretty tired.
Finally n Of the youngsters, whom
the others called Pat Bates, finding
the sport too tame, sauntered over in
my direction. | joyfully hailed him by
significantly waving a dollar bill. 1t
immediate attention.
Patrick" | said, "it's this way. I've
got lots of money and a dandy big
house, where | could entertain you and
all my other friends If l Just had a
wifel"
Take me straight tip, pal" advised
NV .LAM -.HA H- Nv. n N'"'
young friend solemnly, git
hitched!"
That's my intention" I replied.
Now, Pat, don't you think Miss
would make a dandy wife?"
She's got red hair" he ventured.
Yes" admitted, but it's curly,
This is my plan" l explained to him,
confidentlally, Miss Marshe likes me
all right, but she imagines it's her duty
to look after you kids instead of mar. ,
rying me. Now I'll give you this dol.
lar bill and four more just like 1t IL
you'll go back to that bunch OF young
and raise a riot. Do anything
do everything--to make Miss Marshe
so disguised with all Of you that she'll
never want to e you again!"
Patrick gave me a knowing grin
Say, youse is de limit" he remarked.
briefly; gimme de flyer an I'll cit
Five minutes later Ocean Grove had
trouble. There was a successful raid
on the unripe and positively forbidden
fruit of a stubby apple tree. ] had a
view Of my intrepid ally throwing
down unlimited quantities Of exceed.
ingly verdant apples to his 'compan.