The Press., 1907-09-04
INCLUDING A
TIN PEDDLER.
By ARNOLD MORTON.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
By ARNOLD MORTON.

q Copyrighted, 1907, by 2. C. Parcells
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Yes, Arthur Blakely was to blame
for the quarrel. The rising young law
yer frankly admitted this to his law
books and his office desk, and he
would have frankly admitted it to Mol
ly Gray but for pride's sake. His
transgressions consisted of seeing an
other young lady of on the train. The
seeing or meant buying her ticket
and getting her trunk checked, and
that might have been forgiven had
not something else followed. She had
to change cars at junction five miles
out, and she was in such fear that she
would take a wrong Rrain and bring
up in Texas instead of Connecticut
that the young lawyer was prevailed
upon to accompany her thus far. or
course Molly happened by the merest
accident to find 1t out, and the fact
that Blakely had said nothing made
mountain out of a molehill. 1t was
that little trifle that brought about
quarrel and disturbed the center Of
equilibrium of the whole United
States.
Miss Molly was fortunate enough to
have two aunts. She was Aunt Re
becca's ward and resided with her in
the city, and her Aunt Sarah lived
about thirty miles out and had advice
to offer on all occasions, but more es-
pecially In case of lovers quarrels.
When this quarrel had lasted a week,
and when the young man, after seven
sleepless nights. had determined to
sink his pride and send flowers and
follow them in person, Miss Molly was
tossing her head before the glass and
saying things to herself, particularly
that she would show Mr.. Arthur
Blakely what was what and teach
him a lesson to last him all the rest
of his born days. She'd teach him to
buy tickets and check trunks and ride
out to functions with girl who had
once referred to her hair as plain red
instead of Titan.
Ten minutes later she had decided
to visit her Aunt Sarah. A message
was sent ahead, and Aunt Sarah was
at the depot to meet her. The niece
received warm welcome, and, follow
ing a plan perfected on the train, she
forced herself TO be unusually gay and
appeared in the best Of spirits They
had scarcely reached the house, how
ever, when Aunt Sarah patted her on
the shoulder in a motherly way and
said:
"Now, then, you poor child, let's hear
oil al I IN -
the start that you have my entire SYM
pathy."
''Why, aunty, what do you meanT
Don't try to fool me. young lady!
I'm not your Aunt Rebecca, but your
Aunt Sarah. Has that scoundrel toyed
with your heartstrings and then walk
ed Off? When Sister Rebecca wrote
me that he had Roman nose and q
sandy mustache, set him down for q
scoundrel"
The young lady tried to brazen 1t
out. but was cornered and had to tell.
She made 1t as light for Arthur as she
could, but when she had finished her
story Aunt Sarah said:
You have done Just the right thing.
That young man needs a lesson. You
are going to stay right here for the
rest Of the summer, and he may write,
telephone and telegraph until he Is
gray headed, and 1t won't do him any
good. The Grays have never allowed
any one to walk over them, and they
are not going to begin now. If you
don't make him get down OH his knees
and ask your pardon a thoUA;nd times
over, you are no true Gray"
Molly went to her room greatly dis
satisfied. She had had n quarrel with
Arthur Blakely. but there were lots of
things to be said In his favor, and it
was real mean Of Aunt Sarah to pitch
into him rs she had. The young lady
presently found herself arguing that
she had perfect right to feel hurt and
injured and be n week getting over It.
She had brought along his notes and
letters, Of course. They made quite q
large bundle. She selected three or
four and read them over, and then she
had good cry.
Aunt Sarah had said that the CONVEX
sation would be resumed next day.
Molly woke up with n determination
that nothing further should be said.
After breakfast she took her book
and hied herself to the hickory grove
down In the meadow, and there she re-
manned till the horn blew for dinner
She read little, she cried q little and
she thought great deal. If she had
had the hefty bundle of Arthur's let
tiers with her she might have cried
more. but she had careIessly left 1t
behind her and dill not wish to go back
for fear of Aunt Sarah. As she reach
cd the house she ran upstairs to look
over just one letter. and minute later
n scream resounded through halls and
rooms
what oE earth Is itT' demanded the
aunt from the foot of the stairs.
"My-my letters are goneP'
"What lettersP'
"Arthur's letters to me. I left them
on the floor beside my trunk"
'aThen you'll never see them again. |
A tin peddler came along about 10
O'Clock, and | wanted to scare mp |
enough paper rags to buy dfpper.
picked up what could find. and as |
thought the bundle was something |
you had thrown away ehucked 1t In"