Arizona republican., 1907-01-13
-:- THE DOWNFALL OF PEMBROKE -:-
 By HENRY c. ROWLAND


[ n silence, while the cold precipitation poured from MT Pembroke in steady little rills. Glancing at her in alarm h-s heart sank as he noticed the con- vulsive heaving of her shoulders. but the sight while agonizing, aroused all of his latent chivalry.
 "M-M-Madam-" he began desper- ately, when suddenly she raised her face and he saw that it was crimson with laughter, whereat he wilted back against the plush cushions. numbed and speeches..
 We ere going to Boston" she be- gan, when overtaken by a fresh out burst of mirth that lasted until MT. Pembroke, whose knowledge of such matters was confined to theory, began to fear mysteries. convulsions. coma and death Feeling the critical neces- sity of interrupting the emotion he be- gan to speak
 Madam. as this ridiculous blundef was all due to my absurd and ofilclous meddling. you will permit me to tele- graph to Albany for tickets on the Bos- ton & Albany, also to conduct you there personally. I am Percival Penn broke of Boston, and it will-' "Percival Pembroke. the famous ar chaeolOgist? " she interrupted, looking up with sudden awe.
 The fame is overrated-"
 No il isnt," she cOntradicted. How . cXtraordinarV-we are to be ncignbors later on you know. I have taken Boulder Cottage at Pawn Lake. and We are going up from Boston next week. l am Mrs. Henry Lawton."
 Tt was MT. Pembrokc's turn to be surprised.
 Your husband was the late Chief Justice LawtOn-," he exclaimed. Why. he was one of my fathers old friends"
 Yes" she replied dcmurely. He was twenty years older than r."
 We are going to visit my cousin in Boston for three days" she resumed. ito give my servants an opportunity to get the cottage in order It was Q rather inconvenicnt arrangement, but I had let my town house from the first of June and really had nowhere to go,"
 Even as she spoke a daring plan was formulating in the reviving brian of the arChaclOgist For the first time since his impulsive youth he spoke without pausing to weigh his words.
 Tt seems to me, Mrs. Lawton that it would greatly simplify matters if you would wire to your Boston relatives that you have decided to go directly to Pawn Lake, and then to consent to oc- cupy my cottage until yours is ready. I can make myself quite comfortable in yours until it is put in order"
 Her pretty brows puckered as she gazed meditatively at the fleeing pano- rama without. Then the mirthful gleam which Mr. Pembroke was unconscious ly growing to relish, returned to her blue eyes.
 But my cottage is all fresh paint"
 q thouroughly enjoy the odor of new paint" remarked MT. Pembroke men dac.oUsly.
 How many bedrooms has your cot tage?" she demanded.
 Eight. believe"
 Eight, Then what is the necessity. of your moving out?"
 "Why-cr-I thought pcrhaps-that is"
 That the children might annoy you?" sine inquired maliciously.
 No indeed-I- I- er-lOve children and yours are so-er-bright and sym pathetic"
 "Papa-see de boat" interrupted the -year-old.
 MT. Pcmbroke's eye caught a cinder which did not prevent his observing the heightened color of his fair companion with some malicious satisfaction.
 Rupert, that gentleman is not your papa" she reprOved gently.
 Why" lisped the infant
 The answer to this innocent inquiry being to intricate for the minds of either the mother or the benumbed MT Pembroke it was left unanswered.
 Papa" pursued the irrepressible in fant. .'I want a dink of water,"
 "Oh. dear." sighed the widow plain lively 'I hate to have the children everyone uses. Would you be so kind as to get glass from the porter Of the Pullman right behind us."
 "Oh-er-delighted, exclaimed Mir Pembroke. who would rather have faced a bowling mob of dervishe -S with a squirt gun than to encounter the party in that especial sleeper.
 As his eyes fell upon the appealing blue ones raised to his, however, he felt himself imbued with a courage not his own. Arising manfully he made his way to the rear. hoping to there en- counted the brakeman. but that gen tleman was nowhere to be found. so without further hesitation he entered the Pullman. where the first person whom he met was the lady who had urged his invitation to MT. Dudley StrOng's country seat.
 Why. how do you do, MT. Penn broke?" she exclaimed in a voice dull cetly deceptive "I thought I saw you pass the wndow when we were in the depot We all thought that you were in Boston,"
 "Er-how dye dO," stammered Mir. Pembroke nervously, mol had to come on to see my publishers" Pride and growing pique imbued him with reticence of his tragic situation.
 He called the porter and secured the glass of water
 As he was about to return to hs charges Mir. Strong called to him from half way down the car.
 Hello Penny. Getting a drink for the little ones?"
 Yes" replied MT. Pembroke smooth ly. I'd offer you some only I know