The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-11-19

She meant to mend her ways, but at
the first opportunity her store OF
knowledge would roll out unchecked
and unrealZed.
1t was to Jack Hardy that she al
ways went for sympathy and advice
when these revelations and their CON
sequences hung heavy over her head.
Though Jack had given her the odiOus
nickname, he made partial atOnement
by never employing it.
TO him she was ''Peterkin," and,
though frequently he was Il sufferer
from her disclosures, he was ever
ready with advice, sympathy or candy,
as the occasion seemed to demand, for
he alone apparently realized that her
fault was temperamental and not the
result of righteousness.
r. c. fairly wOrshiped Hardy, yet all
the little intimate details of his court
ship Of her sister Nell leaked out along
with the rest of her chatter, and there
were times when lIardy's forbearance
was put to Il hard test. 1t was charac-
teristic of the man that even the per-
sonal experience did not abate his sym
pathy for T. c., not even when he pro-
posed to Nell and was given negative
answer.
When Nell made hySterical reference
to another girl he felt that he had T. G.
to thank for this, yet his office still
was her haven of refuge, and she stout
hnt m
about some other woman.
Hardy's questions had m be dis
creetly framed if he did not wish the
fact of his rejection to become COM
mon talk, and he could not press the
investigation. Instead he sought alb
sorption in work, but the practice of Il
country lawyer seldom proves absorb
ing, and Hardy grew thin and white
while he waited and hoped for n clear
ing up of the trouble.
He was sitting idly at his desk one
afternoon when +. c. poked her head
into the doorway and. finding that he
was alone entered boldly.
What is it. Peterkin| he asked
printing a kiss on the chiId's troubled
face. Have you been telling the min
lister what your father said when he
was asked to contribute to the chancel
fund, or did you explain to the guests
at the party that the salad was made
with canned lobster"
Worse an that" was the doleful
declaration rs T. c. snuggled against
the broad shoulder "The school COM
mittee visited this afternoon. Mr..
Eprague asked us what love was. and
told him It was the way the principal
acted with Miss Saunders. They all
laughed. but Miss Squires got red in
the face, and | was expelled 1t is the
truth" she added defantly. "Ie kisses
her when he thinks no one can see him
and she calls him George wouldn't
call any man with whiskers George
like a little boy"
"Wait until you grow up" admOnlsh'
ed Hardy. "But. see here, Peterkin,
know Mr.. Torrance very well. Per
haps can beg you off If you promise
to keep out of his love affairs in fu
ture."
"You just bet | willw declared T. c.
with unction. Lovers are funny peo
pie. There's Nell just crying her eyes
out because you carry some othel
girls picture in your watch"
what do you know about that pic
ture?" asked Hardy tensely. did you
tell Nell about thatY"
II saw it one day when you lef
your watch on the desk" explained T
C. II didn't tell Nell. | just said Il
was funny that you had another girls
picture in your watch when Nel's new
'i"tnyes are so much prettier."