Bridgeton pioneer., 1908-05-07
Ais Fair
In Love.
By Constance darcy Mackay.
Copyrighted, 1908. by P. c. Eastment.


the latter put up small sunbrowned
hand to hide yawn.
The night before she had driven ten
miles across country to the little town
of Brantly, where she had witnessed
q performance of strolling players as
spiritedly as poor scenery and cos
tunes would allow, and she had been
idly dilating to Aldrich on the actors
of the piece, the too bombastic TRACE
dian, the amusingly ingenious come
dian and the little soubrette who look
ed like piece of Dresden china. AL
drich listened with frown.
81 don't care if your aunt did chap
eron you" he burst out "What OBJ
ject to is the fact that you went with
Percy Graham at all. Every one
knows he's a cad"
"BobbyH'
"What right has he to come down
here and butt in like this? 1t just
shows what an Internal bounder he
isw
"He's only been here three days."
murmured Miss Farney.
"Yet he's managed to monopoize
most of them. See here, Hildegarde,
do you think you're playing the game
square?"
Square"
"Before he came you'd almost prom
ised to marry me-"
almost, but not quite"
"Oh, Hildegarde," Aldrich groaned.
"We've had such jolly times together
all summer, and now He ground
his heel against the porch rail- "Hang
me if l can see his attractions! He's
as stupid as an owl and as insignifi-
cant as
"Robertv'
When Hildegrade Farney spoke in
that tone it was time to stop. But the
thought that was uppermost in both
their minds, though unexpressed, was
the fact that Percy Graham was the
owner of three millions. In these days
of large fortunes it was not an astound-
ing sum, yet to Aldrich it loomed large
as a mountain. He knew that Hide
garde was what he phrased straight
stuff" and that this latest caprice of
hers might not last the week out.
Still, as even the faintest possibility
of losing her gave his heart terrific
wrench, and since Hildegarde's aunt,
Miss Norris. looked on Percy Graham
with an eye Of worldly wisdom as well
as critical appraisement, it behooved
young Aldrich to see to his laurels, and
he knew it.
Percy Graham had money and an
abnormal supply of cheek. Aldrich had
brains and pluck and an income from
his growing law practice Of such pro-
portions that he did not hesitate to ask
Miss Farney to share it with him.
That Hildegarde should really care
for Percy Graham was an idea too pre-
posterous to be countenanced. But
alas! There was no sure way of fol-
lowing the labyrinths Of the feminine
mind. Aldrich Strengthened suddenly
and looked at Hildegarde.
II was beast just now," he said
quickly. "What I said of Graham is
true, but it's not my business to run
him down. If you want a good time,
go ahead Only-just remember once
In awhile what chums we've been,
won't you?" And Aldrich swung him
self over the porch rail and smiled
back at her as he took his way to the
hotel farther down the beach where he
was spending his vacation.
AS he walked he caught sight Of Per-
cy Graham's automobile racing over
the smooth sand at the edge of the
surf line AS he had turned back to
look at Hildegarde, so now he glanced
over his shoulder at the speeding ear,
only in this case his lips opened, not to
smile, but to give vent to volcanic
word Of one syllable.
Two afternoons later as he went
briskly up the nasturtium bordered
path that led to Hildegarde cottage
she hailed him from the porch where
she and Percy Graham were sitting.
"Why, Bobby" she cried, where
have you been hermiting this perfect
age?"
I've just been asking Miss Farney
about you," drawled Percy Graham.
Aldrtch glared at him cheerfully.
Thanks. Always glad to have my
-~S AA4AAVs <AAt 6OOu dASCAAOOk1p
Miss Norris" as Hildegarde's aunt ap-
peared in the doorway. while behind
her appeared the face of pretty Irish
servant. Miss Norris looked unusually
perturbed. ''That red haired boy from
tne Village grocery store has been
frightening Mary Ellen with absurd
tales Of band of gypsies."
"Gypsies! WhereY' Hildegarde's
race was alight with interest.
AT the back Of the pine woods" fal.
tered Mary Ellen. a'Tis kidnapers
they are, and tits at night they prowl,
Thomas says"
when did they Gomez" demanded
Hildegarde
Twas this morning the terrible
creatures pitched their tents. Thom-
as saw them"
Trust Thomas for seeing anything
IN radius Of twenty miles," sighed
Miss Norris. "Oh, Hildegarde, you're