The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-03-12
SIR EDWARDS
LOVE STORY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Copyright. BY Joseph B. Bowies)
TOLD BY OTHER PEOPLE
Dy OWEN OLIVER

Copyright, BY Joseph B. Bowies)
Her Father-Of course I know that
Sir Edward Grey is hanging round
Molly" as you call it. Why shouldn't
he? Look here, Dick, don't want to
quarrel with you, but it will be easier
for us to keep good friends if you
mind your own business. You may re-
gard your cousins business as yours.
l don't; and I've no reason to suppose
that she does.
No, l won't pretend not to under
stand you. I am sorry, very sorry;
but it is out of the question-there
are many reasons against it, but one
is enough. Molly is appropriated al
ready-if you don't believe what
say, it's no use talking to you'll don t
know that / ought to tell you but it
is Grey No, she isn't actually en-
has asked my permission to speak to
her tonight. l understand from your
aunt that she will say "yes'-Why
not? He is a man that most women
like; and most men, too, for the mat
ter of that.
Too old? Nonsense! He's several
years short of 40; and he's young In
his ways, and distinctly good-looking,
not to mention that he's one Of the
most rising men In England. l make
every allowance for your disappoint-
ment, Dick. but you've no right to
speak like that. am not tyranni-
cal parent, as you ought to know, and
I have not tried to influence her In
any way No doubt she knows that I
shall be pleased at her choice; but
girls don't marry just to suit their
fathers. give you my word that l
have put no pressure on Molly, and
shall not.
But what grounds have you for sup
posing that Molly is in love with you?
In cousinly way, no doubt, she likes
you. Just so! You've been like bro
ther and sister. People don't marry
their brothers and sisters. I'm certain
. that Molly never dreamed of such a
thing. Let you speak to her first?
Certainly not. l won't have her upset
tonight You'd better go. You're not
master of yourself at present.
Poor chap! If he had any sense he'd
see for himself that the child's head
over heels in love with Grey. All! we
shall miss her!
Cousin Dick-You-er-yo be
surprised to see me, Sir Edward, but
-er-I've got something important to
say to you. No, thanks, | won't sit
down I-er-it's about Molly. My
cousin, you know-Miss Lisle. I-she
-er-I shouldn't come and speak like
this, only-well, sir, you see we've
been brought up together, and l un-
derstand her. She always told me
things, and l think you ought to know
that she-er-what l mean is that
we're in love with one another. There
wasn't any need to tell one another.
We've always understood, ever since
we were children-she understands
right enough, only-well, you know
what women are. Aunt has always
wanted her to marry some one who
you see, sir, and l am not well off, or
clever, or anything; and l daresay I
might make bit of fool of myself
sometimes, but I'd work like slave
for her, and we'd manage somehow.
We'd have to wait, but she wouldn't
who'd grumble at waiting for a fellow.
Is it likely l should come and talk to
you in this way if l wasn't certain
that she cared for me? I'm sure it
isn't any pretense that she likes you,
sir. Anyone would. Only she's more
my age, you see; and we-we've al
ways been such chums.
What do l want you to do? Why,
not to let her be persuaded to marry
you if she'd rather marry me. l knew
want to. That's why 1 came. You
could ask Molly straight about it. She
wouldn't tell q lie. If she says she
likes you better than me, I'll never
bother her any more, but she WON'T
know it: Yes, uncle told me you were
going there to-night-wont it look
funny If you don't go, now you've said
you're going? You know best, of
course.
Goodnight. l say, sir, you-you're
the best chap in the world. If Molly
were sensible she'd like you better
than me, only-well, you see, we've
always been together, and girls do
like a chap when he doesn't deserve
it. I'm awfully sorry, sir"
Molly-You think this dress does
look all right, mother? That's what
I thought, only l didn't know if he
might like me better in blue-I shall
find out what he prefers soon, shan't