The Washburn leader., 1908-02-21

dark, we'll dressed man sitting OIL the
hammock beside her or occupying one
of the rustic chairs on the porch or
smoking in the library with the air OF
one who feels at home Most Of them
took the hint. There was one excep-
tion, however, an obtrusive young fel-
low, Randall by name, who continued
his visits, though Ferguson did his
best to make it clear that they could
be quite content without him.
Unfortunately Miss Morrell did not
second these efforts as she might have
done. She continued to treat her per-
sistent caller with consideration
which Ferguson thought distinctly un-
necessary When he came one night
prepared to take her driving and found
she had gone boating with Randall he
gave a harsher name to the act. He
did not sleep that night, and when he
presented himself next evening he was
in the worst of humors.
Had Miss Morrell been conciliatory
all might have been well, but instead
she wore an air of studied Indifference,
and when she did not resent his re-
proaches she laughed at him. Accord
ingly in fifteen minutes the interview
terminated abruptly.
"In that case" said Ferguson, rising
to his feet, .'the best thing for me to
do is to take my hat and go home"
And Miss Morrell replied, 81 quite
agree with you
Only one thing interfered with carry
;r \, inv, obi a fol
Ferguson could not find his hat. Good
evening"" said Miss Morrell in the back
ground as if weary Of waiting for him
to take the initiative.
81 beg you not to imagine that am
delaying intentionally" exclaimed Fer
guson, with Indignation. But even
you can see. that it is impossible for
me to leave the house bareheaded.'
"You put your hat on the chair.
saw you," said Miss Morrell.
II am quite aware that l put it
there" returned Ferguson stiiIly. "but
it is easy to see that it is not there
now"
For some minutes he hunted. Miss
Morrell laid aside her offended dignity
sufficiently to assist in the search. All
at once she started nervously.
II do hope Punch didn't find it!' she
exclaimed. Hes so mischievous some
times"
But when the hat was discovered it
was in punch's society. Moreover, it
had lost it's resemblance to hat. The
brim was missing, and the crown was
fast disappearing. Punch surveyed
them over the wreck and grlnned COM
pacently.
The two young people looked at each
other, and Miss Morrell's lips twtched.
Ferguson thought she was on the point
of laughter, and he smiled encourag-
ingly. Then she surprised him by
turning her face to the wall and burst
ing into tears.
''My darling girl" exclaimed Fergu-
son, almost beside himself. "My dear
est Ina, beg you won't give a thought
to the worthless thing"
"But you were going away angry"
said stif1ed voice.
"Angry with you?' cried Ferguson.
"Never" He took her In his arms
again as he had done under the peach
ly. And that wise old pug left the
ruined hat on the rug and waddled
away to the window seat, as If salts
fed that they were once more capable
of managing their own affairs.
Punch is older now and divides his
mistress devotion with small pink
and white rival said to resemble Fer
guson, but he wears silver collar,
and no one grudges him his place as an
honored member of the household.
Whatever Ferguson's faults, he is not
ungrateful.