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


Hardy sprang up from his tbsk aud
set T. e. upon her feet
Look here, Peterkin." he proposed.
'You take this dime and find u place
where you can get ice cream sOdl.
Don't be In too much OF a hurry to
drink 1t. Better get two Meantime
I'll slip over to the house and sort Of
prepare them for the news that you
are expelled"
T. G. gurgled delighted assent. and
presently they emerged from the office
building aud I. c. went skipping
along to the candy store, while Jack
made for the Westervelt home.
Nell was sitting on the shade piazza
as he came up the path. As she saw
him she rose TO her feet. but it was
too late for a graceful retreat He
sprang up the steps and caught her
hand.
Don't go in," he pleaded. Lets sit
out here. l. is more pleasant"
Shall l call father" she asked
"He is in the library"
~ hope to see him before CO." de-
clared Hardy meanlngly. But first |
want to speak to you"
Nell flushed at the suggestion, but
she resumed her place in the rocker.
and Jack drew a chair to her side.
when | asked you to marry me you
said something about another girl" he
began, plunging directly into the sub
hn i
7. c. might be able to explain the al
lusIon but | did not dare question her
too closely lest l give forth more in
formation than | obtained. She let it
out today. Was it because of that 9th
er girl in my watch that you refused
me. Nell?"
NO woman cares to be counted sec
Ond best" was the defensive reply.
Have you changed the photograph
again|
81 have not changed" he said slowly.
"but want you to see it,"
He held the watch toward her with
the back case open. She saw the like
ness of a gentle faced woman who
somehow suggested an earlier period in
spite Of the modern photography. ST.
lently she passed it back to Hardy and
waited for an explanation.
"This is my fathers watch" he be-
gan. 1.-THE picture is that Of my moth
er. When she died we had only an old
painting Of her. Father had it copied,
and they made splendid job Of 1t.
That is why l have another woman's
picture in my case. When you spoke
of the other woman could not know
that Sally had been investigating my
watch. She found it on my desk one
day. just learned this and understood
your feeling of resentment"
II supposed that you knew and had
no explanation to Offer"
And you will give me another an
Swer now" he asked as he gained pos
| session Of her hand.
An hour later a freckled face thrust
itself above the hedge Of the Wester-
velt lawn; then. seeing Hardy on the
piazza. T. G. came boldly forward.
Ibid you fix it, Jack| she demand
ed. Hardy bluShed.
81 was fixing another of your
scrapes," he explained. Nell, Peterkin
has been expelled from school. but
have promised to see Torrance in her
behalf Meanwhile have promised
that she will not be scolded."
81 couldn't scOld her this afternoon"
said Nell as he gathered her trouble
some little sister to her breast "You
make a great deal of trouble for people,
I. c.. sometimes, but then again you
set them right"
I'm not to blame that there isn't
any stopper to my BRAIN" was the ag-
grieved explanation. Jack knows that.
That's why he fixed things for me all
right"
You're dear" said Nell and Jack
in chorus, and for once the town crler
had the comfortable feeling that she
was appreciated.