Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-06-10

I
I" We could haze, been spared thts--ti.ds
n modification"
La unbelief in her tones. Pike smiled
It her.
WELL" he said. I've got the papers
my grip. l expect that
'Oh, know itl' she interrupted ex-
losively. Its only that we didn't
&ancy-we didn't expect
y She paused, and he went on:
81 expect you thought I'd be consid-
erably older"
"Not only that"
"And I guess you thought I'd neg
lected you good DEAL" There was
touch of remorse in his tone, and he
looked idly at the hat he held. "And
1t did look like it-neyer coming to see
you-but couldn't hardly manage the
time to get away. You see, being trus-
tee of your share of the estate don't
hardly have a fair show at my law
practice. But when got your letter
eleven days ago. says to myself:
Here, Daniel Voorhees, Pike, you old
shellback, you've just got to take time.
John Simpson trusted you with his
property, and he's done more-he's
trusted you to look out for her, and
now she's come to kind of jumping off
place in her life-she's thinking of get
ting married-so you just pack your
gripsack and hike out over there and
stand by her.
During the last half Of his speech
there was tone of affectionate regard,
at which she bridled resentfully.
Il quite fail to understand your point
of view" she said frigidly. Perhaps
/ had best make it clear to you that I
am no longer thinking of getting mar
ried."
"Well, Lord "a mercyl" calculated
Pike. leaning back in his chair and
smiling at her. but she affected not to
notice the lighter tone and went on.
81 mean have decided upon it. The
ceremony is to take place in a fort
night
Pike brought the front feet of his
chair down with crash.
"Well, declarep' he cried.
1--WE shall dispense with all delays"
she went on, and Pike regarded her
solemnly for moment.
"Well, I don't know as l could say
anything against that. He must be
mighty nice fellow, and you must
think heap of him." He sighed
'oThat's the way it should be-" He
looked at her. "And you're happy?'
DISTINCTLY said Ethel decisiyely.
Pike looked off over the blue bay,
and then his gaze travelled to where
Horace had been standing, and with
a start he turned to her again, speak
ing eagerly:
ut amt that fellow I was talking
with, yonder?"
And she voiced an indignant protest.
"That was my brotherr'
Lord a. mereyw CALCULATED Daniel
and then. recovered himself. "But,
then, I wouldn't remember him. He
couldn't have been more than twelve
when you was home last. OF course
I'd "a known you
"How?" demanded Ethel. 3You
couldn't have seen me since I was
child"
"From your picture, though now
see it amt so much like you" he an
swered, and she stepped forward, with
establishment
"You have photograph Of me?"
1.-THE last time / saw your father
alive he gave it to me-to look at"
"And you remembered
Eyes. ma'am."
A look of incredulity passed over
Etheps face, and she replied:
sit does not strike me, as possible.
However, we will dismiss the sub
ject"
"Well. if you'd like to introduce me
to your-to your
"To my brotherY'
"No, ma'am: to your-to the young
man."
"sTo Mr.. St AubynY' cried Ethel, re-
coiling step. II think it quite un-
necessary
"I'm afraid can't see it that way.
I'll have to have couple Of talks with
him, sort of look him over, SO to
speak. ! won't stay around here spoil
ing your fun any longer than I can
help-only just for that and to get
letter I'm expecting from England"
Ethel bit her lip vexatiously.
Il do not see. that you need have
come at all. We could have been
spared this this modification"
"You mean mortify you? Why, I
II can't see how"
"In a hundred ways" she replied,
'severy way. That common person
who ia with yoyl,s--