The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-11

The young man sprang up with
bound Margaret he cried. his eyes
glowing. Margaret He caught
both her hands in his own. while the
rest of the parcels slipped from her
| arms
What are you doing here" she de.
manded again when she had recovered
somewhat from her surprise
Il? What am | doing:" said he
"Why-why''-
You have broken the truce" she
said severely. "The year is not up yet
Why are you here
He drew her into the room and gath
Fred up the fallen parcels. while she
sat down on the couch.
81 came" said he. "hPcauSp-becauSe
well, l thought you'd be- glad to see
me; because l imagined-ha AN intui
ton. you know. that you were living in
some such sort of dinGy house as
this on just such a shabby street: be-
cause | had another prcmonition that
you weren't succeeding tremendously
and that you might even be living on
these" he ended calmly. fishing n
doughnut from one Of the paper bags
he had picked up and holding it out
accusingly.
The girls eyes flashed Her lips
curled. The color in her checks deep
ened.
You had no right" she said quickly
You are spying. You have broken the
truce You said year. or. rather. YOU
agreed that for a year
Il was fool" said h.. ti.h c0nvic-
ton IAN inSufferable foo. ever to he Il
! party to such a silly agreement !
didn't realize that when YOU went
away the place would be 80 barren. So
utterly impossible But kent my
mouth shut and plugged Hi'rg. Then
we had streak Of luck fom ana l.
We sold the Sunk Hill lode 10 a couple
of capitalists and got close on to SIJ,-
600 apiece out Of it. That settled it,
Year or no year. had to come. So
came" he finished ENORMOUSLY.
And your promise counted for moth
ing said she. In another month the
year would have been up. and them
Then whatT'
You could have come without VIC
lating any promise"
The young man sat down IN the red
plush rocker again. In his agitation he
began to swing to and fro. while its
rusty springs sent ont veritable ba-
bel Of discOrdant sounds.
Il am very glad | have violated the
promise, as you choose to call it." he
! declared Il expected something like
this''-he waved his arms toward the
four walls Of the room-"when | came
here tonight, but frankly nothing quite
so bad.
Margaret. how do you ever stand
it-you who have had those hills out
there TO roam over all your life and
the four winds of heaven for your
playmates? What sort of cooped up
life is this anyway: What are you
getting ont of it,"
We'll, experience. for one thing"
said she
You'll not get much more OF it." he
remarked.
Wont H." she asked archly.
you will not. You've had expert
| ence enough Of tha' sort" he main
tanned. you and your side room and
your sketches and your impossible
landlady and-and your doughnuts."
he ended, with ridiculous emphasis
You know well enough why | have
come here. telegraphed Jimmy
Dean TO have his mother on hand at 8
tonight sharp. | telegraphed the day
| left Seavern's Buttes | also wired
him to have the clergyman picked out
and to-
Phil" she cried, her face burning
hush. | Shan't listen to yOu.'
Come without listening. then" said
he. "One thing is certain-l'm not 60
Ing to move one step until you prom
is" me to marry me-not in Il year nor
in six months, but tonight in the
Deans front parlor. with Jimmy and
his mother for Witnesses"
suddenly the girl covered her face
with her hands and began to sob. Holt
looked at her helplessly, his face a
study of contrition.
There. there, Margaret" he said at
length, 81 didn't mean to be a brute
about it. II
The girls face was lifted. She
smiled through her tears.
"Phil. YOU stupid, laundering man"
said she. its because we'll because
I'm not sorry you broke the truce and
came. Now run along and get cab
to take us to Jimmy Deans I'll be
ready at half past -