The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-24


 "We could haDe been spared this-this rIlortifcdttoTl."
 trusted you to look out for her, and now she's come to a kind of jumping of 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 a tone of affectionate regard at which she bridled resentfully.
 1T quite fail to understand your point of view," she said frigidly. Perhaps I had best make it clear to you that am no longer thinking of getting mar 1 ried.''
 Well, Lord "a mercy" ejaculated Pike, leaning back in his chair and smiling at her, but she affected not to notice the lighter tone and went on.
 'I mean have decided upon it. The ceremony is to take place in fort night
 Pike brought the front feet of his chair down with a crash | "Well, I declarev' he cried. | eve shall dispense with all delays" | she went on, and Pike regarded her solemnly for a moment. l Well, I don't know as I could say anything against that. He must be a | mighty nice fellow, and you must | think a heap of him. He sighed. That's the way it should be-" He looked at her. And you're happy?' i ''Distinctlyr' said Ethel decisively. 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 ain't that fellow I was talking | with, yonder?" And she voiced an indignant protest.
 'That was my brotherv' | Lord "a mercy"' ejaculated Daniel | and then recovered himself 'But, i then, I wouldn't remember him. He l couldn't have been more than twelve | when you was home last. Of course I'd "a known you
 "How?' demanded Ethel "You couldn't have seen me ice I was a child.''
 From your picture. though now I see it ain't so much like you," he an swered, and she stepped forward, with astonishment. "You have photograph of mel"
 '.The last time I saw your father alive he gave it to me-to look at."
 And you Tenembered"-
 "Yes, ma'am.'
 A look of increGuiity passed over Ethel's face, and she replied:
 ''It does not strike me as possible. 1 However, we will dismiss the sub- ject'
 Well, if you'd like to introduce me to your-to your"- | ''To my brotherT
 "No, ma'am; to your-to the young man.
 '.To MT. St. Aubyn?" cried Ethel, re coiling a step. T think it quite un- necessary
 ''Im afraid I can't see it that way. I'll have to have a couple of talks with him, sort of look him over, so to speak I won't stay around here spoil ing your fun any longer than I can help-only just for that and to get a letter I'm expecting from England"
 Ethel bit her lip vexatiously.
 '1 do not see that you need have come at all. We could have been spared this-this modification" You mean I mortify you? Why, I T can't see how
 ''In a hundred ways" she replied, "every way. That common person who is with you"- | "He isn't common. You only think so because he's with me-" returned l Daniel sadly looking down. l "Who is hep demanded Ethel sharp ly.
 'He told me his name. but can't remember it. I call him 'doc.'" | @-It doesn't matter. What does mat | ter Is that you needn't have come. | You could have written your consent" | "No, ma'am, not without seeing the l young man." answered Pike resolute- l ly.
 1 And you could have arranged the settlement in the same way" went on Ethel unheedingly.
 settlement, You seem to have set | tied it pretty well without me-" re- | turned Pike. smiling. You don't understand" said Ethel 1 impatiently. An alliance of this sort | always entails certain settlement | She paused. Please listen. If you were at all man of the world I | should not have to explain that in marrying into a noble house I bring 1 my dot, my dowry''-