The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-03

Doy's taste.,
tractive face"
"You will admit It's a little craft,
and hard about the mcuth?'
And that 1t suggests paint an,
iiaunts Its powder"
mo, Robert"
''And that 1t is feebIy pretty ant
altogether cheap?"
NO"
Then It was much better than yol
expected?"
"Yes, Robert. She has a nice face
not beautiful, but frank and cleal
eyed" She paused. IF she had beer
simply pretty 1t would have hurt me
Robert 1t would have looked as II
Edgar had been caught. by a dimpIe
and curl. But the affair is more
serious than thought"
He caught her eye and nodded.
What you are telling me is good
to hear" he said. I'm feeling easier
about Edgar than I have felt since
he left college. It looks very much
as II his liking for this girl was the
first sensible symptom he has shown
And there's another thing"
well. Robert?"
IF the girl can run the gauntlet OF
your critical mother eyes there must
be something very attractive about
her. But you haven't told me all the
story"
Il called to her and when she re-
allied that / wanted her she came to
the car. told her l was nervous
and little faint-which was quite
true. Robert And / asked her IL she
wouldn't sit by me for a few mo-
ments until the attack passed away.
She looked at me wonderingly and
then something III my face decided
her and she took the seat by my side.
| asked her where she lived and she
told me and ] directed Michael not
to hurry. Then | talked to the girl
and found out something about her
She is an orphan and came to the
city from an interior town. She has
been well educated and Is qualified to
teach singing, but her present work
is fully as remunerative and more GER
tain. And she Is twenty-three."
The man laughed.
4
don't refer 10 the age item especially
But go on"
II don't know what she thinks OF
me- | tried TO interest her"
by asking her questionsg"
II asked no questions. She told me
all this voluntarily. am quite sure
she will tell me more the next time
we meet"
Then you have planned to see her
againf"
Yes. am going 10 take her with
me for ride In the parks Wednesday
evening. ! told her ! was fuAsy old
woman and that she was doing the
best kind OF charity work in amusing
me said ] had taken O fancy 10
her--and It's true, Robert"
'Ehl"
Yes, Robert / can't quite say that
! am ready 60 take her as a daughter
in-law Think Of the talk Il would
makel"
The man laughed
i see you haven't quite surrend-
cred, my dear And what's the girls
name2"
"Ellnor Yiets."
That's not bad OF course, you
didn't exchange cardB7'
~ thought Of inyentinR a name. but
couldn't bring myself to do that /
suppose she thinks I'm a forgctfui old
creature who doesn't remember even
the common usagea OF polite society" 3"
The man leaned back IN the deep
chair and intericasked bis fngors.
Well" hs said. things are not
nearly so bad aH they might be Up
to the present moment ! must frankly
admit that the girl seems too good for
the boy"
Robert"
IT'S the unpleasant truth or
course, he's improving. but don't iet
your mother heart cherish any belief
that this fine young girl take her
at your own valuation n--isn't much
better than this wayward boy OF ours
But there, we'll postpone any further
discussion until after the coming
ride"
SO It was Wednesday evening when
they took up the subject again. The
man was waiting IN the library for
the woman 20 come home.
He looked up as she came through
the doorway. Then he quickly arose
and went TO her, and took her cloak
and led her TO a chair.
why, Emily" he said What's
happenedT'
For moment she could not find
her voice.
They are to be married Tuesday
evening" she sobbed.
The man whistled.
The boy seems 20 be developing
energy enough with bis other Hwak-
ened qualities, There. there, calm
yourself and tell me about t."
The woman waited a moment.
81 drew her out" she began, and
soon found that she wanted TO talk
to wOman--it seems she has no In.
innate girl friends-and she told me
Just what / wanted, and yet dreaded
to hear. She Is very fond OF Edgar
and she has the fullest confidence In
him. He has told her about his Wild
days and how he quarreled with his
father and mother. She doesn't know
who his parents are--Edgar doesn't
want 10 talk about the past-but she
feels convinced they were wrong In
their treatment OF Edgar. She Is sure
they didn't understand him; that his
mother was indulgent and his father
Edgar needed an object In
life, he needed to be thrown on his
own resources. Now he had HIS am
billion to rise and he had her" She
paused and drew a quick breath.
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