Evening star., 1909-06-10
$$4$$$$$@8S&S$$8 8S888&$ Ss 49, BssS6

offerin' to fill' How's that?" he ended
| with pride. "I'll sit up with that measly
| book ev'ry night till Friday. BY that
You'll be SO tangled up you won't know
| whether your soup plate is for oysters or
coffee" she interrupted. Now listen to
me: I'm going to crowd into one in
spired lecture all 1 can think about din
ner etiquette and other social chores. for
you to use that evening. And when you
go home burn that book up
| She forthwith launched upon disqui-
sition Of such difficulties as lay before him
| might be bridged. After the first few
sentences. Caleb's attention strayed from
her words to her. voice. It's sweetness,
| its youth and a peculiar childlike quality
the added didactic touch. bred of the
lesson she was seeking to teach he found
it altogether wonderful.
Listening with rapt, almost worshiping
attention. yet noting no word. the giant
sat huddled up In an awkward. happy
bunch at the feet Of the youthful Ga
maliel. A bar of 1amplight from the OPP
posite side Of the street filtered through
the Swaying window curtains. bringing
her half-hidden head with its dusky crown
Of hair into vague relief. From under
the shadowy brows her great eyes glowed
In the dim light Her dainty. flower face
was very earnest Caleb felt an almost
irresistible desire to pass his great, rough
and kiss one of those tiny, earnestly ges-
turing hands Of hers. She was so little,
SO young, so pretty. And she was wasting
all that loveliness on him, when she might
he fascinating some eligible man. The
thought reminded Caleb of his interview
with Jack Hawarden. Curious to learn
how the lad had availed himself of the
permission to WOO Desiree. Conover broke
in at her next pause with the abrupt
question::
young Hawarden been here today?"
"Why, yes" said Desiree in surprise,
'this noon.
ASK you to marry him.
HE told you?' she cried.
Yes. Beforehand. Didn't he say I'd
gave him leave? No? Well. l s'pose he
wouldn't be likely to. But I did. Sent
him on. to try his luck. With my
blessin.''
What do you mean? Did that foolish
Game like little man an asked my
permission as your guardian. to make a
proposal to YOU"
And you told him he could? What
business was it of yours, I'd like to
know"
Il told him it wasn't any business oe
mine That's why l let him come. II
1t was my business. I'd have you shut
up in big place with walls all around
it; an kittens an canary birds an all
sorts of fluffy things for you to play
with. An no man but me should ever
come within hundred miles of you.
Then there'd be no danger Of your rum
min off an gettin' married to some
geeser who'd teach you to think I was
the sort of man that ought to be fed
in the kitchen an never lowed in the
parlor. Oh, l know"
The girl was looking at him with big.
inscrutabIe eyes, as he halted half
ashamed of his own words.
II think" she said slowly, after a
little pause. II think you must have in
herited great, great deal of igno-
rance, Caleb For during the years
young to acquire very much of 1t. And
you couldn't have acquired all your
present stock in the thirty short years
since that time. Besides, I don't think
foolish unless he helps her a little
TT sounds fine" admitted Caleb, "but
what does 1t mean? What break have
I made now? If it was foolish to want
you all to myself, always
1T wasn't she Interrupted. and You
ought to know it wasn't It"
Then what"
"Mr. Caine." said the girl, told mo
once you were the cleverest man he
knew. 1t made me very happy at the
rest of the afternoon. But see now it
only showed how few sensible men he
knew. Let's talk about something
else"
.But-hold on" begged Caleb. Hon
est. Dey you ought to think twice be-
fore turnin' down a chap like young
Hawarden. His family
Il told You last week never to talk
that way again." said Desiree with a
stified break in her voice. Why do
you try to make me unhappy"
Me-" gurgled Caleb in an utter be- |
wilderment of distress. Why. little
girl, I'd cut my head of for you |
Please don't get sore on me- I'm no |
sort of a feller to talk to girl like |
you. I'm always sayin' the wrong |
thing without even KNOWN afterward |
just what it was that hurt you. An
then / wish I had a third foot. SOS |
could kick myself. It's queer that ma l.