The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-26
BY BEATRICE FAIRFAX.

tVVlE was very big very helpless
IHI and very miserable. He seem
I'LL Ell TO MI the tiny sitting-room
from wall TO wall. aMd when
( he took TO striding back and
forth the length OF the room the Spin
ster Lady watched him neryously, and
trembled for the safety OF the femin-
inc knick-knacks scattered about.
Bob" she said finally. Il know you
are very unhappy, but don't you think
you could sit down and tell me all
about IL instead of thrashing about
like Gagged elephant
The young man laughed ruefully
and flung himself into a chair which
creaked under his weight.
You women always have such fool
furniture about" he said. casting a
disparaging eye at the Spinster Lady's
precious Chippendale.
Never mind the chairs, Bobbie
dear. but Tess up. What is the trou-
ble?"
I've been such an idiot" the boy
broke out. Such an utter. utter idiot,
! And I've lost the best and sweetest
girl that any fellow ever had chance
TO Win"
Il suppose you mean Peggy. What
is the matter? Have you Quarreled?'
How the Note Read.
NO, not exactly quarreled it's
worse than that. Read this. And he
tossed crumpled note into the Spins
ter Lady's lap.
Dear Bob" the note ran, after
what has occurred, you can hardly eX.
pect things TO be as they were be
tween us. | cannot trust You, and II
seems to me that IL is wiser 10 break
right OF now than TO have things
drift along getting worse and worse.
Il am sending back your letters;
will you send mine back 10 me?
am keeping just one thing-the pic
ture Nell took OF you and me in the
canoe. / can't quite bear to let that
go. Yours. PEGGY"
"P. S.-Oh, Bob, how could you,
'after all your PROMISES"
There was silence in the little room
broken only by the dash of rain
against the window glass. Then the
Spinster Lady spoke.
What was It, Bobbie," she said pit
fully, the same old trouble?"
Yes came in muffied tones from
the bent blond head.
DO you like that dreadful thing bet
ter than Peggy and all that is good
and wholesome and happy in life? DO
you like IL better than the chance TO
make name for yourself and ca
reer?"
II loathe it," the boy cried miser-
ably, but when the fellows get after
me and the temptation of the cursed
stuff gets into my blood, | can't resist,
that's all | am just a weak fool. 1t )
my nature; | can't help it,"
You are nothing OF the kind was
the sharp retort, and you can help II
IL you brace up and act like man.
How did ii happen this last time
Peggy told me that you had promised
and that she felt sure you meant IL
keep your word?"
The First Tempting Step.
81 did, but at the dinner Ned J.
igave for his ushers. | was persuaded
to break off for just that one night.
And then what"
| We'll. | meant TO take only little
champagne first To drink Ned's health
but of course, took more; and then
We went on 10 the ks dance. Peg
! gy was there, and | was not myself.
| expect | made show of myself. All
remember is her white. disguised
face and the boys urging me to go
home.
The next morning | got that, !"
pointing to the note And now it's
all over, and I've lost Peggy. | sup
pose" with an imploring look. that
you don't feel that you could urge her
TO give me just one more chance?"
The Spinster Lady thought a mo-
ment. Then. no. Bob" she said
earnestly, Il cannot urge her to go
back to you, that is, not at present.
don't think YOU have any right to a
young girls love and trust until you
have earned it, You think. today in
your remorseful misery, that you will
never do this agin, but If Peggy mar
ried you tomorrow. the chances are
that things would go on in the same
old way"
"All Want Is a Chance"
Indeed they would not" was the