Evening star., 1909-05-09

my place to look after my little griffith
such time as you have registered your
bond-rights. And see. doesn't she declare
she had no idea she was being married
However it's all right in this case. l
don't mean her to give herself away over
this part of the job any more than you
did while ago when you stopped her
telling me something that it wouldn I
have been wise to say. So, sir. guess
we'll call it quits this time. Well. little
girl, let me tell you that you've said all
at once to me two different things You
said that you didn't intend to marry Lord
Athlyne that time. but that you did at
some other. If that last doesn't make
an intention to marry. I'm Dutchman.
think we'd better let it rest at that,
seem to want-and rightly enough. I'll
allow-that l make formal retraction
of my demand for your life. Well. l do
so now. There's my hand! I can give
1t to you freely, for you are brave man
and you love my little girl: and my little
girl loves you. I'm right sorry didn't
know you at the first as l do now. But
suppose the fact is. l was jealous all
along. You don't knOw-yet-what
know: that you were thrown at me In a
the joke that my little girl and Judy put
up on me. When l knew that my girl
was calling herself by your name. ="
Daddy. dear.' This was joys protest.
Yes, little girl I won't give you away;
lest he keep the grudge in his heart
against your old daddy-and l know you
wouldn't like that. You can tell him,
some of these days or nights, what you
like yourself about the whole thing from
the first. l dare say he'll want to know,
and won't let you alone till you tell him.
And / dare say not then: for he'll like
he's bound to-all you can say. Here.
Athlyne-I suppose that's what 1 am to
rate my daughters husband" AS he
spoke he held out his hand. Athlyne
jumped forward and seized 1t warmly
The two men shook hands as do two
strong men who respect each other JOY
stepped forward and took the clasped
parted she kissed her husband and then
her father; she had accepted the situa-
ton.
After a pause Athlyne said quietly
but with very resolute look on his
face:
II understand. sir. that the hatchet is
now buried. But ! want to say that this
must be final. / do so lest you should
ever from any cause wish to dig it up
again. oh, yes I understand the
colonel was going to speak-"but / have
had warning. Just now when 1t seemed
that Joy was going to repudiate-though
happily as 1t turned out for only time
our marriage which as an existing fact
then thought closed. Now as for the
future. joys happiness is my duty as
well as my privilege and my pleasure:
must take all precautions which 1 can to
insure it. 1t would not do If she could
ever have In her mind a haunting fear
that you and | could quarrel. l know
that for my part l would be no party to
a quarrel with you. But / also have rea-
son to know that mans own purpose
is nothing when some one else wants to
quarrel with him. Therefore, for our
dear joys sake
Good" murmured the colonel "Our
dear Joys sake" Athlyne repeated the
phrase-he loved to do so:
For our dear joys sake will you not
promise that you will never quarrel with
me-"
Indeed I will give the promise
and more, Listen here. little girl, for 1t
is for your sake. / find / have been
wrong to quarrel SO readily and without
waiting to understand. If ngger did 1t
think I'd understand. for | don't look
for much from him. But ] do expect
much from myself: and therefore III & go
back a bit and go bit farther. Hear
me promise. 30 help me God. III never
quarrel again. Quarrel to Kill | mean
of course. Now. sir are you satisf1ed!
Joy flung herself into his arms. cooling
lovingly:
Dear. dear daddy. Oh thank you so
much you have made me so happy.
That promise is the best wedding gift
you could possibly give me"' Athlyne
took the hand extended to him and
wrung IL heartily:
And l. too, thank you. sir. And, as 1
want to share in all joys happiness and
In her pleasant ways. l hope you Will
let meas her husband-call you daddy
too"
Indeed you may, my boy; I'll be right
glad.
1t was a happy trio that stood there,
the two mems right hands clasping. an
.Joy once more holding the linked hands
between hers.
I'VE may go join the sheriff and Judy
/ think. little girl! said the colonel
PRESENTLY He felt that he wanted to get
hack to himself from the unaccustomed
atmosphere of sentiment which encom-
passed him.
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