The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-06-11

sort of seem to attract 'em over there
1t must be mighty fine place."
"Huhw replied Perkins disgustedly.
"What's the matter with Kokomoi
Why don't that girl come back home
and marry and settle down? Tell me
that"
Pike smiled queerly, and his head
seemed to shrink into his shoulders a
trife as he thrust his hands into his
pockets.
81 guess she's going to marry and
settle down, Tom, all right" he said
slowly. From what hear she's go
ing to marry one of those dukes or
| earls l was mentioning"
"Marry a foreigner cried Perkins,
jumping to his feet. "Why. thought
she''-
"Never mind what you thought,
Tom," returned Pike. I'm telling you
she's going to be married. That's why
/ guess she won't be likely to come
back to Kokomo. l guess Kokomo's
a pretty poor looking place after some
of those other places she's been see
ing"
How do you known" asked Perkins,
drawing his chair forward.
| Pike lifted the letter he had folded up.
81 got this from her" he said sim
ply. want to know what's in it?"
Eyes" answered Perkins.
81 can't let you read il, but it's from
a place In Italy-Sorrento," he went
on slowly, mounting the unfamiliar
word. "She says she's going to marry
the Hon. Almeric st. Aubyn, heir to
the ancient house Of Hawcastle. And
she wants TO make a settlement on
him. She can't marry without my con-
sent, you know, Tom. If she does the
money goes to the Kokomo Orphan
asylum"
Going to give your consent?" in
qulred Perkins.
Don't know" answered Pike. "Fve
got to look the young man over first
promised John Simpson I'd always
look after her. That was when she
was born. He said girls sometimes
got into a tight place and they'd need
some one to pull them out. Sounds
good, doesn't it, Tom? Hon. Almeric
St Aubyn. Must be a member of con-
gress or something over there. Maybe
he'll be a senator some day. | can't
object, Tom, If he's got a show to
make a good living for her, can II
Say. what is a settlement. anyway?
You don't suppose I've been keeping
her short Of money. do you. and she's
had to borrowT"
Perkins shook his head gloomily.
Don't ask me-" he said. Il don't
know anything about women. Why,
Dan. thought you'd mapped 1t out
to marry
"That'n do for that" said Pike
quickly. "We'n not talk about that
now, Tom. Suppose you go down to
Archie Toombs and ask him about Sor-
rento and how to get there and when
a fellow gets there after he starts. I'm
going to write a letter TO Jim Cooley
and get him TO hunt up this Haw-
castle"
When Perkins had gone Pike pulled
open the letter and read Il once again.
1t was the most formal Of notes. be-
ginning Dear Mr. Pike" and ending
'Yours sincerely" II contained a brief
notice Of the writer's intentions. OF.
rather. intentions in the event Of a
certain contretemps that TO her seemed
inevitable. and trusted that the end
would meet with his approval
He sighed as he folded Il and re
turned Il 10 fits envelope.
And that ends the guardianship"
he muttered. wonder what I'm go
ing 20 do with the old house nOwY
From a drawer IN his desk he pulled
a framed picture that showed a deli
cately featured girl. with big. frank f.
eyes and a wealth Of light curling
hair that was half hidden by a big /
garden hat There was a smile about T.
the lips that seemed very engaging. /
and the muslin dress she wore had /
been accentuated IN It's simplicity by /
the art Of the London photographer. /
Pike had preserved the picture. which /
had been given to him by old John
Simpson the DAY before be died, and |
be sighed as be looked az a.
Then be laid Il face down upon the