The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-03

with him. | never saw anything like
it in my life
Frances mother smiled indulgently.
"Well. what if she isl" she said.
"For goodness sake, Edward. let the
child be polite"
Pinckney was losing all vestige of
caution and self control.
''Shes in love with him. tell you,
she's in love with him"
Mrs. Durant smiled.
Frances in love with Mr. Sommers!
Why. Edward. you're ridiculous"
The man was walking up and down
the floor excitedy. Now he stopped in
front of her.
ridiculous nothing!" he exclaimed.
"You won't say it's ridiculous when
this penniless ADVENTURE carries her
off right under your eyes. tell you, 1t
isn't safe. He's not the kind of man
to be with Frances. should have
protested before. I'm sorry | didn't |
tell you. Mrs. Durant, it makes my
blood boil to see it. | can't stand it. l
won't stand it."
"Edwardw Mrs. Durant was not
grim. almost like her husbands. do
you realize what you re saying" she
demanded sternly. 1T isn't for you to
criticiSe what Frances does one way
or another | will attend to that. Her
father and | have charge of her and
no one else. For you to make any such
speech is preSumptuouS."
Pinckney bowed. rebuked.
I'm sorry" he said. Il suppose l
was preSumptuous. but"-his voice
broke With real feeling, a feeling of
fear and disappointed ambition that
Mrs Durant mistook for lOve-''it is
hard after the dreams I've had and
the plans we've made. tell you, it's
a fearful thing to stand by and see
you and Mr. Durant calmly helping
this sailor to win her,
Mrs. Durant smiled appealingly.
Now, now. Edward" she said
"You take it too seriously You know
that George and have no idea of
helping him to win her. If any one is
helping him you are the one"
Pinckney looked at her amazed.
"I?" he exclaimed.
Frances mother nodded
Exactly" she said. You are help
ing him by your very apparent jeal-
ousy. There is nothing that will spur
a girl to be particularly nice to one
man so much as a knowledge that
some one she cares for is seeing and
writhing"
Pinckney opened his eyes. Like
many another Schemer, he had de-
voted all his time to circumventing
men, and he really knew compare
lively little about women.
But she hasn't seen that l notice
it." he protested. shes been too
busy with him to notice anything"
The mother laughed out loud at his
bitter tone.
Nonsense, Edward. Mr. Sommers
is a nice young man. and don't
blame her for enjoying his visits
Goodness knows, nice young men are
not so plentiful in Pittsburg."
Pinckney looked at her reproachfully
Il thought you at least were on my
side" he complained Il didn't ex
pect you'd be against me-"
He sat down in a big chair and
stared glOomily at the fire. Mrs. Du
rant came over to rest one hand af
fectionately on his shoulder.
81 am on your side. Edward" she
said seriously You know that Yol
know perfectly well that her father
and | both hope with all our hearts
that some day we shall see you two
married"
He turned eagerly and, reaching up
caught her hand
Then why don't you speak to he
of it," he exclaimed. Let her under
stand your Wishes
The woman looked down on hin
with a plying smile.
You poor boyr' she said "Yol
must be desperate. You want me t
propose for you. Well. if George Du
rant had come to my mother Sh
ended with ned almost savage.
Perhaps he did for all you know.
exclaimed Pinckney
NO. he didn't She was dead,
snapped Frances mother Now, yo
poor thing. don't be so tragic Son
merS viii so in a day or So and in
few weeks he may be ordered to th
north pole or the equator or goodneS
knows where. At any rate, he'll b
out Of her way and yours. See her t
night. TAX with her Let her Sc
how yon fee! toward her Now is
good time She's coming back. L
leave yau"
But vas the butler instead {
Franc aS expected, that entered ii
room
FL where is Miss Duranti
asked IT'D kaey sharply.
The b1ltlgl turned.
''0n randa with the navy gel
tenn he said.
Meau lie. outside on the verand
France Durant and Lieutenant Sor
mers stood side by side in the dar
ness saving goodby. Back of ther