The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-11-25
CHAPTER VI.
II LOVE Yon."

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
"She's in love with him. tell you
she's in love with him"
Mrs. Durant smiled.
"Frances in love with MIR Sommers.
Why. Edward. you're ridiculous"
The man was walking up and down
the floor ex, itcdly. Now he stopped in
front Of her
"Ridiculous nothing" he exclaimed
You won't say It's ridiculous when
this penniless adventurer carries her
OF right under your eyes tell you. II
isn't safe. He's not the kind of man
TO be with F1nces. should have
protested before. I'tn sorry didn't
tell you. Mrs. Durant. II makes my
blood boil to see It can't stand It, I
won't stand It."
Edward" Mrs. Durapt was not
smiling now Her face was stern
grim. almost like her husbands. DO
demanded sternly. ut isn't for you 10
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
was presumptuous. but"-his voice
broke with real feeling. 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 1t too seriously. You know
that George and ! have no idea Of
helping him TO win her. II any one Is
helping him you are the one"
Pinckney looked at her amazed.
"IT' 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 compara-
lively little about women.
But she hasn't seen that | notice
IT," he protested. "She's 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
81 thought you at least were on my
side" he complained. II 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. You
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 her
of itr' he exclaimed. Let her under
stand your wishes"
The woman looked down on him
with a plying smile,
You poor boy" she said. "You
must be desperate. You want me TO
propose for you, Well. If George Du-
rant had come to my mother She
ended with nod almost savage.
perhaps he did for all you know"
exclaimed Pinckney.
mo, he didn't. She was dead"
snapped Frances mother Now. you
poor thing, don't be so tragic. Som
mers will go in a day or so. and in
few weeks he may be ordered to the
north pole or the equator or goodness
knows where. AT any rate, he'll be
out Of her way aud yours. See her 10.
night. Talk with her. Let her see
how you feel toward her. Now is
good time. She's coming back. III
leave you"
But it was the butler instead of
Frances, as expected. that entered the
room.
"Filkins where Is Miss DurantY'
asked Pinckney sharply.
The butler turned.
ION the veranda with the navy gen
tleman, sir" he said
Meanwhile. outside on the veranda,
Frances Durant and Lieutenant Som
mers stood side by side in the dark
ness saying goodby. Back OF them.