The Marshall republican., 1909-12-31

Hector wrung my hand. I'm avn,
Obliged to you, old man." he said
This is all In confidence, OF course
| wouldn't have said anything at all.
only you were such an old friend
You understand? Well. / must b.
rolling along"
Hector departed. apparently much
cheered. felt sorry for him. he seemed
so hopeful. I made up my mind that
/ would talk to Marguerite a little.
II was hardly Is minutes after tina
when there was a sharp rap at my
door and Tommy stuck his head in.
"Hello!" he said. you look uncom-
monty tickled about something. Let
M in on 1t. thought perhaps you
wouldn't be In bed yet, so l concluded
to come in and finish my pipe With
YOU"
covered a large yawn with my
hand and assured him that I was not
at all sleepy. TT isn't a very big pipe,
anyway" added.
II won't stay long" he promised.
curling himself in the easy chair. He
puhSu az hio Pipc ~ lew mOuleuIn Auu
then he said: II wanted to have a
word with you about Marguerite"
Meaning Miss Girton? ?" asked.
He had the grace to blush. well,
she doesn't mind my calling her Mar
guerite when We are alone" he sad.
You understand that l am not going
around Dragging about It, but you're
an old friend of the family and an old
friend OF hers. She thinks a good deal
OF you. old chap"
was very. very much obliged to
him for telling me.
Yes, and I thought ! would tell you
that I'm thinking Of s~teadying down
and getting settled in life. There's
nothing to this bachelor existence.
Now. you know the family and you
might give me q hint as to how |
stand there"
How do you think you stand with
the young woman" asked.
"oh. that part OF it's all right
think" he replied. confidently at first,
but with an after note Of anxiety.
Don't you think Hector is In the
runningT'
He? That conceited little beast?
Well. l guess not. Not II what Mar
guerite says about him is any iMdica.
lion" He laughed, then his EXPIRES.
sion grew serious. DO you think he
has any chanceY" he asked anxious.
ly. III she took that fellow | believe
Id go and jump into the lake"
81 was joking" A said. HE Is in
love with her, of course. happen to
know that he hasn't a chance in the
world. Make yourself easy on his &c.
count. II MISS Girton accepts you |
don't see why there should be any Sc
rious objection on the part Of the fam
lily. Now, must you be going? I've
got something to do tomorrow morn.
ing"
had q good laugh all to myself
when he had gone. II was a little the
best joke that had come my way for
some time, Yet ! was truly sorry for
both of those fellows. 1 knew Mar.
guerite.
When saw her the next morning
took her little hand In mine and mn
on my very gravest expressiop--whicb
she tried to rub on with the rosy tfr
Of a disengaged ringer.
Marguerite" ! said. what do yor
think OF a girl who deliberately trie.
to make a man believe she cares IA,
him. who looks at hiin In a way thai
makes him think he's about the oni,
n on earth so far as she's concarned
who allows him to call her by ~,
Christian name--fools him 10 the to-
Of his bent. when all the time tksrs
Is another q she cares for and IA
tends to marry some dayTf
Marguerite looked troubaed. .noh
dear she said at Last, II really dil
not deliberately try to make YOU thinl
1 cared for you o. try to fool You.
always. did care Tor you. and until
met Freddie | didn't know that
You don't mind 50 vsry much. 4.
your Besides. I'm not q an sars ths,
4 ahall marrw Era1xia u at9