The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-11-04

arated us. We had played together in
in early youth. but with the wedding
day q week on felt that I was taking
q mean advantage of child to marry
Leon. did not love him.
But might have known better than
to tell this story to Aunt Penny, born
fighter that she was. Since I could
remember. Aunt Penny had never
been SO happy as when she was do
ing battle with some one. loved her
warlike spirit, but when she changed
In minute to the soldier she was.
and declared. Agatha, this shall be
looked after immediately" saw far
consequences of my rash conduct.
She left me with her line eyes glow.
ing with battle light. and fed In the
limousine that had waited for me for
an hour to the ONCE Of Leon Masters.
He had received the letter that
morning. I knew. II the mails had
done their usual work. He took me
my explanation:
'Leon-Mr. Masters-I've told Aun,
Penny that you-that you are the
one who didn't wish-she il hurt
| very much hurt, Leon, md angry
and thought that perhaps you would
tell her that 1t is you who decided
| that It isn't hest!"
Leon looked unutterably relieved
rs that all, Agatha?" he said. q
was afraid-very much afraid-that
you did not mean-that you nigh,
have reconsidered your letter-that
you were not-that you wanted to &c
on, you know!"
His blunt words. his evident salts
faction with what had done brough,
the hot bushes to my face. And
had expected to find him over
whelmed with grief-had even pic
tured his efforts to win me back!
So" I stammered. you really
didn't"
mo. Agatha, I really didn't. but
would not have caused you any-er-
embarrassment-not for kings ran
som. And dad had set his heart or
1.-THE thinks you are perfection
Agatha-and you are. l didn't wan
you ever to suspect how had reall,
begun to feel about 1t! Dear OLD
Aunt Penny! OF course, I'll see and
tell her that It Is what I wished t.
| dol"
Worse and worse! Home went
hot and trembling. I shut myself ir
my room and would see no callers
Toward evening, when I had reasoned
1t all out. and had begun to be GLAD
We had both been saved from oul
friends and from the great mistake
Aunt Penny came to me with q tri
umphant light In her eyes.
Agatha. my poor lamb" she said
Icons father has como to Sc
things right. You must come dowr
and see him."
When I reached the drawing room
where he waited, l could not hell
thinking how young and handsom,
Icons father looked. He might hav,
been forty-five-he had been wild
over for many years. He took m!
hand in his.
Agatha! Miss Penryn!" he said
what can ! say to you-what can
dor"
Sitting there with my hand In his
told him the whole bald. disagree
able truth. He bent over me whel
had finished.
"Agatha!" he whispered. "Dear!'
Love that had fed from q lonl
courtship came to me that instan
without any courtship. loves
Icons father. and l knew It.
found myself swept. unresisting. Int,
his arms. Aunt Penny came in soon
and We told her Of the change, an,
restored her to normal afterward
There was to -. e-asi!;hg on til,
day set would marry Leon
father. There would be a little Cos
sip, of course. there Is always /,
buzz of excitement over the marriag,
OF an elderly man who writes check
sometimes In seven figures; blu
there would be no scandal. l woul,
be a mother to Leon. after all: blu
never would l dictate to him whel
1t came to his marriage.
| When l went upstairs on that nigh
OF my second betrothal ! glance,
along the wall at the faces OF M
ancestors. They seemed to smile ar
prevail at me. all but one. My grea
uncle, Peter Penryn, lay face dow
on the floor. a perfect ruin. Whel
he fell. or why. l never knew. Wa
he ashamed of me. I wonder. or VT.
he overcome with Joy?
| AtnA, SunAre%f&Ion