Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-17
E S A r n OIL D

against marriage. must see What the inaIIer
with baby-who is really our little peacemaker'
few minutes afterward George was hurrylng
down the street Suddenly he jumped with the shock
of a new idea. II have it!'' he laughed, loudly
enough to attract attention. few, who could only
see the mrth of madness in his antics, shook their
heads in pity During the day his colleagues noticed
a wild light in his eyes.
" He set out early for the station. When Mrs. Had
don stepped on to the platform George seized the
buxom lady in his and audibly kissed her. Men
have been hailed heroes, crowned as martyrs ior
less; but Georges scheme demanded the sacrlnce
There was charm about this hearty manner OF greet
ing that appealed strongly to the widow, and left
good impression for the rest of the evening
George had grown desperate by the following morn
ing lie had to admit to himself, indeed, that Amy s
mother-so far he cared to Observe-was not quite
the Gorgon he had imagined her. At the same time
he had no desire to be on really friendly terms with
her.
If she wanted to make fool of herself by recip
rocating his pretended admiration and affection, he
would be sorry to prevent her. HIS whole plan
and he had added many finishing touches during the
stiffness of the nght-was to get rid of her without
DELAY And, in any case, how did he know that she
was not as deceitful as hmselfa These were the re-
fections of the ungallant young man as he came
downstairs -
''Doesn t mother g gown look charmingf' he asked
with rapture at breakfast.
'Do you really think so9' Amy replied, raising
her eyebrows There was a little thrill of jealousy
in her voice which filed George with hope.
'My dear,' he went on, you should get some
thing stylish like that-not those dowdy atrocities
you wear 1t s so bewitchingl"
60 'Really?'' pOuted Amy
ssWeI of course he softly admitted, the tints
are rather trying. Without good complexion-such
as mother s. for instance-they would make one look
perfectly hdeous. -
''Yon shouldnt Aatter mamma like that Amy
protested
''Quite unconscious, assure you' George replied,
as he helped his mother-in-law to more toast.
1t does not sound so, - Amy cuttingly remarked
''One would almost think you were serious Amy,
dear, - Mrs. Haddon interposed.
"Wel, supposng so2' all poor Amy could
say George should not admire any one but me, ,"
she reflected. "Of course it S only mamma; but even
that makes me wild, and it, unlike him to hint
that-that-O Here Amy discovered that the eggs
required more boiling. When she returned it was
quite plain that the fire had made her eyes very red
Really George she sobbed, as she kissed him in
the hail. ''I'm not such a fright as you seem to
think
''But you know, dear, few girls could stand com
parison with mother" replied the brute, as he re-
turned to speak to that estimabe lady.
" Mother he suggested, you ought to come
down to the office at five, and we II stroll home to-
gether and see the shops. I'm sure you'll like the
walk -
'tMost certainly George" she beamed
People along the terrace wondered why the young
man from Woodbine laughed so immoderately along
the way There also wonder within the cottage.
Mrs Haddon could not understand her daughter s
sudden change of manner.
George is too delightful for anything, she con
fided elbow people are so apt to be deceived, . she
added. The full significance of the words scarcely
dawned on her.
"I am glad you two get on together-much better
than 1 had expected" Amy answered, with the
slightest touch of bitterness in her tone. George
would have listened with feelings of triumph and re-
morse.
While sitting alone during the evening Amy felt
herself neglected He has never once asked me
down to meet him. she sighed SIN fact, he always
detested that sort of thing but suppose he wants
to show mamma round for my sake. It's almost
o'clock, and they re not home yet Whatever can be
keeping them9 George is always home so punctually.
ebo 1o3 EEa hio nf
tnue.''
''I thought mother would for some tea so we
dropped into the Bohea,'' George explained half an
hour afterward. "Hope you weren't waiting for us,