The Detroit times., 1911-12-29
CHAPTER XII.
(C0ntinued.l


Colonel Todhunter was contempla-
ting the young man with eyes brimtul
OF kindly amusement.
Tom" he said. AS long as YOU
! live, you'll never forget how skeered
YOU are this minute sub. But you
cot through with il like hero-a
blamed sight better than did when
! | asked for Mrs Todhnnter That
sure was terrible experienced
hut the next moment his face was
grave tie laid his hand on young
Strickland's shoulder.
Tom. my boy. he said. I'D rather
give Mary 10 You than 10 any other
man I'm the world. and You ought 10
ha' known II without my tellin you.
| I've known YOU and liked YOU all the
time you've been GROWN up, and
love your father like he was my own
brother. | am glad you and Mary
have got il settled, and I'm sure Mrs.
Todhunter thinks as much or you as
1 do. God bless you and Mary both.
my boy"
There was a sudden break in the
Coloners voice It's up TO you and
Mary To arrange all the rest of IL,
young man." he spoke again. after
little pause. Then. with a whimsical
smile-'And all OF your troubles are
ahead OF YOU both-may the good
Lord have mercy on your souls"
A splendid gratitude shone In Tom
eyes. "All I've got TO say is this,
Colonel Todhunter." he said, God
helping me, I'll make Mary the best
husband in the world
You'll need the Good Marsters
help considerably too my boy" re-
sponded Colonel Todhunter quizzical-
Nv. And don't bank on bein' too
blamed successful in that-there under
takin'. sub. Bein, good husband amt
no sinecure. not By long shot It's
the biggest contract you ever under
took, and you've got to keep ham
merin' away at il ey'ry minute, sun.
It's enough TO skeer a man TO death,
Tom, If ii want for one thing: Bein
good husband means harfh- a hap
py wife, and that's the finest thing on
Gods green footstool. You just live
I'D TO that great truth, Tom, and It's
all I'll ask OF you
"YeH won't have To ask more than
once, Colonel Todhunter," replied Tom
fervently. I'll think of nothing but
Mary's happiness all my life, sir. And
thatll mean mine, too-were going
TO be the happiest couple in the
world, Colonel"
Now, that's where you slip up
again, Tom" said Colonel Todhunter.
Married life amt just one long dream
of unalloyed bliss. not by a. jugful.
sun. You got to take It as IL comes,
the bad with the good, and sometimes
ii may look like the good amt as
plentiful as il might be. but that's
percisely when you got to sit tight,
and watch and pray for change OF
luck. And mans wife amt no
chronic angel. young man, no moren
womans husband is. You'll be pow
erful lucky If Mary makes you as
good a wife as her mothers made
me, but, all the same. I've seen days
when Mrs. Todhunter looked more
like a destroyin cyclone TO me than
anything else. And she can tell a
hundred Shortcomings on me where l
can tell one on her, so there you are,
sub. It's give and take. that's what
1t is. and you just got to do your
best. keep on whistlin' for cheerful
ness sake, and stand ready TO make
quick duck IL things get too stormy,
subj"
Tom Strickland could not help but
| laugh. We'll. Colonel he respond
ed, If Mary and | are as happy as
you and Mrs. Todhunter, I'll be more
than satisfied And I'll try TO make
her a good husband, promise you
| that"
II know You will, Tom, replied Col
onel Todhunter And know Maryll
try TO fill her part o. the contract the
same way, too"
The young mans gaze went nerv-
cusly past the door through which
Mary and her mother had vanished.
II wonder where they are, Colo
ner?r he ventured apprehensiveiy.
hope there's nothing serious happen
| ing"
| Colonel Todhunter tugged at his
4 grizzled mustache TO keep from smil-
1 ing openly i'm Toms face.
Don't YOU worry none about Mary
and her mother, subj he spoke.
They're just havin heart-to-heart
! talk on the all-absorbin' subject OF
marriage, Tom. and they got TO have
a good cry while it's goin on. | bet
they've already shed enough briny
tears 10 Aoat q battleship sub. That's
a woman's way at such a time as this
All mothers has got TO vail over their
daughters then like they was goin
10 die stead o. gettin' married. But
they're all right after that. sub. When