The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-09

sOrpuon In work. but the practice of
country lawyer seldom proves alb
sorbing, and Hardy grew thin and
white while he waited and hoped for
clearing up OF the trouble.
He was sitting idly at his desk one
afternoon when T. G. poked her head
into the doorway. and finding that he
was alone. entered boldly.
What Is II, Peterkin7'' he asked
printing Kiss on the child's troubled
face. Have you been telling the
minister what your father said when
ne was asked TO contribute TO the
chancel fund, or did you explain to the
guests at the party that the salad was
made with canned lobster?"
Worse AN that" was the doleRul
declaration as T. G. snuggled against
the broad shoulder. The school com
mittee visited this afternoon. Mr..
Sprague asked US what love was, and
told him IL was the way the principal
acted with Miss Saunders They all
laughed but Miss Squires got red in
the face and I was expelled.
1t is the truth" she added, defiantly.
He kisses her when he thinks no one
can see him. and she calls him
George. | wouldn't call any man
with whiskers George like a little
boy"
Wait until you grow up" admon-
ished Hardy. But see here, Peterkin.
4 know Mr.. Torrance very well. Per-
hGps l can beg you of IL you promise
to keep out Of his love affairs in
future"
You just bet WILL" declared T. c.
with JUNCTION. Lovers are funny peo-
pie. There's Nell Just crying her eyes
out because you carry some other
girls picture in your watch"
What do you know about that pic
tureg" asked Hardy tensely? Did you
tell Nell about that?"
/ saw 1t one day when you left your
watch on the desk" explained T. c..
Il didn't tell Nell. l Just said it was
funny that you had another girls pic
ture in your watch when Nell's new
pictures are so much prettier."
Hardy sprang up from his desk and
set 4. c. upon her feet.
Look here, Peterkin," he proposed
You take this dime and ind a place
where you can get ice cream soda.
Don't be in too much of q hurry to
drink IL. Better get two. Meantime,
HI slip over to the house and sort of
prepare them for the news that you
are expelled"
T. G. gurgled a delighted assent and
presently they emerged from the Office
building, and 7. c. went skipping
along to the candy store, while Jack
made for the Westervelt house.
Neil was sitting on their shade piaz-
"a as he came up the path. AS she saw
him she rose to her feet, bat it was too
late for graceful retreat He sprang
up the steps and caught her hand.
Don't go in" he pleaded. Let's sit
out here. 1t is more pleasant"
Shall / call father?" she asked. He
is in the library"
Il hope to see him before 1 CO." de-
clared Hardy meaningly,. But first
want to speak to you"
Nell flushed at the suggestion, but
she resumed her place in the rocker
and Jack drew a chair to her side.
When l asked you to marry me YOU
SAID something about another girl" he
began, plunging directly into the sub
lect. AT the time / suspected that T.
{. might be able to explain the aIlu-
sion, but l did not dare question her
too closely lest l give forth more in
formation than 1 obtained She let il
out today. Was 1t because of that
other girl in my watch that you re-
fused me, Nell"
mo woman cares to be counted sec
ond best" was the defensive replv
Have you changed the photograph
again?"
nave not changed" he said slowly.
but want you to see it,"
lie held the watch toward her with
the back case open. She saw the like
ness Of a gentle-faced woman who
somehow suggested an earlier period.
IN spite OF the modern photography.
silently she passed it back to Hardy
and waited for an explanation.
Ihis is my fathers watch" he be-
gan. The picture is that of nv
mother When she died we had only
an old painting of her. Father had it
copied and they made splendid Job
OF H. That is why l have another
womans picture in my case. When
you spoke of the other woman could
not know that Sally had been investi-
eating my watch. She found it on my
desk one day. / just learned this and
Understood your feeling of resent
ment"
An hour later a freckled face thrust
Itself above the hedge Of the Wester-
welt lawn; then seeing Hardy on the
piazza, I. G. came boldly forward
did you fix 1t, Jack?" she demand
ed.
Hardy bIushed.
Il was fixing another of your
scrapes," he explained. Nell Peter
kin has been expelled from school. but
have promised to see Torrance in
her behalf. Meanwhile have prom
ised that she will not be scolded."
Il couldn't scold her this afternoon"
said Nell, as she gathered her trouble
some little sister TO her breast. you
make great deal of trouble for peo-
pie T. c. sometimes. but then again
you set them right"
I'm not to blame that there isn't
any stopper to my BRAIN" was the ag-
gr1eved explanation Jack knows
that That's why he fixed things for
me all right"
And for once the town crier had the
comforting feeling that she was appre-
ciated.
0FknAII AalHn ran