The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-01-27
His Nephew's Bride
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS


bridal wreath behind the summer
house Granger was philanthro-
pist and 1t was distastefui to MIN 10
think that anyone would steal what
ne would willingly have given.
He arose cautiously from the nam
mock and peered through the vines.
Surprise checked the stern re-
buke that would have sprung from
his lips. He went softly around I'M
til his huge frame filed the grape
hung doorway.
GONE here!" His voice was toned !
TO a soft command.
The girl turned startled head anu
clutched the small cluster OF prldai
wreath systematically to her breast
She stood poised as II for flight
"Come here-please! Granger
voice again commanded.
She came slowly toward him. Her
! great gray eyes set in wan nttle
| face held to his as II they fam Wouio
drag pardon from him.
"Sit down." he said, when she was
within the summer house. He knew
that her knees were trembling ana
! he held forth a wide low chair. she
slipped down among the cush1ons
still keeping her big eyes on MIN.
II would have given you all the
flowers you wanted" Granger said.
II didn't know how to ask YOU
for some," the girl faltered. she
went on swiftly, II am going TO De
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. just could
n't-without few flowers.
! Granger repressed his amazement.
He had supposed the girl to be not
more than fifteen at the outside.
"How old are you. child?" he
asked her.
Twenty" she said simply. Il
haven't any hairpins-for my na1r;
that's why I look SO young"
Granger looked closely at her. She
certainly did look young with those
coppery curls shimmering down the
nape of her neck.
Are you very much in love with
the man to whom you are giving
yourself?"
Now that the nervousness had le1t
her Granger sat down beside her.
She hesitated and a faint color
' stained her skin.
II care for him-yes," she said
but I am marrying mostly because
1t seems as if I couldn't live among
: those people any longer"
Upon questioning her Grange
: learned that the woman with whom
she lived had taken her In after |
wreck on the railroad. The chill,
) had been miraculously saved an,
{ had grown up without affection Q
{ care among the lower classes of tn
village.
TON says I can have a new dres
after we are married" the gin
B said with a wistful glance at the ras
I ged frock.
y "Tom! Tom who?" demande
y Granger.
'Tom Anson--he drives a grocer
wagon"
) Granger had scarcely heard; b
u was thinking. This young girl wit
b her trusting eyes was far too youn
% to have her confidence in men sha
tered. Without running her trust b
must In some way prevent her throw
II ing her lot with that Of a man sue
l. as Arson and yet preserve for he
n an unmarried vision into the worl
u Can you cook and mend and 3
all the things required OF a poo
mans wife?" he asked finally.
X Her startled eyes brought smi
:" to Changers lips.
70 ''I can't do anything like that!
lp shiver all the time ] am washir
dishes and can't stand dirt
makes me squirm!"
III Granger again plunged into though
II Here was a startling example Of
,e soul struggling against the sord
81 things Of life yet powerless and dri
ing with the murky current
Granger absorbed himself in &C
.e temptation of her while she clos
nd her eyes in momentary fatigt
n There was refinement in her voie
he in her eyes and in her lips. T
hopeless little gestures with WIFI
she had punctuated her story
"a life had in them the grace Of cultul
"a "Madge," he used her name til
h he might keep her at her ease.
70 am going to order tea and while
: are having It / have a proposition
make to you" He rang the bell
=. his side and when his butler appe
-, ed Granger ordered tea that wol
-. most appeal to a tired little wait.
49, Nor did the butler mention in
~ kitchen that the master was ent
" tanning wonderful beggar-maid
the summer house. Changers pl
anthropies were every day occ
rences.
As Madge showed no embarrassms
-. when the tea tray was placed on
~ table beside her. Instead, she fou
A' that her hands had naturally fallen
the handle Of the little silver tea
and that she was asking Willis Or
ger how he liked his tea
60 Surprise and amusement daWI
20 in Granger'a eyes. It suddenly
~ CURED to him that here was the v
-AS OWL ha yvo1Yld hara sa1ecfaG as a "