The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-06
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UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE:
BY HARTLEY 8. ADAMS.
,osseesssesescsesseeosss,

SiSCly TISACu put uOWu INC uOlly
she was embroidering and turned to
the young man perched on the We
randa rail.
Its no use, Peter" she said You
just waste your breath asking. | like
you awfully well-that goes without
saying, or I'd never spend SO much
time with you. But as to marrying
you-no! You're too much Of child;
you've never grown up. And one
doesn't marry children"
Peter Glover grinned down at her
with that great patience of his, which
at times she found most exasperating.
Il am an awful kid, Cicely," he con-
fessed. But that doesn't hurt me,
does It? / read somewhere once that
the sort Of a man to trust was the
man with the heart of little child"
1T makes you irresponsible, Peter,
said the girl quietly. Il couldn't mar
ry an irresponsible man
Peter sat swinging his long legs and
thinking deeply.
so far as money and family go, I'm
good match-eh?" he asked at
length.
"A perfectly good match, Peter .
she agreed sweetly.
"And there isn't some other chap, is
there?' he asked.
You know there isn't she replied
Again Peter cogitated
IF | wasn't such a frightful kid-if
] was little more responsible, as you
call it, not quite so light -headed and
a little less careless about things,
might just barely possibly have a
show with you. Is that right?" he in
CURED
you might under those conditions;
but you never will be any different
Peter. You're so utterly irresponsi
bic"
Say, would you put me on proba
ton for year, he asked suddenly
Il will, for just one year. said she
But if at the end Of that time you
haven't made good, you're never tc
speak Of marriage to me again
Peter let out whoop, stopped tC
brush her soft hair with his lips anC
went down the steps.
A year went past, and when for six
whole months Peter had not failed
punctually to keep his appointments
Cicely began to think ne was really ir
earnest at last.
1t was June day-just such per
feet June day as that one year age
when he had urged his probation pc
riod upon Cicely
Tomorrow" said Peter, "the yea
Is up. You haven't any excuse, now
have you?"
None Cicely laughed softly.
May l bring you the ring-say a
three tomorrow afternoon"
YES" said She
| M quaASCl vi III &c uCAI dltClhOOi
she went out on the veranda to wal
for him. The minutes slipped past
Three o'clock came, but with 1t nj
Peter. Quarter past three, half past
And still he did not come.
Cicely took the runabout an,
whisked angrily out of the yard. |
was all one to her now whether h
came or not This was the first az
pointment he had failed to keep in
long time-but it would be the las
with her. He was just the old IRE
sponsibie Peter after all,
She was passing farmhouse on tn
outskirts of the village. She saw
big black racing car drawn up to tn
fence. 1t was Peters car Then fror
an apple tree near the stone wall sh
heard voices, two childish voices an
another, which was Peter Glover's.
She slowed down the runabou
Through the thick foliage of the ire
she caught sight of three figures |
the branches, Peter Glover perche
there with two thin-faced little girls
And this" Peter was saying, ind
eating limb above his head, lis tn
upstairs bedroom"
The runabout came to full stop.
Peter" said Cicely, its five mil
utes past four"
Peter snatched his watch from hi
pocket He looked at it ruefully.
Good heavens!" he said, and sli
out of the tree.
I'D no idea it was so late" sal
he, coming out to the car, and toda
of all days! OF course" he fished
his pocket and drew out small mt
rocco case, there's no use offerin
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