The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-16
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: UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE: !:
BY HARTLEY g. ADAMS.

ScO d"Au1Ay "Sli-IudI goes WlLQOu'
saying, or I'd never spend so much
time with you. But as to marrying
you-no! You're too much of a child;
you've never grown up. And one
doesn't marry children"
Peter Glover grianed down at hel
with that great patience Of his, which
at times she found most exasperating
I an an awful kid, Cicely," he con.
fessed. "But that doesn't nurt me
does it? I read somewhere once that
the sort Of 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.
III wasn't such frightful kid-if
I was little more responsible, as you
cal! it, not quite so hght-headed and
g little less careless about things, !
might just barely possibly have q
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-
b!e."
"Say, would you put me on proba'
ton for year?" he asked suddenly.
II will, for just one year." said she.
But if at the end Of that time you
haven't made good, you're never to
speak Of marriage to me again"
Peter let out a whoop, stopped to
brush her sof: hair with his lips and
went down the steps.
Z. year went past, and when for six
whole months Peter had not failed
punctually to keep his appointments,
Cicely began 20 think he was really in
earnest at last.
It was a June day-just such per
feet June day as that one year ago
when he had urged his probation Pc
riod upon Cicely.
Tomorrow" said Peter, "the year
is up. You haven't any excuse, now,
have you?"
None" Cicely laughed softly.
May 1 bring you the ring-say at
three tomorrow afternoon"
YES" said She
At quarter Of three next afternoon
she went out On the veranda to wait
for him. The minutes slipped past.
Three o'clock came, but with 1t no
Peter. Quarter past three, half past!
And still he did not come.
Cicely took the runabout and
whisked angrily cut Of the yard. 1t
was all one to her now whether he
came or not. This was the first ap-
pointment ne mad failed to keep in a
long time-but it would be the last
with her. He was just the old IRE
sponsibie Peter after all.
She was passing a farmhouse on the
outskirts OF the village. She saw a
big black racing car drawn up to the
fence. It was Peters car. Then from
an apple tree near the stone wall she
heard voices, two childish voices and
another, which was Peter Glover's.
She slowed down the runatout.
Through the thick foliage Of the tree
she caught sight Of three figures In
the branches. Peter Glover perched
there with two thin-faced little girls.
"Ard this" Peter was saying. indt-
eating a limb above his head, "is the
upstairs bedroom
The runabout came to full stop.
Peter" said Cicely. "it's FIVE min.
utes past four"
Peter snatched his watch from his
pocket. He looked at It ruefully.
Good heavensl" he said, and slid
out of the tree.
It'd no idea it was SC late" said
he, coming out to the car, and today
OF all days! OF course" he fshed in
his pocket and drew out a small mo-
rocco case, there's no use offering
you this-now?"
None whatever" said she coldly.
You're just the same utterly ire
sponsible kid"
Peter gulped.
II don't know how came to stay
here so long" said he. "You see,
those two up in the tree are fresh-a.r
kids staying at the farm here. The
people in the house get So a week
apiece for boarding 'em. They don't
do anything else for 'em, but just feed
and house 'em.
They were sort Of lost and fright
ered out here in the country. They
didn't know how to play, either. I've
seen EN- as 7 passed in the car. So
TODAY I stopped just for moment to
show EN- how to play hoCse in an
apple tree-just to make EN- little
happier and contented. They look as
If they needed it. l didn't realize
was staying so long"
He paused, half-ashamed. This
isn't an excuse" he supplemented.
Cicely lesLed toward him out Of the
car. She was ex;:2iing the third fin.
ger CT her LETT rand TO him.
Please put ~ ring on. Peter" she
said softly. "e;:i Zen help me into
the apple t-co. II ''cu won't grow up,
I'll gre" 5~v'a 20 ;,1p."
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