Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-05-27
UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE :
sy HARTLEY q. ADAMS.

y. Il
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 a 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
am an awful kid. Cicely." he con.
fessed. But that doesn't hurt me,
does 1t? l read somewhere once that
the sort OF man to trust was the
man with the heart OF a little child"
1t makes you irresponsible. Peter"
said the girl quietly. Il couldn't mar.
~ an irresponsible man"
Peter sat swinging his long legs and
thinking deeply.
SO far as money and family 20. 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 cogitatcd
IF j wasn't such a frightful kid-if
1 was little more responsible. as you
call 1t. not quite so light-headed and
a little less careless about things. I
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 30 utterly irresponsi.
BILE"
Say. would you put me on proba.
ton for year," he asked suddenly.
L will. for just one year." said she
But IL 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 soft hair with his lips and
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 he was really in
earnest at last.
feet June day as that one year ago
when he had urged his probation pc
Rod upon Cicely.
Tomorrow" said Peter. the year
is up. You haven't any excuse, now.
have you?"
None" Cicely laughed softly.
May | bring you the ring-say at
fhroa
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 out OF the yard 1t
was all one to her now whether he
came or not This was the first ap-
pointment he had failed to keep in a
long time-but it would be the last
with her. He was just the old ire
sponsible 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. 1t was Peters car. Then from
an apple tree near the stone wall she
heard voices, two childish voices and
another, which was Peter Glovers.
she slowed down the runabout.
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.
And this" Peter was saying, indi-
eating a limb above his head, lis 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 heavens!" he said, and slid
out of the tree.
I'D no idea it was so late" said
he, coming out to the car, and today
Of all days! OF course" he fished I'm
his pocket and drew out a small mo-
rocco case. there's no use Offering
you this-now?"
None whatever" said she coldly.
4Vu 10 just the same utterly IRE
spCnsible kid%
Peter gulped.
i don't know how came TO stay
here so long" said he you see.
those two up in the tree are fresh.air
kids staying at the farm here. The
people in the house get SO a week
apiece for boarding EN-. They don't
do anything else for EN-. but just feed
and house EN-
They were sort Of lost and fright
ened out here in the country. They
didn't know how TO play, either. I've
seen EN- as ] passed in the car. so
today ] stopped just for a moment to
show EN- how to play house In an
apple tree-just 20 make 'em n little
happier and contented They look as
II they needed IL. ] didn't realize