Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-12-31
UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE
BY HARTLEY e. ADAMS.

!
the young man perched on lie We
randa rail
It's no use, Peter" she said. You
Just waste your breath asking. | like
you awiully well--that goes without
saying, or I'd never spend so much
time with you. But as to marrying
you--no! You're too mach 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,
ct times she found most exaspecating.
Il am an awful kid Cicely," he COM
fessed, but that doesn't hurt me,
does It? l read somewhere once that
the sort of man TO trust was the
man with the heart of little child.r
IT makes you irresponsible, Peter
said the girl quietly, 4 couldn't mar-
ny an irresponsible man"
Peter sat swinging MS long legs and
thinking deeply
so far as money and family 80, I'm;
a good match-eh?" he asked at
length.
"A perfectly good match, Peter,"
she agreed sweetly
And there isn't some other chap. ia
there?' he asked.
You know there isn't" she replied,
Again Potter cogiteted.
IF | wasn't such frightful kd--if,
/ was a little moro responsible, as you,
call IT, not quite so l'shtheaded and
| -. ~ NJ
might just barely possibly have al
show with you. Is that right?" he In
Quired
you might under those conditions;
but you never will be any different.
! Peter. You're so utterly irresponaf-
| bic"
Say would you put me on proba.
tion for year," he asked suddenly.
Il viii. 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 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 10 think he was really in
earnest at last
II was June day-just such per-
feet June day as that one a 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 your"
None" Cicely laughed softly
May | 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 walt
for him Tho minutes clipped past
Three o'clock came. but with il NO
Peter Quarter past three, half pastl
And still he did not come
Cicely took the runabott and
! whisked angrily out OF the yard. 10
was all one to her now whether he
came or not This was tho first APP
| pointment he had failed to keep In "a
long time-but It would be the last
! with her. He was just the old ire
! sponsibe Peter after all.
She was passing a farmhouse on the
! outskirts OF mo village She saw a
big black racing car drawn up 70 tho
fence 1t was Peters car. Then from
an apple tree near the stone wall ghe
/ heard voices, two childish voices and
another, which was Peter Glover's.
She slowed down the runabout.
/ Through the thick foliage OF the troe'
she caught sight of three figures I'M
I the branches. Peter Glover perched
there with two thlnfaced little girls,
And this" Peter WAS saying, indi-
eating limb above his head, is ihsi
upstairs bedroom"
The runabout came 10 a full stop
Peter" said Cicely. ITS five mins
utes past four"
Peter snatched his watch from his
pocket lie looked at it ruefully.
Good heayens" he said, and slid
out OF the tree.
It'd no idea It was 80 late" said;
he. coming out to the car. and today
OF all daysl OF course" he fished Ia,
his pocket and drew out a small mol
rocco case, there's no use Offering
you this-now?"
None whatever" said she colby,
You're just the same utterly IRE,
| sponsible kid
Peter gulped.
II don't know how | came 70 stay
here 50 long said he. 'You sec.
those two up in the tree are fresh-airi
kids staying at the farm here. Tbe
people IN the house get 81 a week
apiece for boarding EN-. They donf
do anything else for en-. but just feed
and house EN-.
"They we're sort OF lost and fright
ened out here in the country. They
didn't know how 10 play, either I've
seen EN- as ! passed In the car. So
toosy ] stopped just fer moment to
shoy EN- how to play house In ON,
apple tree just TO make EN- a litiles
happier and contented They look aa,