The Irish standard., 1915-04-10

Peg looked down on the ground
mournfully and replied:
ME heart is in New York-with me
father"
Has any one made love to you since
you have been here?"
Peg looked up at him sadly and
shook her head. A moment later a
mischievous look came into her eyes,
and she said. with roguish laugh:
"Sure one man wanted to kiss me,
an l boxed his ears, an another-al.
most man-asked me to marry him."
oh" calculated the lawyer.
ME Cousin Alaric."
"And what did you say?" questioned
Hawkes..
II towld him I'd rather have Mi.
chael."
He looked at her in open bewilder-
ment and repeated:
"Michael?"
"Me dog" explained Peg, and her
eyes danced with merriment.
Hawkes. laughed heartily and re-
lievedly.
As Hawkes. looked at her, radiant III
her springlike beauty. her clear
healthy complexion. her dazzling teeth.
her red-gold hair. he felt Sudden,
thrill go through him. His life had
been so full, so concentrated on the
development of his career. that he had
never permitted the feminine note to-
obtrude itself on his life. Ills etfor,
had been rewarded by an unusua!l.
large circle of influential clients who
yielded him an exceedingly handSom.
revenue. He had heard whispers OF IL
magistracy. His public future was as
sured
But his private life was arid rhr
handsome villa in Pelham crescen, mad
no one to grace the head Of the table
save on the occasional visits of his
aged mother or the still rarer ones .,
married sister.
And here was he in the full prim.
Of life.
Yielding to some uncomfortable i'm
pulse. he took her little hand III both
of his own.
Hawkes. was not to he denied now
He went on in his softest and mos,
persuasive accents:
II know one who would give you all
these-a man who has reached the
years of discretion. one in whom the
follies of youth have merged into the
knowledge and reserve Of early middle
age; man of position and Of means;
a man who can protect you, care for
you. admire you-and be pro1d to
marry you.
miss O'Connell-may l say Mar
garet?-l was your uncle's adviser, his
warm personal friend. We spoke free
~ Of you for many weeks before be
died. It was his desire to do some
thing for you that would change your
whole life and make 1t full and happy
and contented. Were your uncle alive
I know Of nothing that would give
him greater pleasure than for his old
friend to take you, your young life, into
his care. Miss O'Connell, am the
mani"
"Stop it," che cried. "What's tm
matther with you men this morn!n'
Ye'd think was some great lady ths
way ye're all offertn' me yer hands an
yer names an yer influences an ye
dignities. Stop it! Give me that mon
ey an let me CO."
Hawkes. paused.
Don't give your answer too hastily
l know 1t must seem abrupt-One nigh
almost say brutal But | am alone II
the world; you are alone. Neither Of
us has contracted a regard for any ont
else. And. in addition to that, Their,
would be no occasion to marry un
til you are twenty-one. Therer'
Peg suddenly burst into q paroxysu
Of laughter.
Am l to consider that refusalT'
I'VE may. What would be dom
Margin the likes Of youY Answer m,
that?"
"That Is flnal?" he queried.
Absolutely, completely an entirely
final. Thank ye very much, SIR" sh,
added. "An' may have the f2O."
Certainly. Here it u.s." And he hand
ed her the money.
I'm much obliged to ye. An Tn
sorry If hurt We by laughin' just now
But / thought ye were tokin'. l did"
She hurried across the room to thu
staircase. When she was halfway III
the stairs Jarvis entered and was i'm
mediately followed BY Jerry.
"Peg!" he said gently. looking up a
her.
I'm goin' back to me father In bal
an hour" And she went on up tn.
stairs.
AS Jerry moved slowly away from tb,
staircase he met Montgomery Hawkes.
CHAPTER XVII,
New Revelations.