Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-07

CHAPTER xv.-continued.


\ CHAPTER xv.-Continued.
s,,s@soar said !, .ou.,n-slr Maurice
,,re the conditions the same in his case7''
\ Pfecisely!"
..ohr, said CHAIRMAN, just as softly as
4 ,.,ore "and this lady-she will not
marry your
n mo" answered.
care you quite-sure?'
l ~certain!-you see. never intend to
ask her."
l cbarrnian suddenly raised her head and
boxed at me.
why not Peter?"
aBecause. should ever marry-a re-
mote contingency, and most improbable
am sufficiently self-willed to prefer to
,,srt nv own choice in the matter; more
,ver this lady is a celebrated toast, and
\ would be most repugnant to me that
~ wife's name should ever have been
8,.rdied from mouth to mouth, and hic-
*ecughed out over stopping wine-
\ Xrasses-" ..
1 The pen slipped from Charmian's fin
Il sers TO the floor, and before 1 could PICK
Il n M she had forestalled me, so that
1 when she raised her head she was flushed
| with STOPPING
aHave YOU ever seen this lady. Peter?"
1 "Neyer, but 1 have heard of her-and
4 who has not?"
1 what have you heard?"
1 ..That she galloped her horse up and
4 down the steps of st, Paurs Cathedral
\ fpr one thing"
4 What more?'
4 .'Tiiat she is proud. and passionate and
4 sudden Of temper-in a word, virago!
..vjrago!" said CHAIRMAN, fiinging up
n her head.
..yiraRov' l nodded, though she is
Handsome, 1 understand-in strapping
8vay-and have 1t on very excellent au-
thority that she black-prowed god
4 dess, a peach, and 4 veritable plum"
"'strapping' is hateful word, Peter!"
\ "But very descriptive"
1 "And-doesn't she interest you-a lttle'
\ peter?"
mot in the least.r said 1.
Il "And. pray, why not?
because 1 care very little for either
peaches or plums. )"
\ ~Or black-browed goddesses, Peter?"
\ "Not II she is big and strapping. and
Possesses a temper" r.-
II supposs-to such philosopher as
.IYou-a woman or goddess. black-browed
10 not, can SCARCELY compare with, or
4 Aope to rival an old book. can she, sir?"
why, that depends, CHAIRMAN"
"On what?"
"0n the book" said I.
CHAIRMAN rested her round elbows upon
he table. and. setting her chin in her
bands, stared squarely at me.
Peter" said she.
Yes. Charmian7"
III ever you did meet this lady-I
1 lhink--"
4 sWell?' ..-t.-
D I know"
"What?"
THAT you would fall a very easy VIC
1 I'M"
7 think not" said l. ,.
You would be her slave ina month
three weeks-or much less"
Preposterousl" exclaimed.
III she set herself to make your
That would be very immodestl" said
besides, no woman can make a man
4 love herr"
DO your books teach you that, Peter?"
Here, finding / did not answer, she
laughed and nodded her head at me.
lou would be head over ears in love
before you knew it,"
i think not" said l. smiling.
fou are the kind of man who would
How sick with love, and never know
what allied him."
Amy man in such condition would be
pltiful asst said l.
cnarmian only laughed at me again,
'ha went back to her scribbnng.
Ihen. II this lady married you." said
y" suddenly. you would be a gentleman
sood position and standing2"
eiable"
And rich. Peter?"
should have more than enough"
..s instead OF being a village black
with Just enough. and absurdly happy
ny my eontent" I added. (which is far
e oesirable-at least think so.'
DO you mean 20 say that you would
psI-exist here. and make horseshoes
Ia s9ur life, than-llve respected and
And married to-
sna married TO the Lady sophiaT'
Mnnltelyr said /.
,... men your cousin. so far as you are
\ w EFvfned. Is free to WOO and win her
'M your unele's fortuneY''
sa e wish him we'll OF his bargainl"
ees,s..so .eso As for me, ! shall probably
4 .ln'ee 70 live here and make horse
~ Nlteless and content"
-, marriage so hateful to your
D.. .ne abstract--no; for In my mind
L 1a4I4 ,r'9tH q woman Whom i think
iose-very greatly; but, IN the ac-
: /. .nfss because there Is no woman
me world that is like this woman
h.s she 80 nawlessly perfect-this
<t'nary womanY''
is as me- Y one whom would respect for
Tea
A's's Whom ! would honor for her proud
lss. Peter"
- nom ] would worship for her broad
ibsV' hsr ssntlsnesa aud spotless pur-
Yea Peter"
l.. leFe with all my strength. for
f. n sweet womanhood-ln a word.
/ 1S.s,,nt,. ant 7. epitome Of all that Is true and
-, n, Is to say-as You understand
H. nts, sir and all your knowledge
81 --.en ana her virtues ana failings,
|... .ss learned from your books. there
|1.[. lsfepresented BY history and ds-
#|..t ~ romance Il Is utterly false ani
H1.l.,. anu Of course. this imaginary
#ttII pI yours - ethereal. bloodlesa.
4 eAnAtqnal aud quite impcsslblel'
fnsn sne spoke thus. laid down