The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-06-17

Dut Aiaric was still obtuse.
,, Now, how would INV hold,r. ,a
molding Margaret save usY.
The old lady placed her cards do,,h.
erateiy on the table as she said senten.
tiously:
she would stay with US here-if you
were-engaged to herr"
The shock had come. Hia mother.
terrible alternative was now BEFORE
him In all its naked horror. A shiver
ran through him. The thought OF /.
man with future as brilliant an M.
being blighted at the outset by such :
misalliancel
he felt the color leave his face.
Engaged! Don't, mother. pleasa I"
DE trembied again. "Heavens-ens,s.
ed to that tomboyg'
There was no escape. Mn. Cbicbsa.
ter held him firmly.
She will have 5000 a year when
she Is twenty-one-f5.OOO year-f5.OOO
OF the very bestg'
she took him In her arms and presa-
ed his reluctant and shrinking body to
ner breast Think what 1t would mean,
dear-your family preserved and a
brand snatched from the burninR!"
That's just It It's all right saving
the family. Any cove'n do that at q
pinch. But l do not see myself as
brand snatcher.' Besides, l am not
altogether at liberty"
"What?" cried his mother.
"Oh. I've not committed myself to
anything. But I've been three dimes
to hear that wonderful woman SPEAK
once on the platform! And people are
beginning to talk. She thinks no end
OF me. Sent me whole lot of stun
last week-'advanced literature she
calls It I've got 'em all upstairs.
Wrote every word OF 'em herself. New
er saw woman who can talk and
write as she can. And outside Of eli
that I'm afraid I've more or less en-.
couraged her. And there you are-the
whole thing in nutshell"
Alaric thought for a few moments.
The result of this mental activity
took form and substance rs follows:
"She Is not half bad looking-at times
when she's properly dressed"
"Tve seen her look almost beauti.
FUR cried Mrs. Chichester.
Alaric suddenly grew depressed.
shocking temper, materr' and he
shook his head despondently.
THE woman who loves always
obeys!" cried his mother.
"Ah. there we have itr' And Alaric
sprang up and faced the old lady.
There we have it! Does she love meY'
Mrs. Chichester looked fondly at her
only son and answered:
How could she he near you for tho
last month and not love your
Alaric nodded:
"Of course there IL that. Now. let
me see-just get a solid grip on the
whole thing. If she loves me-and TAX
ing all things into consideration-for
your sake and darling Ethel's-and for
my-that is
As mother and son walked slowly
toward the house they looked up. and
gazing through tiny easement Of
the little mauye room was Peg. her
face white and drawn.
Peg decided to take walk In the
garden. As she reached the foot Of
the stairs Alaric came in quickly
through the windows.
"Hello. Margaret be cried cheerful
~, though his heart was beating nerv'
ously at the thought Of what he was
about to do, and across his features
there was a sickly pallor. What have
you got there. all tucked awayT he
ventured as the opening question that
was to lead to the all important one.
Peg held up book for him to see
1.-THE only thing I'm takin' away that
I didn't bring with me-"
"A book. eh?'
That's what it is-a book" and she
began to go upstairs.
Taking it awayY" he called up to
her.
..Tbat's what I'm doin'." and she still
went on up two more steps.
you're not really going away-cous-
in?' he gasped.
~ am." replied Peg.
"Just a moment" he cried. stopping
her Just by an oriel window. Sne
paused in the center OF the glow tnat
radiated from Its panes.
what is it," she asked impatiently.
She wanted to 60 back to her room
and make her final preparations.
Alaric looked at her with what ne
meant to be alteration In his eyes.
"Do Won know I've grown really
awfully fond Of you?" His voice quiv'
cred and broke. He had reached one
OF the crises of his life.
mo, ! didn't know It. When Old ye
find it outf'
Inst pow-down in that room
wben the thought flashed through me
that perhaps you really meant TO ieave
ia II went all through me. ron my
honor II did. The idea positively nurt
me-reaIly hurt me-"
.Did It, nowT" laughed reg. Sure
IN I'm glad Of It."
"GIad? Glad?" ne asked In astonisn
nent.
~ am. didn't think anything could
,urt We unless 1t disturbed yer com
fort. An don't see now my so'n
will do that" 49,
"Ob but It WILL" persisted Alaric-
Really II will.'
.Sure nowr Peg was growing real
;, curious. What was this odd little
fellow trying to tell herr
Alar,c felt that the moment had now
really come.
CHAPTER XVI.
AIaric, Peg and Mr.. Hawkes..
OIySIN." said Alaric to Peg. ano
his voice dropped to the ca