Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-05-27
"Can't you guess7 No? Really"

Then she leaned back against the
balustrade and laughed long and I'M
r%estrainedly. She laughed until the
tears came coursing down her cheeks.
Alaric vas at first n%onplused. Then
he grasped the situation in its full sig
nificance. 1t was just a touch of hys-
terra. He Joined her and laughed heart
lily as well.
"Aha!' he cried between laughs.
That's a splendid sign. Splendid! I've
always been told that girls cry when
they're proposed to-"
Sure, that's what I'm dom" gasped
Peg. "I'm cryin'-laughin'. Sure, I
think I'd rather have Michael. my ter
rier-if you don't mind"
He started forward. 'Oh, come, I
say! You don't mean that! Think
just for one moment-of the advan-
tages!"
IF We don't mind" replied Peg
meekly.
To her amazement the gloom lifted
from her COUSINS countenance. he
took a deep breath, looked at her in
genuine relief and cried out heartily:
II say! You're a brick! It's really aw-
fully good of you. Some girls in your
position would have jumped at me
positively jumped! But you-why,
you're a genuine little hall marked AL
brick! I'm extremely obliged to you"
He took her little hand and shook it
warmly.
you're a plucky little girl, that's
what you area plucky-little-girl.
I'll never forget it-never. If there is
anything I can do-at any time-any-
where-call on me. I'll be there-right
on the spot.
"Bless you, cousin. You've taken
an awful load off my mind. was
really worried. l had to ask you.
Promised to. See you before you go!
d Il
On the 3Oth day of June Mr.. Mont
gomery Hawkes. glanced at his ap-
pointments for the following day and
found the entry, Mrs. Chichester,
Scarboro-in re Margaret O'Connell."
He accordingly sent a telegram to
Mrs. Chichester, acquainting her with
the pleasant news that she might ex-
pect that distinguished lawyer on July
1 to render an account Of her stew
ardship of the Irish agitator's child.
He was shown into the music room
and was admiring a genuine Greuze
when Mrs. Chichester came in.
She greeted him tragically and mo,
toned him to a seat beside her.
"Wel?" he smiled cheerfully. "And
how is our little protegee?"
"Sit down." replied Mrs. Chichester
somberly. .
''Thank YOU"
He sat beside her, waited a moment,
then, with some sense of misgiving,
asked, Everything going we'll, 1 hopeY'
Far from it." And Mrs. Chichester
shook her head sadly. "She wants to
leave us today. She has ordered a cab.
She is packing now"
Dear, dear!" calculated the bewil-
dered solicitor. Where is she going?"
Back to her father"
GLOW perfectly %ridiculous!'
But don't be uneasy" he replied cas-
lily; she will stay. May I see her?"
Mrs. Chichester rose, crossed over to
the bell and rang it.
"There is one thing you must know,
Mr.. Hawkes.. My son is in love with
her," she said. as though in a burst Of
confidence.
what? Your SOM"
YES she sighed. "Of course she
is hardly a suitable match for Alaric-
as yet. But by the time she is Of age
Hawkes. was moving restlessly about
the room. he stopped in front Of Mrs.
Chichester as Jarvis disappeared to
notify Peg.
II am afraid. madam, that such a
marriage would be out of the question.
AS one Of the executors Of the late Mr..
Kingsnorth's will, in my opinion, it
would be defeating the object Of the
dead mans legacy"
Mrs. Chichester retorted heatedly:
"He desires her to be trained. What
training is better than MARRIAGE"
Almost any," replied Mr.. Hawkes..
Marriage should be the union Of two
formed characters. Marriage between
the young is n Of my pet objections.
1t is a condition of life essentially for
those who have reached maturity in
nature and in character. 1 am pre-
pairing a paper on it for the Croydon
Ethical society and"-
| Whatever else Mr.. Hawkes. might
have said in continuation of another
of his pet subjects was cut abruptly
short by the appearance Of Peg. She
was still dressed in one of Mrs. Chi
chester's gifts. She had not had an op-
portunity to change into her little
travelling suit.
"Wel, well! What an Improvement"
he said.
"Tm glad you've come, Mr.. Hawkes."
why, you're a young LADY," cried
the ast0nished solicitor.
"Am I? Ask me aunt about THAR
replied Peg somewhat bitterly.
Nov, my dear Miss Margaret O'Con
nell"- began the lawyer.