The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-06-17

unconscious .,t the drama that was
taking place In her cousins heart.
''Sure. what Is it? Ye're not goin' to
do somethin' useful, are ye?"
He braced himself and went on: Il
am going to ask very charming
young lady to marry me. EhT'
Are ye?"
II am
-"What do ye think O. that. now!"
"And-who-do-you ou-think-tt-ts?"
He waited. wondering it she would
guess correctly. 1t would be so help
full if only she could.
But she was SO unexpected.
81 couldn't guess it in hundred
years. Alaric-ralely l couldn't"
"Oh. try! Do try!' he urged.
Il couldn't think who'd marry yon-
indade | couldn't, Mebbe the poor
girls blind. Is that it!"
Cant you guess? No? Reallyw
mo. I'm tellin' ye. Who is it?'
"You."
balustrade and laughed long and un-
restrainedly. She laughed until the
tears came coursing down her cheeks.
Alaric was at first nonplused. Then
he grasped the situation in its full sig
nificance. 1t was just touch of hys-
terra. He joined her and laughed heart.
lily as we'll.
"Aha!'' he cried between laughs
That's Il splendid sign. Splendid. I've
always been told that girls cry when
they're proposed to-"
Sure. that's what I'm doin'." gasped
| Peg. I'm cryin'-laughin' Sure.
think I'd rather have Michael. my ter
rier-if you don't mind"
He started forward ''Oh. come.
| say! You don't mean that! Think
| just for one moment-of the advan
| tages!'
IF We don't mind" replied Peg
lneekly.
To her amazement the gloom lifted
from her cousins countenance. He
took deep breath. looked at her il
| genuine relief and cried out heartily
Il say! You're a brick! It's really aw
fully good Of you. Some girls In your
position would have jumped at mt
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 II
warmly.
You're plucky little girl. that's
what you area plucky-littlc-girl
| III never forget it-never If there il
/ anything l can do-at amy time-auy
where-call on me. I'll be there-righ1
on the spot.
BLESS you. cousin. You've taken
an awful load off my mind. l was
really worried. had to ask you
Promised to- See you before you go!"
On the Goth day of June Mr.. Mont
gomery Hawkes. glanced at bis ap
rointments for the following day and
found the entry. Mrs. Chichester
Scarboro--in re Margaret O'Connell."
He accordingly sent telegram tt
Mrs. Chichester, acquainting her will
the pleasant news that she might ex
pect that distinguished lawyer OH July
ardship of the Irish agitator's child
He was shown into the music room
and was adlniring Il genuine Greuzt
when Mrs. Chichester came in.
She greeted him tragically and mo
toned him to seat beside her.
"Well?" he smiled cheerfully. "Ant
how is our little protegee"'
'Sit down." replied Mrs. Chicheste
somberly.
THANK you"
He sat beside her, waited Il moment
then. with some sense of misgiving
asked. Everything going we'll, hope
Far from it." And Mrs. Chicheste
shook her head sadly. "She wants t
leave us today. She has ordered Il cab
She is packing now
Dear, dearr' calculated the bewil
dered solicitor. Where is she going?
Back to her father"
How perfectly ridiculous!'
But don't be uneasy" he replied eas
lily: "slle will stay. May see herr"
Mrs. Chichester rose, crossed over t
the bell and rang it
There is one thing you must know
Mr.. Hawkes.. My son is in love wit
her." she said. as though in burst @
confidence.
"What? Your sonT'
YES" she sighed "Of course sh
ts hardly a suitable match for Alaric-
as yet. But by the time she is of age"
) Hawkes. was moving restlessly abou
the room He stopped in front of Mr.:
: Chichester as Jarvis disappeared
: notify Peg.
. II am afraid. madam, that such
marriage would be out of the question
} AS one of the executors of the late NJ
Kingsnorth's will. in my opinion.
would be defeating the object Of til
; dead mans legacy"
: Mrs. Chichester retorted heated'y:
"He desires her to be trained. Whs
t training is better than marriage?"
Almost any" replied Mr.. Hawke
2 Marriage should be the union Of tv
formed characters. Marriage betwee
J. the young is one Of my pet objection
It is condition Of life essentially f,
Q those who have reached maturity
nature and in character. ] an pr
parin. a paper on it for the Croydo
Ethical society and
: Whatever else Mr. Hawkes. migl
have said in continuation of ahoth,
+ of his pet subjects was cut abrupt
short by the appearance of Peg. 81
was still dressed in one of Mrs. CT
chester's gifts She had not had an o
r,arfnnitu To change. into her lift