The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-16
BY ]. Hartley Manners


Frank O'Connell." the little docto
said. shaking his head knowingly.
/ An where Is the little blue eyet
maiden. Peg o. your heart? Where 1,
she at all?"
ITS In London she is"
us 1t English ye're goin' to bring hel
npT cried the doctor In horror ant
disgust.
NO. it's not. Docthor McGinnis, an
ye ought to know me betther than Il
sit there an ask me such question"
When they parted for the night. Will
many promises to meet again ere long
OConnell sat down and wrote Peg 9
long letter, leaving the choice in hel
hands. but telling her how much hs
would like to have her back with him
He wrote the letter again and again
and each time destroyed II, it seemed
SO clumsy.
The morning after the incident FOL
lowing/Peg's disobedience in going to
the dance and her subsequent rebellion
and declaration of independence found
all the inmates of Regal Villa In a most
unsettled condition.
Mrs, Chichester and Alaric opened a
discussion MS to the latter's business
career.
"Oh. Aiaric! There is way-one
way that would save u.s." said the
mother after Alaric suggested going
to Canada. And she trembIed as she
paused. as If afraid to tell him what
the alternative was.
rs there. mater? What Is it?"
ut rests with you. DEAR
Does 1t: Very good. I'll do 1t to
save You and Ethel and the roof:
course | will Let me hear IT,"
"Alaric!" she asked in tone that
suggested their fate hung on his an.
swer. "Alaric. do you like herr"
Like whom?"
Margaret. Do you?"
Here and there. She amuses me
like anything at times. She drew a
map of Europe once that think was
the most fearful and wonderful thing
] have ever seen. She said 1t was the
way her father would like to see En-
rope. She had England. Scotland and
Wales in Germany. and the rest of the
map was Ireland Made me laugh like
anything"
"Oh. If you only couldw she sobbed.
Gould? WHAT
Take that little wayward child into
your life and mold her.
Here. one moment. mater; let me
Eet the full force of your idea. You
want me To mold Margaret?'
"Yes. dear
"Ha." he laughed uneasily, then said
decidedly: No. mater. no. can do
most things. but rs a molder-oh. no.
Let Ethel do tiff she'll stay. that is"
"Alaric. my dear. mean to take her
really into your life-'to have and to
hold And she looked pleadingly at
him through her tear dimmed eyes.
But I don't want to hold her, ma
ter" reasoned her son
at would be the saving Of us ALP
she insisted significantly.
But Alaric was still obtuse.
Now. how would my holding and
molding Margaret save us?"
The old lady placed her cards delib-
erately on the table as she said senten-
tiously:
"She would stay with us here-if you
were-engaged to her!" .
The shock had come. His mothers
terrible alternative was now before
him in all its na ked horror. A shiver
ran through him. The thought Of a
man with future as brilliant as his
being bllghted at the outset by such a
mlsalliance!
He felt the color leave his face.
Engaged. Don't. mother. please"
he trembled again. "Heavens-engag.
ed to that tomboy"
There was no escape. Mrs. Chiches-
ter held him firmly.
"She will have $4,000 year when
she is 900 year-f5, 600
Of the very BEST"
She took him in. her arms and press
ed his reluctant and shrinking body to
her breast. Think what it would mean,
dear-your family preserved and
brand snatched from the burningw
That's just 1t. It's all right saving
the family. Any covell do that at a
pinch. But do not see myself as a
brand snatcher.' Besides. I am not
altogether ut liberty
"What?" cried his mother.
"Oh. I've not committed myself to
anything. But I've been three times
TO hear that wonderful woman speak
once on the platform. And people are
beginning to talk. She thinks no end
Of me. Sent me q whole lot of stuff
last week-'advanced literature she
calls it I've got 'em all upstairs.
Wrote every word of 'em herself. New
sr saw woman who can talk and
write as she can. And outside Of all
that I'm afraid I've more or less en-.
outraged her. And there you are--the
whole thing In a nutshell"
Alaric thought for few moments.
The result of this mental activity
ook form and substance as follows:
"She is not half bad looking-at times
when she's properly dressed"
~I've seen her look almost beauti-
'ul?' cried Mrs. Chichester.
Alaric suddenly grew depressed.
Shocking temper, materr' and he
hook his head despondently.
To BE Continued.