Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-05-17
CHAPTER xV.-continued.

His niece vas expecting him. She
had anticipated his visit and was pre-
pared for it From the emotion caused
by his departure after the eventful
birthday she had entirely recovered
or thought she had. Stephens ridicule
and Mrs. Corcoran Dunn's congratula.
lions OF radiance from the "encum-
brance" shamed her and stilled the re-
proaches of her conscience. Mrs.
Dunn, as always, played the diplomat
and mingled just the proper quantity
of compromising sympathy with the
congratulations.
Il understand exactly how you feel,
my DEAR" she said. You have a ten
der heart, and it pains you to hurt any
ones feeling, no matter how much
they deserve to be hurt. You feel that
you may have been too harsh with that
guardian Of yours. You remember
what you said to him and forget how
hypocritically he behaved toward you.
I can't forgive him that. may forget
how he misrepresented Malcolm and
me to you-that l may even pardon In
time-but to deceive his own broth
er's children and introduce into their
society a creature who had slandered
and maligned their father-that / ! never
shall forget or forgive. And-youu
excuse my frankness, dear-you should
never forget or forgive 1t either. You
were a brave girl, and If you are not
proud of yourself / am proud Of you"
So when her uncle vas announced
Caroline was ready. She entered the
library and acknowledged his greeting
with a distant bow. He regarded her
kindly, but his manner was grave.
We'll Caroline" he began. II got
your letter"
"Yes, I presumed you did"
'Um-hm. l got 1t. 1t didn't sur.
prise me what you wrote, because I'd
seen the news in the papers, but I was
hopin' you'd tell me yourself, and I'm
real glad you did. I'm much obliged to
you"
- - saw yOu H. ACuCOAo " "AAt-
Ing" she said. although I do not
consider that I am in any sense duty
bound to refer matters other than finan-
.cial to you; and, although my feelings
toward you have not changed-still,
you are my guardian, and-and"-
II understand. SO you're really en-
gagged to Mr.. DUNN" ~a
eyes"
"And you're c~al-latin' to marry him?"
Zone might almost take that for
granted" impatiently.
almost, yes. Not always, but gen.
orally, I will give in. You're goin' to
marry Malcolm Dunn. Why"
"Why, because l choose, l suppose"
"Um-hm! Are you surf Of thatY
"Am l sure?" Indignantly. What
do you mean?"
81 mean are you SURF that it's be-
cause you choose, or because he does,
or maybe because his mother does"
She turned angrily away. If you
came here to insult me- she began.
He interrupted her.
"No, no." he protested gently. EN-
.sultin' you is the last thing l, want to
do. But, as your father did put you
IN my charge, l want you to bear with
me while we talk this over together.
Remember, Caroline, I amt bothered
you a great deal lately. I shouldn't
NOW II I hadn't thought twas neces-
sary. So please don't get mad, but an
. swer me this: Do you are for this
1 man you've promised to marry?
Enough to live with him all your life
nand see him every day and be to him
Nwhat a true wife ought to be? See
him, not with his company manners
Inn or in his automobile, but at the
breakfast table and when he ONE
home tired and cross maybe? When
You've got to be forbearin' and for
hvin' and
t"He is n Of my Oldest and best
kends'- she interrupted. Her uncle
k.tsSat on without waiting for her to end
5sks sentence.
~ know" he said. zone Of the
oldest, that's sure. But friendship,
'cordin' to my notion. is somethin' so
small in comparison that 1t hardly
counts In the manifest. Married folks
ousht to be friends, sartin sure, but
they ought to be a whole lot more'n
that. I'm an old bach, you say. and
ant had no experience. That's true.
bit I've been young, and there was a
time when 1 made plans. However,
size died, and 1t never come to nothin'.
k1ut l know what 1t means to be en-
Jagged, the right kind of engagement.
means that you don't count yourself
L all, not a bit. You're ready, each
Fl you, to give up all you've got
fyour wishes, comfort, money and what
it'll buy and your life, If it should come
to that, for that other one. Do you
care for Malcolm Dunn like that, Caro-
line?"
She answered d~efiantly.
eyes. l do" she said.