The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-06-21
CHAPTER xV.-Continued.

his niece was 0ApeCIluS uIIu. ohC
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-
tions on riddance 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 comprehending sympathy with the
congratulations.
II understand exactly how you feel,
nv dear" she said. You have 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
Theoretically he behaved toward you.
l can't forgive him that. l may forget
how he misrepresented Malcolm and
me to you-that 1 may even pardon In
time but to deceive his own broth
er's children and introduce into their
society creature who had slandered
and maligned their father-that never
shall forget or forgive And-yOuu Ii
excuse my frankness, dear-you should
never forget or forgive it either. You
were a brave girl, and if you are not
proud of yourself l am proud Of you.
So when her uncle was 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.
well, Caroline" he began, Il got
your letter.
Eyes, 1 presumed you did"
"Um-hm. 1 got it. 1t didn't sur
prise me what you wrote, because I'd
seen the news in the papers, but was
hopin' you'd tell me yourself, and I'm
real glad you did. I'm much obliged to
you"
IL gave you my reasons for writ
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"-
"I understand. So you're really en-
gagged to Mr.. Dunn"
"Yes"
"And you're cal-Iatin' to marry him?"
"One might almost take that for
granted" impatiently.
almost, yes. Not always, but gen.
orally. 1 will give in. You're goin' to
marry Malcolm Dunn. Why?'
"Why, because 1 choose, suppose"
"Um-hm! Are you sure Of that?"
"Am 1 sure?" Indignantly. What
do you mean?'
81 mean are you sure that it's be-
cause you choose, or because he does,
or maybe because his mother doesT
She turned angrily away "If you
came here to insult me- she began.
He interrupted her.
"No. no." he protested gently. In
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, l amt bothered
you a great deal lately. I shouldn't
now If 1 hadn't thought twas neces-
sary So please don't get mad, but an
swer me this: Do you care for this
man you've promised to marryI
Enough to live with him all your life
and see him every day and be to him
what a true wife ought to be? See
him, not with his company manners
on or in his automobile, but at the
breakfast table and when he comes
home tired and cross maybe? When
you've got to be forbearin' and for
givin' and
"He is one of my oldest and best
iriends"- she interrupted. Her uncle
went on without waiting for her to end
TIE sentence.
~ know" he said. "One Of the
Oldest, that's sure. But friendship,
'cordrc' to my notion, is somethin' SO
small In comparison that 1T hardly
counts in the manifest. Married folks
ought to be friends, sartin sure, but
they ought to be a whole lot more'n
that I'm an old bach, yol say, and
amt had no experience. That's true,
but I've been young, and there was a
time when 1 made plans. However,
she died, and it never come to nothin'.
But l know what it means to be en-
gagged. the right kind of engagement
1t means that you don't count yourself
atsall, not a bit. You're ready, each
of you, to give up all you've got
your 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 defiantly.
Eyes, do" she said
"You do. Well, do you think he feels
the same way about your"
"Yes." With not quite the same
promptness, but still deiantly.
you feel sartin Of it, do your
She stamped her foot. Yes, yes,
yes!" she cried. "Oh, do say what you
came to say and end it,"
Her uncle rose to his feet.
observed. when two people caI e for
each other like that they ougtE ta be
married, ccd the sooner the better. 1
knew that you'd been lonesome and
troubled, maybe, and all 1 can say is
that I'm awful glad for you. God bless
you, my dear! hope you'll be as hap
py as the day is loug."
His niece gazets At him, bewildered
and incredulous. This she had not ex-
pected.
THANK you," she stammered. II did
not know-I thought
"Of course you did-of course. Well,
then, Caroline, 1 guess that's all. I
won't trouble you any longer. Good
by"
He turned toward the door, but stop
ped, hesitated and turned back again.
"There is just one thing more" he
said solemnly. 81 don't knows ought