The St. Mary banner., 1922-09-30

every minute counted In the career Of
an ambitious mill proprietor.
You've got to 60 again" suggested
Tom, but Claire refused.
Then he decided that he would buv
the section Of property through which
his short cut had run. He made an
offer through his lawyer. but to his
surprise grandmother Auden refused
Those Barringers are impossible"
said Grandmother Auden to Laura one
day. Il am really glad that we have
not been forced to meet them socially.
l."
Il don't see how you can call them
impossible" was Laura's retort. Laura
was always fond of taking the de-
fensive when her grandmother was
on the offensive. "They come of an
excellent family"
but that Tom Barringer looks i'm.
possible went ON Grandmother. 81
do hope If you ever meet him again
you won't encourage him."
1T isn't likely I'll have a chance"
ASAioi hCb LdlI a.
But the next day Laura had an op-
portunity and In way most unex-
pected, at least to Laura
She was out prospecting for posi-
BILE flower beds in the new ly-fenced
portion of their property-at her
grandmother's suggestion, of course
when she heard the fall of feet behind
her. She glanced up and there was
Tom Barringer who had Just managed
to swing himself over the six-foot
fence
Laura looked up in surprise. She
was very anxious to see what in Tom
Barringer's appearance struck her
grandmother as impossible"
81 owe you an apology" said Tom
as soon as he had Strengthened himself
out after his leap from the top of the
fence post. "But l was anxious to get
home without going through the
streets, past all those houses. l didn't
expect to be caught"
Laura giggled. Il guess it doesn't
matter as long as 1t was l who caught
you. l really don't see that you have
done anything so very dreadful
But Mrs. Auden, your grandmother,
would" suggested Tom Barringer.
But she's in the house. Besides,
I'd plead your cause. l could say l
asked you to come over the fence"
Laura had looked In vain to find any
thing impossible In Tom Barringer's
appearance She added: 'YOu know
| think if you called to see my grand
mother and she had a chance really
to know you she would be glad to have
you use your old short cut. We could
have a gate with a lock and you could
have one key and we the other"
II would like to CALL" said Tom.
wondering how his father had ever
found the Audens insufferable, but
l want to call on you as well as on
your grandmother. I've been wanting
to. You know we met once at col
lege dance. It's rather dull here. Per-
haps if l call and show your grand
mother I'm not quite the bore she
seems to think me l might get her
permission to take you out to the
country club
So Tom Barringer called and Laura
giggled and gave him knowing little
glances when he sat talking to her
grandmother. She was doing her best
to get her grandmother to approve.
Rut prandmother'S manner was polite,
but not cordial. She was careful not
to give too much encouragement.
Six months later when there was
marriage in Millville that united the
houses of Auden and Barringer the
general opinion was that there had
been strong opposition on the part OF
Grandma Auden, and that wise young
old woman never suggested that the
little romance was all of her maneu-
vering.