The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-10-21
Chapter 29 ABOUT RoBERl

"GoLLY!" said Caroline to her
 o self. If she hadn't been SC tired, it would have said itself out loud. Was it possible that Robert had an Ulterior Object?
 Caroline dwelt with joy on Rob ert under the Influence of Tender Passion, of Robert Pursuing a Courtship. of Robert Proposing and Being Accepted. She forgot that she was going to sit on a bottom ster and let the world go by. Her eyes sparkled. She swooped down upon tAe hearth-rug beside Patsy.
 Patsy Ann-what have you been lp to? What has Robert been up to! How could you be so indiscreet as to have him to lunch in the absence of your chaperon? A gay young mar ike that! Tell your Aunt Caroline all" sS
 Patsy began to cry. Her face worked. Tears came rolling dowr her cheeks. She sniffed loudly be tween angry sobs.
 You've never done him justice I've had to put up with your making fun of him always! didn't say any thing-because it wouldn't have been any use saying anything! Yol only think about your own affairs you don't confde in me-you nevel have! Pm sure if you'd been en gagged to Jim, you couldn't have shu me up more-when asked the sim plest and most natural questions though if I'd chosen"
 She stopped and dabbed her eyes with the blue velvet. She was no quite prepared to claim Jim as lover. She plunged hastily back into the original grievance. You alway: make fun of Robert! If you were older, you'd appreciate him as do He has a very high sense of duty and a pure Roman nose. It isn't yot he wants to marry, so it doesn't mat ter what you think of him!"
 Caroline was appalled,.
 "Patsy darling-don't. I never never meant to hurt your feelings Darling. yon know how one laughs at all sorts of things one respects most frightfully-like bishops and the Bank of England-and-ant Parliament"
 Robert isn't an-institution!"
 That was exactly whaH he was But never again must Caroline say so. She hugged the weeping Patsy
 Darling. respect him most right fully. He's as safe as the Bank ol England and as good as bishop Are you going to marry him? Has he asked you? Have you said yes Here's my hanky-you're simply running that blue velvet"
 Patsy blew her nose on the prof fered handkerchief.
 There's nothing settled" she said in a muffled voice-"nothing at all Only he said-he did say-his mother thought-he ought to marry He's such a good son-and he saic he would like to please her--and did think 47 was too old-and wher I said no, it was just the prime oi life, he said he was very glad thought so-because he valued my opinion very much. He said tha, twice - and then he asked me = whether I had any views about cousins marrying = and said didn't think it mattered so long as they weren't very near"
 "nARLING! That was practically D a proposal."
 Patsy gave a final sob.
 T-thought--it was-because he got up and looked out of the window and then he said, Your great grandfather was second cousin once removed to my grandfather And then he said he must be going-and then-just at the end-he pressed my hand-and said, You will heal from me fin confirmation of this in terview."
 Caroline sprang up hastily. If she laughed, Patsy would never forgive her. She went quickly towards the stair, saying,
 "I'll just take my things of and come down again."
 You do think he meant some thingT