Show r A ACX by margaret welters walters copyright by W G chapman Cli apman the alert individual looked from the two men just ahead of him to the small plain woman walking down the village street yes hor her agnes alderson the village squire was saying all right said the city lawyer ill bo be back in about a month there are somo some little details to be looked up it will bo be time enough to tell her then then they th OY separated sean rated and the alert individual mentally shook hands with himself ive lit on my feet this time ho he said that forlorn little person Is an heiress and she Is not to know it tor for a month that means that I 1 have a month to work in it I 1 cant make good in that time I 1 dont deserve it IL lot let me see I 1 reckon church would be the best place to begin an acquaintance in case tomorrows to morrows sunday good I 1 at the sunday morning service agnes alderson looked up to see a good looking stranger entering the pow pew where she sat alone for the neighborly sharing of her hymn book he thanked her with a look that set her heart beating faster lie ile walked out of the church with her and well you cant refuse to answer when a stranger in your house of worship asks questions so he walked down the street with agnes and when he said good b by alth hat in hand at her gate she he turned to enter the cottage with pink pinic cheeks and bright eyes she such a very old maid they have called her so at all tn the city dut but in the old v village it life had passed her by her set was married and settled down and she was one of the lefto leftovers vers it was years yeara since a man had looked at her as it if she could by any possibility be r v j 1 vii his horse took fright interesting atter after her solitary dinner she did her hair mare more carefully loosening it her face and then she tried the effect of a bit of white lace on the collar of her dark dress but she would not have owned to the daring hope that she might see him again but he came that afternoon in the face of all wondering westport ile he sat in agnes little parlor and othello like told her of strange lands and adventures youve been everywhere she said eald breathlessly how flow wonderful it must be to have really lived like that its lonesome fun traveling alone he said looking straight at her ill never start out again without company sho was angry at the hot flush that came over her taco face she assured herself that she was not so silly as to think a man like ilko thal tha could mean her when he arose to so lo it was so late in the afternoon that with halt startled hospitality she ahe begged him to stay for tea re he agreed promptly a and nd with the ladle ease of a man at home any anywhere here he came into the kitchen to liar bar A fellow can sort of theat heat himself into thinking hes bos got a home sometimes ho he told her yes les it t avs absurdly easy as hale 0 told old himself there was nothing to do but plan out the campaign and talie take the successive steps the proposal came the second week and the marriage lago was set for the week after hat hal she had protested feebly at uch unheard of haste but lie ho swept 11 II resistance Lance MAY away when he said ivo ive been waiting for you all my life and now that ive found you I 1 dont mean to wait aay any longer she took a day to think it over and then as he had foreseen she told him yes yea 1 I thought WO we ought to have halve waited she said fo folding liling her hands nervously because you ought to have a chanco chance to think it over im not like the kind of people you must know youre the kind I 1 want he interrupted and tor for the first time his courtship speech rang true he lifted her face to kiss her and with almost a shock of surprise ho he noticed how beautiful her bar eyes were ile he left her as soon as he could but down the quiet street he was pursued by a specter that ho he had never expected to see again she thinks ashes not good enough for fda me for mel me and ho he laughed grimly and im after her and im planning to get as much of the money and see as little of her as I 1 can 01 then he be took up the defense see here im going to give her a square deal she can tack a mrs honestly to her name and it if that aint a comfort in a village full of gossiping old eld cats id like to know and ill be good to her and sometimes ill take her along to see the world ashes a lot prettier than I 1 thought at first and it wont be halt bad to be tied up to a nice little woman like that and know ashes always here waiting for me when I 1 want to come back ill make her a lot happier than she Is and ill ill be a better husband than most of the specimens I 1 know so he argued it with his awakened conscience that had come to trouble ulm him at such an inopportune time but tin an awakened conscience Is something to be reek reckoned with A week before the wedding day hale turned his face from the little village the wedding was a profound secret so he be was not leaving agnes in an embarrassing pr predicament edlea ile he had written the letter he be meant to send her it was a confession and a promise when he be had bad made good ho he would come back and claim her like a man midway between westport and the next town to which he was driving his young horse took fright and wrecked the buggy against a tree then it turned about and dashed for home leaving hale too badly injured to rise from the roadside when he awoke to consciousness again he was in an a small white bedroom and agnes face pitiful and anxious was leaning over him mr air dalton found you and very properly brought br 0 aught you here she aha said in answer to his questions now you must be quiet and rest resl later in the day when he was waa free from pain and able to talk she came to him with luminous eyes ive sent for the minister fred and hell be here soon to marry us ua oh no cried the man A shamed flush covered her face 1 I wanted to keep you here and take care of you and you know how people will talk I 1 thought you would oot not mind just a few days sooner its not that sweetheart its fast that I 1 know im not fit for you we ought to wait until I 1 can do better in a business way I 1 want you bad enough but youre giving everything and I 1 worse than nothing there are some things I 1 ought to tell fell you she interrupted him decisively no I 1 dont believe I 1 want to know about things before I 1 knew you of course our ways aro are different but I 1 know be good to me and enough then he said tell that blessed parson to hurry up it take me and trust ma me ill make good I 1 swear it my girl so they were married and after the minister had left them she whispered the secret that she had known tor for two weeks that of the legacy left her by her uncle now well be happy together she ehe said yes he said and it was waa a vow we will |