The Argosy, March 1907 — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

$55. ong | as I am abi. to prevent it Gar- ~ See __. diner Davis shall never enter it again.” — ~-—S“ And I suppose,” she retorted, with _ satiric emphasis, ‘‘ George Burns will be A in SP ne RE : eee welcome to come as often as he may see a aes “ “ Certainly. George is the son of my ~~ oldest and most valued business asso- ciate, and in addition possesses my re- gard on his own account. He will be aves admitted here whenever he chooses to - call, and I shall expect every member of this household—every one, mind you,” --~—s-with «stern significance—“ to treat him with due consideration.” = “And yet,” she sneered, “ you bar Gardiner Davis, and call him no fit asso- ciate for your daughter. Why, father, - you know that George Burns is a noto- rious idler and spendthrift,” if not worse.” ‘“T know nothing of the kind, and I - am surprised at your repeating such _ glanders. No rich young man can be free from calumny, but I thought you had certainly too much sense to put any stock in baseless reports of that sort. ees ‘J will admit,” more placatingly, ae ‘that he was very wrong to make the unjustifiable assertion concerning you that he did last night, but, as I have 2 explained, he did this in a moment of oe passion, and when he was scarcely responsible for his words. “Such being the case, and on account Sor of the peculiarly intimate relations which wees have always existed between the two : families, 1 wish, for my sake, if for no other reason, Phoebe, that you could find - it in your heart to pardon his transgres- — sion and receive him once more upon a i friendly basis. As he himself said to me, he has learned his lesson, and it is very unlikely that he will offend again.” Mr. Stonefield continued in _ this an extremely kind and indulgent father, Pheebe, much as she objected to George Burns, and deeply as she felt herself _* affronted, could not bring herself to re- fuse his request. ~~“ And just one thing more,” went on the old man, pressing his advantage, promise me that you will have nothing further to do with Gardiner Davis. In spite of — I said just now, he is no Eee “eae very—er—estimable young pacific strain, and as he had always been ‘tion to me, a certain talisman to guard man ”__Stonefield hal to ee a prety Be wry face before he could get this out— '“ and all that sort of thing, but in view oe of the boasts he has been making, any attentions from him now could not well = be otherwise than compromising.” ae “Boasts?” interposed Phoebe sharply. = “What boasts?” i ‘Ah; did I not tell you? Why,” with a a flash of the eye, “the cheeky upstart © © had his head so turned by your reception =—— that he actually announced to Burns his =e intention of some day marrying you. And = he has no doubt been getting off the ark same kind of fairy tale to others. Give = a chap like that an inch, you know, and + — he will always take an ell. —— ‘So, you can see for yourself, my dear, how very indiscreet it would be to Cie encourage him in any way; and it is for —— this reason that I ask your promise not . to see him any more.” sa Phoebe did not answer at once. Her face was flushed and her eyes shining over the intelligence given her; and the father, noting these signs, congratulated himself that he had turned her indigna- tion from Burns toward this more pre- sumptuous culprit. When she did speak, however, her tone was enigmatic, and her face curiously void of expression. ‘I hardly think it will be necessary to exact that promise, father,” she said quietly, “as it is extremely unlikely we shall be troubled by any visits from Mr. Davis in the future. I received a note from him this morning in which he told me that he had accepted a position as chief engineer of the Spring Creek Rail-. way and was leaving immediately for his post of duty.” =e ‘She did not mention it, but in the note eS to which she referred, and which was at . that moment tucked safely away in her bosom, Davis vouchsafed the further information : ‘I will not disguise from you that it is more of a fight than an opportunity that I am taking on. The chances are about a thousand to one against me; but ° if I do win a victory, it will be a big one. And since I fight under your colors, my lady, how can I despair of success? That knot of ribbon shall be an inspira- me from detest) 4 Eee, tA «