Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-01-25
Marian's Silver Plate.

~ JOo sAaiAA eioo Ploto 10 odlC
here?"
II am not concerned about it"
"Well, I would be if l were in your
place.
1.-THE people about here may be
trusted"
How about tramps?'
"Oh, nobody hothers about them.
How is tramp to know there is any
thing valuable here?'
"They' do have ways of finding ont
they tell each other. I suppose"
II never give myself any concern
either about the plate or money"
"Yes. I know you are careless and
pluckE But that m axes no difference
If were you would put that plate
where it wouldn't tempt any one to
sut my throat"
"I dare say. You are thoughtful. :
"You might as well say I'm cow
ardly, too"
"No, know you are not.'
"You take my adviee?"
"Fll think about it, Tom
lie looked at her curiously, cut a fly
on the porch with his whip and made
an attempt-a very sorry attempt-at
whistle. She looked at him with an
amused smile.
q am a very contrary girl, amt ?"
"You are. But you are your own
mistress"
"And mean always to be-" still
smiling, still looking covertly at him.
she was teasing him He knew that
much. But he did not know what
many another man would have thought
of in his llace, and that wa. that no
woman will be Mt the trouble to tease
a man unless she is interested in him.
"That settles it." thought Tom Tel
ford
He half turned toward her, and said
in a very low voice, "Good-morning.
Marian then looked at her suddenly,
searchingly, wheeled and walked off,
saying, I'm off-mind my warning"
He did not stop until he reached
the road. quarter of a mile below the
house. There lie leaned his hand on
the edge of his buggy and reflected.
That was the end Of it, then. She
always meant to be her own master.
She need not have said that to him.
He had never courted her favor
When every man in the country was
breaking his neck to get in her favor.
he had kept away. because he thought
he had no chance. Because he wasn't
the style of man he thought she would
like. Because she never, gave him any
encouragement. Because she had ten
dollars to his one. causc-psEaw
1t was all over. lie really intended
that morning to try and see if she
would show the least bit Of interest in
him. He was going to tell her about
his conclusions to 60 West, when that
silver plate in the servants hands re-
minded him Of the number Of times he
had thought Of her alone in that big
house with all that wealth. Sore-
times her man servant was away all
Saturday and Sunday night, leaving
her with the hired girl. lie conldn't
help speaking as he did. 1t was
tempting Providence, he thought.
So he left her without telling her
what every man and woman and child
in Alton knew, namely, that Tom Tel
ford was gcing West next morning tc
try his fortune. lie stepped into his
buggy. made the kissing sound man
makes who loves his horse, and bowled
down the road never locking back
From thenceforth his face must never
turn to Marian Moore's house.
He did not notice that he was fol.
lowed by huge dog, dog 80 high, SC
long, 50 big in bone, in limb and jaw
that no man could see it in town OF
country without turning to look al
him and admiring him. The dog
frotted after him as fast as his horse
nkrotted.
- be turned from her, bidding
;'''|''| &c - .