The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-22
trrsm the Chicago LOGGER,
Marion DGlOlnG;;
THE WORTH OF WIT.
By j. W. WATSON.
kuthor Of Hold Fast and Ketcham," Bank.
ers and Brokers'" Etc, Etc.
CHAPTER X-Continued


Soon afterward Mrs. Dufrom said, Il
wonder if you young folks can't get
along without an old woman like me-"
Mr.. Dufrom was thirty two, but very fond
of calling herself an old woman, though il
anybody else had done SO, scalping would
have resulted. You know, Miss Delorme,
I've got a new cook, and l would like to
spend an hour with her, tonight, posting
her in our ways about to-morrow's break
fast"
The cook was an invention of the willy
Dufrom, but it served, and Fitz and Marion
were left alone. Then she jumped up
from the piano and seated herself on the
sofa, where Fitz managed to get himself
beside her. the sofa not being so low or so
springy as the French chair. When he had
done so he felt that he must say something,
no matter how speechless he might feel,
and so he said
"Aw, Miss Delorme, you're amazingly
chawming."
"Oh. you only think so. Mr.. Smith,
said Marion, with an assumed gravity.
You'll change your mind in a few
months"
"Nevaw, aw, nevaw, Miss Delorme. III
always wemain, aw, faithful, don't you see.
Aw, Gull me Fitz, won't you, Miss Delorme,
simply Fitz?" but warned by shake of
Marion's head that perhaps he was get
ting on too fast, he qualified it with Jaw,
when we're alone anyhow, Miss Delorme. !"
WELL it would be a poor rule that
wouldn't work both ways. If call you
Fitz, you must call me Marion.
"Aw, gladly, Mawion. Sweet name. Ma
wion."
mo, no, not Mawion, but Marion"
By Tremendous effort Fitz managed to
get his tongue around Marion, and Marion
called him Fitz, and then Fitz took Marion's
hand and said, Beautiful" but whether
he intended it for the hand or the diamond
ring on his own would have been a matter
of doubt to an ordinary spectator. How
ever, Marion did not give him time to
think much about it. but gently withdrew
her hand, and began to taunt him on his
firtations and amours, Fitz declaring that
he had never. no, never, been in love in
his life, or made love to any girl in the
world, presumably forgetting all sbout
poor Lavinia Cobbs.
"Aw, you see, Marion, I might mawwy
wich. My nav has picked thwee or fo-ah
gyurls for me to mawwy, but don't see it,
my dear"
Marion started, looked at Fitz as he ut
dude stammered
"Aw, beg your pardon, Marion. Aw,
it was q slip of the tongue. ron knnw
but l felt it. you sec, Marion"
Don't feel it any more, Fitz, said Ma
rion, wi h for9iving smile. "Now. l
want you to tell, Fitz, how you came to
follow me that day in the street."
"Aw," said Fitz, embarrassed, for he had
fondly hoped that Marion had not recog-
nized him as her follower. well. Ma
rion" (every time that Fitz called Marions
name he struggled with itl, it was all your
fault. You, aw, were SO beautiful, and
you looked at me, you see.
This was a little too much for Marion,
and she could not help bursting out into
peal of laughter. which, for moment.
disconnected Fitz, but he instantly recov-
cred himself and laughed as heartily as
she did, thereby setting himself greatly
forward in her estimation. After this, an
hour passed away very quickly and very
pleasantly. Marion was a skillful surgeon
in human nature, and she probed Fitz
carefully, and felt that she was not disap-
| pointed. The next day she said to STAN
| lev:
"Percy, want you to try and treat little
| Fitz with charity or more than charity. l
am SaCSueu tnaC his luultS are uOt VI uls
own making. His father and mother laid
the foundation. and society, as it is termed,
| has done the rest He's not utterly lost,
and he's devoted to me so truly that can't
help feeling fattered. am disposed to
love the little innocent, and want you to
make friends with him, anyhow"
Marion, there's no following your hu-
mors. ! haven't seen enough of the fellow
to know what he is. but what have seen is
certainly not in his favor, though Clarry
says he's real NICE I'll try what l can do
with him."