The Marble times and Crystal silver lance., 1901-06-28

took Theo's breath away. What if
he had only been waiting for this good
luck to say to her the words she had
hoped so long to hear him speak some
day! Dot heard the news rapturously.
Rod" she cried, we've got to cele-
brate."
Surely" laughed Merrill. He and
Dot were great chums. I'm going to
take you all to the theater tonight.
The last act is a bore, SO We'll cut it
out and drop into Lucys for supper
and whirl on our way home. My
sister gives a little dance, you know.
You got cards. Won't you Gomez"
"Of course we will" replied Dot.
Catch us refusing!"
,'And-NIiss Marsh?"
"she never goes anywhere" Theo-
dosia interposed quickly
"She isn't asked to many places"
put in Dot. "Shes young enough and
pretty enough to like good time.
Why, she's three years younger than
you, Theo. Wait a minute, Rod! I'll
go ask her."
Before Theo could interfere, Dot
all elbows and angles as sixteen is apt
to be-7was flying up the stairs. She
came back rueful and depressed. -,-.
Jasmine won't go. She says to
thank you ever SO much for thinking
of her-but she won't go"
81 am very sorry" said Merrill in a
low voice. He looked hurt and dis
appointed. In short time he took his
leave. When he drove up that even
ing he noticed a black-clad form leav-
ing the Brinker residence. Something
familiar about it drew his attention.
Wasn't that Jasmine Marsh?" he
asked himself as she vanished in the
shadows of the winter night. He put
the same question to. Dot when she
met him in the hall. She lifted a
flushed little face that showed traces
of tears. ..t...
Yes. Theo got mamma to pay her
month extra and. send her away at
once. l don't know what's got into
f'Theo. Because Jasmin. has to sup
port her brother who is at school out
of her earnings, Theo seems to think
Jasmine must need money badly
enough to steal!"
whats that, Dot?" Rod cried,
sharply. "Did you say-steal?"
Dot nodded. "Theo thinks Jasmine
took the stone out of her ring. l don't
care how hard up Jasmine Marsh was
she wouldn't do thing like that"
mo, she wouldn't Dot" There was
ring of emotion in his voice. "She
wouldn't for kingdom."
Dot flashed upstairs and into Theo-
dosia's room.
Hurry up!'' sne cried. Rod is wait
ing Are you going to screw your feet
into those slippers? You'll never do it
in month of Sundays! They're two
sizes too small for you-do make
| haste!"
A final frantic struggle with her new
kid slippers, grab for her flowers-a
clutch at her opera bag, and Theo was
on the landing-was walking down. the
stairs as unconcernedly as she could.
She fancied Rods manner was stiff and
cool. Her physical torture, however,
blighted all mental impressions. The
tight slippers were agonizing-one es-
pecially She whispered to Dot that
she was afraid she could not dance in
them. There's something in one, >
she began. -
Dot cut her short with scant sympa-
thy. There is. It's your foot-and its
twice the size it ought to be to fit in
a number three slipper" she declared
Why don't you kick it OFF,"
Theo took her advice,s She. wriggled
her foot out of the kid covering. When
they were about to leave she thrust
her foot around in fumbling and in
effectual search for it. Merrill and his
friend noticed her embarrassment.
''What is the matter?" he asked
courteously. Have you lost any
thing?" .,A.
Its her slipper" explained Dot the
terrible. ''It was too tight. She took
1t off to rest her foot I'll get 1t fol
you, Theo."
ALLOW me-" said Merrill. He went
] down on one knee. found the cause
a