The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-12-12


fight that you ever got into?"
81 guess so. Why?"
because, to do what I have to do,
I've got to be brutally frank. Tell
me, Ned, are you in love with Mar
gery?"
The abrupt question was something
of a clear-sky thunder clap to Ray
mer, but he met frankness with
frankness.
Il am, Kenneth; and II guess I
have been for good while"
$50 far, so good. Now, how much
do you love her?"
Raymer's smile faded to a grimace
"Oh, come off, old man; you
mustn't toast me on gridiron that
way" he protested.
"Yet l must know" Griswold per-
sisted. eff you can't stand the test,
I'm done before I Begin
"All right; get out your cruciblcs
and melt me down."
Good again. Is it Margery her
self, or Jasper Grierson's daughter
that you are in love with?"
'1f l thought you were really in
doubt about that, I'd beat you,' said
Raymer.
Il wasn't, but 1 wanted to clear
the way. That disposes of Jasper
Grierson's million or so, and brings
us down to Margery, the young wom-
an. Now, then, supposing some one
should come along and tell you that
this charming young woman has
nothing behind her in the way OF
lineage; nothing on the fathers side,
as everybody knows, and less than
nothing on the mothers, as every.
body has suspected. Suppose, in ad-
dition to this, that Margery herself
confesses that she is lacking in all
the things that Edward Raymer may
demand of his wife, even to we'll.
equipped conscience. Would that
make any difference
Raymer was on his feet now
tramping up and down like a baited
bull. 1t showed his athletic figure
off to the best advantage; and there
was something fercely heroic in the
way he wheeled and flung up his
head at the question.
damn it, man! 1 tell you I love
her-love her for what she is to me
What in Gods name are you driving
at, anyway"
Griswold ignored the demand
"That is all 1 wanted to know. Now
for little friendly hint. She has
broken with her father, and needs a
good, stout man to lean on. It's
half-past seven, and 1 should think
you might reach Mereside by eight
if you hurry"
Now Edward Raymer was man
self-contained and deliberate on all
ordinary occasions, but at this he
broke with his traditions. In mo-
ment he had snatched his hat and
was gone, leaving Griswold to close
the office and to follow at his leisure
The town clock in the courthouse
tower-a gift from Jasper Griersor
was striking eight when Griswold
turned into the lake drive and lei
himself in at the Farnham gate
There We're two figures on the veran
da, but only two. Little Miss Gil
man was always shy of the night
air. 1t was Charlotte who came tc
the steps to welcome him; but the
doctor added his word from the
depths of the great wicker lounging
chair
Come in and be at home" he said
81 hope you had the good sense to
take care of yourself after your wet
ting"
81 took whisky bath-external-
if that's what you mean," laughed
the young man, who knew the doe
tors crotchets.
"That is what l mean. Get pips
or cigar. You know where they
are"
| But Griswold said he did not care
to smoke, and went to sit beside
Charlotte's hammock. For time
the talk drifted aimlessly, as summer
evening chat will, with three to car
ry it, when boy came up the wall
with call for the doctor, and the
elder man rose to obey it.
"You may thank your lucky stars
that you didn't study medicine, my
boy" he said to Griswold, by way
of leave-taking; and so he went away
and left them.
Are you glad that you didn'r
study medicine?" said Charlotte
when the stiffness of the night hat
swallowed up the sounds of her ia
theirs departure.
81 don't know. 1 think I am gla6
for everything that has happened to
me-
THAT is an odd thing to say"
'Why is it odd?"
Because some of the happening.
must have been disagreeable, a
least
"None the less 1 am thankful TO,
everyone of them"
"Why?" she asked in turn
| because each one has been a vince