Amador ledger., 1904-04-08

remember them. Mamma was safe to
send the trunks after me- But if he
did see them he'd most likely make
bonfire of them, and that would be too
bad for anything"
Quite too bad. You make me feel
utterly conscience stricken. 1 didn't
dream his heart was so set on this
plan," Trevor said. After a minute
he burst out hotly: But he has only
himself to blame. He wouldn't let us
meet. This used to be my home, and
he has kept me in exile all the seven
years since he married your mother.
He has brought he up to regard my
self as his son and heir, and now un-
less I marry whom he chooses am to
lose everything"
you seem to think it would have
been a case of L came, saw, conquer
ed,'" Marina said, her eyes dancing.
Trevor turned suddenly upon her. "If
you could put up with a Billy Martin
for the sake of your own way, l don't
think you would be quite flint to me-"
he said, almost angrily. He truly low
ed his uncle. He was, moreover, proud
of his name and the consequence at
taching to the big Trevor fortune. 1t
hurt to have this adorable Marina f1out
him when he was thus at grips with
hard fate. She was adorable; so
adorable, in spite of fealty to the 9TH
er girl, it gave a sharper edge to his
perception of loss.
Indeed, you are right. I might
have chosen you if it had been made
a matter Of choice" Marina said pen
sively, her head a little aside They
were nearing the open hall door,
through which there shot suddenly a
broad stream of white light 1t fell
full upon them, throwing them up
strongly against the background of
leafy darkness. Somebody upon the
piazza shouted with joy at sight of
them. Under cover of the shouting
Marina said, by this time plaintive, "If
only 1t was not for that other girl. but
1 always play fair"
$50 you've outwitted me, you young
villain" John Trevor, ST., said, wiring
ing his nephew's hand. 81 never meant
until l was ready to give her to you
for good and all. You know your way
about. Trot along. You'll find your
room exactly as you left it when you
went away a boy"
LET me be still a boy for this one
night, Uncle jack Trevor pleaded.
keeping hold of a tremendous elderly
hand. Papa Trevor wagged his head.
saying: AYE, aye, lad! But remem-
Der you must wake up, ready to play
a mans part"
Trevor slept badly and woke late
to find the world full of sunshine and
singing birds, to hear his uncle shout
ing impatiently at the men moving
the lawn and across the blurred noises.
high and clear, the silver tinkle of
Marna's laughter. He went down.
stairs like one in a dream. There was
q hideous black cloud over all the
on the steps messenger on a bicycle
halted there and handed him a vel
low envelope, saying apologetically:
"Shure, sor-r, we thried to git We this
bit the night, but the divil was in she
wather; besides, the bye that writ il
out sid the news would kape"
Mechanically Trevor opened it and
read:
I sail today. Marry Paul in London He
did not deceive me. His fortune does not
depend on anybody's whim. No longer
yours, MARY
Just then Marina danced up to him
her hands full of dewy roses He
caught both her wrists and said hus-
kily: "Marna, you mistook me for Billy
Martin. Can't you do it again long
enough to marry meT"
For a minute Marina did not answer
She looked down, her breast heaving
her cheeks rivaling the richest among
her roses, and said at last, shyly lift
ing her eyes: You are not quite ac-
curate, Cousin John. The fact is, Bill
ly was my mistake"
OF course they were married, as Pa
pa Trevor had ordained. They lived
happy ever after, but they did not go
abroad until they themselves chose.