The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-02-18

specializing as to whether Ilarion's
people. the Lynleys, would really catch
young villers Tor their girls villers'
mother and Mrs. Lynley Had Necn IKE
sisters. When Madame Villers died it
was to her friend she confided ner son.
He was five years younger than
Marion-but what was that-with a
round half million dollars to bridge
the gulf?
Thus went on the two ladies. Red
mond had heard them outwardly calm,
inwardly raging. The upshot of 1t was
his demand that Marion should either
marry him out of hand, ~or at once
forever forswear Villers' company. He
saw now he had been hasty-mighty
undiplomatic. He ought. instead, to
have pressed for immediate marriage.
and, failing that, to have insisted that
i all the world should know they were
betrothed. All along he had chafed
against the secrecy upon which Mari
on's mother had insisted. The insist
ence was, indeed, the original root of
his jealousy. The Lynleys were not
rich, for all the Doctors practice was
so big. His heart was of equal size;
therefore he made small account of
money. His wife was another sort.
Naturally, she was ambitious to see
her only child welt established in life.
"Stop! You-you are playing on my
heart strings" Redmond said, at last,
half turning away his head.
Marion laid down her bow, with a
little, shivering sigh. Il thought I
was playing on-my own" she said,
very low. Saying good-by to-so
many things"
with me, Marion! Darling, only
come! Let me take care of you!" Red
mond entreated, trying to draw Msc
into his arms. She eluded him, and
said, with her eyes on the fire: s'No!
l must try making my own way.> Next
week shall be 21-then shall take
the little legacy that comes to me for
my names sake and spend it in finding
out if I may have career. People
have said there was a fortune In my
inger-tips. don't care for money SO
much-but work, real work, will be a
godsend."
"Why?" Redmond asked, his lips
whitening.
:. Marion looked. at him an instant,
then let her eyes fall again to the leap
ing fire, saying: Because do not
want to be unhappy-and one must be
unhappy, remembering happier things.
You love mel know that-but you do
Inot trust me-youra jealousy would al
ways be thorn in my heart, if 1 mar
ried you. AS said, it is best the part
ing comes now. But think what 1t
would mean to stay here-and remem-
ber-with my mother always fretting
to have me take the Villers fortune!"
''Marion! Marion! Forgive me! Let
me take back, everything!" Redmond
Ientreated, making to lay hold on her
hand She drew away from him, heed
less in her stress Of emotion that the
fierce fire draught caught her skirt
and drew it into the heart OF the
flames. Instantly they leaped. at It,
seized on it and ran up about her
throat. Redmond caught her, held hez
Tight. and beat out with bare hands
their perilous red legions. Thus he
saved Marion's face from all scathe-
thus. too. he saved her from inhaline
flame. But her right hand, instructive
~ clutched amid the fiercest of it all
was piteously SCARED; SO was the
right arm higher than the chow.
Elsewhere the burns were mere red
scorches. But DIR. Lynley got white
! and his hands shook badly as he put
| on salves and bandages. and thought
of what might have been.
Redmond would not go away. All
night he sat in his hotel chamber, lis
tening to every sound, starting up a
dozen times an hour at fancied
sound of hurrying feet. Marion's dan
ger had cleared his spiritual vision as
nothing else could have done. He knew
he loved her supremely-that hence
forth he must go mourning if, by his
mistrust, he had truly lost her. He did
! not heed the sharp cold. the peltine
| snow outside, nor the drifts through
which he struggled at daybreak to.
ward the Lynley house. Early as II
was DR.. Lynley greeted him, smiling
TREMENDOUSLY, and holding both hands
| in warm clasp, unable to say word
1t was after breakfast that they lei
him see INSTRUMENTATION, almost her.
self save for a bandaged arm. Shs
gave him her left hand, saying, with 8
wan smile: tYou saved my life, John;
but you, could not save the best of me
Daddy says the chances are shall
have stiff fingers-and that means
shall never play again"
"Never mind; you will be always
making music-in my home ant
heart" Redmond said, kneeling beside
the couch to take her, whether or no
to his breast This time Marion die
not draw away. Instead, she nestled
to him, her face an April countenanc'
of smiles and tears.