Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-11-05

gone away silent. So she kept we'll To
herself for the most part. although
she read to Miss Marcia and dutifully
drove with her all the fine afternoons.
to say nothing of playing the three
games of chess required To put the
elder lady in proper state for sleep.
She also. as in duty bound. exclaimed
over the Helstone diamonds when
Miss Marcia exhibited them. But it
took her abacl to have Miss Marcia
say abruptly after month of all this:
If John marries to please me. his
wife will lie fortunate. II he does not,
everything goes To charity. If II should
go. wonder would you be sorry for
him."
1T would depend" I.oris said, flush
ing family. VERY sorry-unless he got
something he cared more about"
"II-m. l fancy you think he cares
more for-you." Miss Marcia said
pointedly. He thinks so too. That is
why you are here. brought you to let
you see that you don't fit in. You
would only make him miserable
more miserable than you would make
me. | hope you are sensible enough to
see what is best. | will give you So.
600 the day you marry-some other
man than my nephew dickson,
say I'm sure he Is wild about you.
Marry him before John comes home"
Thank you for nothing. | don't
want either your money or your neph-
ew." Loris said haughtily. her face
scarlet. She turned to go. with ges-
ture of farewell
Miss Marcia stopped her by saying
fretfully: You must not think of leav-
ing. See how il storms outside. The
worst March sleet l ever saw. And If
you really don't want John there is no
reason why we should not be good
friends. Stay with me. will make it
worth your while
You cannot" Loris said, running up
TO her own room. there to rage and
chafe until she went punctiliously
down to dinner There was no getting
home until the weather changed. The
walks were CLAIR ice. the paths drifted.
She was Il prisoner until morning ut
least. AS II prisoner II behooved her to
show herself brave Therefore instead
of sulking through dinner she was
gaycr than she had ever been and after
1t sang of her own notion the old. old
ballads Miss Marcia loved. The BRAY
cry appealed To Miss Marcia wonder
fully
But after her clear Good night" 10
ris did not sleep. Instead she lay with
her head locked In her hands, CULVER
ing In every fiber
Had she liberty to come between
John HelStone and this fine inherit
ance: She knew the old story-the
feud begun in troth plight and troth
breaking. She loved John oh. how
dearly but could she really make up
to him for what he would lose! Miss
Marcia's case. too. appealed To her
strangely; she was old and lonely.
Then under this soft mood there crcpt
fiery one John was her lover-hers
Miss Marcia had shamed and insult
ed her 1t would be darling venge-
ance To smile at her and say: Let the
money go to charity. Aunt Marcia.
We can take care of ourselves"
Loris began suddenly to stifle. She
sprang up and darted to window, but
could not open it. Gasping. she flew
to the door. opened IL and saw flame
and smoke below. All the big hall was
like furnace. with the servants asleep
in the south wing and Miss Marcia
snoring and unconscious across the cor
ridor
In minute Loris had her door open
and shut and was dragging her from
bed toward the east window. 1t gave
on n piazza roof. whence escape might
be possible. Lorls saw instantly it was
easily possible to her 1.-THE strength.
yet Miss Marcia moaned and prayed
and hid her eyes. Like lightning Loris
thought of what the elder woman
meant 10 her own future. If she We're
out Of the way? With sudden hatred
OF self and superhuman strength she
clutched and tugged and strained and
ut last got Miss Marcia on the roof
Then Loris dropped down and called 10
men running wildly about: ~ ladder.
4 ladder! Save Miss IIelstone.' And
then she sat down. suddenly faint.
while strong and willing arms COM
pleted the work of rescue.
Miss Marcia never did things half
way. AS soon as she could sit up sac
caught Loris' hand. saying through
tears: Forgive me. oh. do forgive
me. had insulted you, but you didn't
leave me To burn alive. YOu-you are
the wife of john
Il have thought SO all the time.
I.oris said. hiding her happy face i'll
Miss Marcia's breast.
An nforfunnfe Chnfce