Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-04-19
DOTS AND
SPACES
BY SHERWOOD BOYD

There, by the baggage truck, stood
his father, soldierly, gray haired and
eager to welcome his son. Back in the
crowd were a dozen familiar faces, but
the one he most anxiously sought was
not to be seen.
where's Margie?' he asked when
all greetings had been exchanged and
at last he was free to fall into step
with his father and go up the familiar
street. He tried to speak carelessly,
but his father caught the note Of anx-
iety in his tones and sighed.
Il think she did not know you were
coming" he said gently. "She doesn't
come over to the house as she used to.
Perhaps the attraction was removed"
he added, with poor little attempt at
joke. But it was jest of the voice,
not the heart, and he wondered how he
might break to this big boy, of whom
he was so proud, the fact that his lit
tie playmate had not only kept away
from them, but that 1t was common re-
port that she was engaged to George
Colson.
II should think" said Truesdeil,
that she might have at least answered
my letters. I telegraphed my address
just before we sailed, and 1 wrote by
almost every steamer"
Marjorie has been away, Dick"
said his father. Perhaps she did not
get your letters
Nonsense. She must have had some
of them," declared Dick. "There she Is
now" And before the father could lay
OBTAINING hand upon his arm Dick
Truesdell had dropped his bag and
dashed across the narrow street.
He paused dumbly as the girl passed
with most chilling nod and then, with
slow step, retraced his way. The elder
man put out his hand, and Dick grasp
ed ii and wrung 1t with a grip that
meant more than words. 1t was the
way they had come away from his
mothers grave, hand in hand, only now
1t was the old man who led his son, not
the son consoling the father.
Dick picked up his valise, and the
two went up the street. They had al
most reached the old home before the
father spoke.
II wanted to walt until we got home,
Dick" he said, with u touch Of visit
fulness In his tones. ~ thought Mar
Jorle was still away and that 1 could
tell you better in the house. Marjorie
Is going about great deal with George
Colson. She never comes near me now.
] have tried to find out what the trou-
BILE is, but she only says that should
know as well as She"
"1t will come out all right" said the
boy, with a brave effort at cheerful
ness. "At any rate, we shan't let 1t
spoil the homecoming, shall we?" He
linked his arm affeetlonately through
his fathers, and they turned In at the
familiar gateway and went up the
gravel walk to the house.
That night as Dick stood before the
mirror in his own little room the motto
his mother had put over the glass when
he had come home from college caught
his eye. 1t was simply, Look before
you leap" one Of those printed texts
for framing, but now it seemed almost
like a messaYG ffoni sfil- IL Z: dead, and he
put out the light and jumped into bed
with braver heart.
"I shan't leap to the conclusion that
I've lost Margie until I've looked into
the thing" he said to himself, and the
thought brought sleep to eyes that
might not have closed save for that
promise,
But 1t was easier to declare than to
execute, and II was almost week be-
fore Dick saw Marjorie. Letters had
been returned unanswered, and on the
few occasions he had seen her on the
street she had been with friends. At
last one afternoon as he was coming
down the street she fairly ran into
him in the growing dusk.
She began to murmur an apology be-
fore she saw who it was, and by that
time Dick had her arm.
Il want to know just what the trou.
BILE is," he said eommandlngly. "If you
don't love me I'll not bother you again,
but If it's something that can be ex-
planned let's have 1t over with. Per-
haps there is an excuse"
"Your affront was inexeusahle,' she
said coldly II desire no explanation"
~ insist upon one" he said quietly,
but with new note of mastery in his
voice She recognized the tone and
shivered little.
"Of course" she said, Il can't run
lway from you IL you insist upon hold
Ing on to me this way, but
%
Of that" he said softly. 81 am not go
ing to let yos run away from me now
or ever. There Is some mistake some
where, and I'll have the truth"
"There could be no mistake" she
said. "The matter was entirely too
clear to admit OF explanation. l don't
see why you should be so anxious ia
be friends with me when you have
Marie"
YOU" he disclaimed 81 want to be
your husband, and / don't remember
any Marie that figures In this story"
Doubtless you forget your travelling
companion" she retorted
"You mean Marie Gorman,n nc
laughed x wonder who told you
about that Besides, she was Ben
netts friend. His sister used to 90 tQ
school with her or something"
VERY Ingenious" Eneerod Marjorie,
"hut / fail 10 see that that explains
anything. The fact that she was an
acquaintance Of Mr.. Bennett does not
excuse your going all over Europe
with her"
Now you are wrong" he said even
ly 'We didn't go all over Europe tG-
gether. We did SwIIzerland and tho
Rhine; tnen they went to the south for
She winter, and we went on to Den
mark"
who are they and 'weT" she de-
manded. 1T is little puzzllng to
keep track Of your conversation"
I'VE Bennett and myself; they
the Gornaps aud tno Crofts. We ran
in,o them In London"
81 am no child to be told tales" she
said bitterly 81 did hope that there
might be some explanation i could ac-
cept, but you have made 1t impossible
After that telegram ~ which you de-
Clare that you are going abroad with
Miss German your explanation that
you met them In London IL an affront
to my intelligence"
''I elfotrt1 lilo IN geo that feIaurar -