The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-03-14
DOTS AND
SPACES
BY SHERWOOD BOYD

: Copyright, 1893, by {. ii, Satellite \
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TraeSden looked eagerly from the
platform of the sleeper as the long
train pulled into the station
There. by the baggage truck. stood
bis father. soldierly. gray haired and
wager TO welcome his son. Back In the
crowd were dozen familiar faces. but
the one lie most anXiously sought WAS
not to be seen.
Where's Marglef" lie asked when
all greetings had been exchanged and
Mt last he was free To fall into step
with his father and 20 up the familiar
street He tried 10 speak carelessly.
but his father caught the note of anx
Lefty In his tones and sighed
Il think she did not know YOU were
coming lie 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 1t WAS Il Jest of the voice,
might break TO this big boy of whom
he WAS 81 proud. the fact that his lit
tie playmate had not only kept away
from them, but HAT 1t was common re-
rO1 that She WAS engaged To George
ColSon
i should think. said rruesdell,
that she might have 1T least answered
my letters. telegraphed my address
just before we sailed. and | 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
n OBTAINING hand upon his arm Dick
Truesdell had dropped his bag and
dashed across the narrow street
lie paused dumbly as the girl passed
with most chilling nod and then, with
slow step, retraeed his way The elder
man put out his hand, and Dick grasp
ed II and wrung 1t with Il grip that
meant more than words Ii was the
way they had come away from his
mothers grave. hand In hand. only now
II was the old man who led his sou, not
tn I'm censoling the father.
lfieH picked up his yalise. and the
two went up the street. They had al
most reached the old home before the
father spoke
Il wanted to wait until we got home,
Dick" he said. with ii touch of visit
tulheSs In his tones. Il thought Mar
jorie was still away and that i could
tell you better In the house Marjorie
is going about Il great deal with George
Colson She never comes near me now.
l have tried to flhd out what the trou-
bic ts, hui she only says that | should
know as we'll as she
at VIII come out all right said the
boy, with brave effort ut cheerful
ness. AT any rate, we shan't let II
spoil the homecoming, shall We lie
linked his arm affectionately through
his fathers, and they turned In at the
familiar gateway and went up the
gravel walk TO the house
That night rs 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 II WIS simply. Look before
you leap" one of those printed texts
for framing but now 1t seemed almost
like message from the dead. and he
put out the light and jumped into bed
with Drawer heart
Il shant leap 10 the conclusion that
I've lost Margie until I've looked into
the thing" he said To himself, aud the
thought brought sleep 10 eyes that
might not have closed save for that
promise.
But ii was easier to declare than to
execute, and It was almost week be
fore Dick saw Marjorie, Letters had
been returned unanswered, and on the
few occasions lie 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 1t WAS. and 10y that
time Dick had her arm.
Il want to know Just what the trou
bic Is, he said commandingly. IF you
don't love me I'll not bother you again,
but II it's something that can he ex-
planned let's have 1t over with. Per
haps there Is an excuse"
Your affront was lnexcusable." she
said coldly. Il desire no explanation
Il 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
away from you II you insist upon hold
ing on TO me this way, but
Il am glad to see yon are convinced
OF that" lie said softly Il am not go
Ing 10 let YOU run away from me now
or ever. There Is some mistake some
where, and I'll have the truth"
''Iherc could be no mistake" she
said The matter was entirely too
clear 20 admit Of explanation. l don't
see why YOU should be so anxious TO
be friends with me when you have
Marie"
II don't want to be friends with
you" he dsclaimcd Il want 10 be
your husband. and | don't remember
any Marie that figures in this story"
doubtless you forget your travelling
companion" she retofted.
You mean Marie German" he
laughed. II wonder who told you
about that Besides, she was Ben
netts friend. His sister used to 90 TO
school with her or something"
Very Ingenious" sneered Marjorie,
"but / fail TO 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
Nov you are wrong he said even
~ We didn't 70 all over Europe to-
getller We did Switzerland and the
Thine; then they went TO the south for
the winter, and we went on to Den