The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-03-15
Do 7 s AND
SPACES
By SHERWOOD BOYD
Copyright, 1905. by C. IL. Sutcliffe


platform Of the sleeper as the long
brain pulled into the station.
There, by the baggage truck, stood
Bis father scldierly, gray haired and
eager to wolcome his son. Back in the
crowd were dozen familiar faces, but
tie oae lie most anxiously sought was
not - 30 sect
res AIargie?" he asked when
al grceting. had been exchanged and
at last he vas free to fall into step
v'.th SIS fat :er and so up the familiar
EtreA, He tried 70 speak carelessly,
TT .is flU u caught the note of anx-
sly Il LIS tones and sighed
"a. ia; sic did not know you were
e2,..i.as." he said gently. "she doesn't
come over to tie house as she used to.
Perhaps the attraction was removed"
he added. With poor little attempt at
a 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 it was common re-
port that she was engaged to George
CoIson
81 should Think said Truesdell,
shat she might have at least answered
my letters. l 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
q 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 a most chilling nod and then, with
slow step. retraced his way. The elder
man put out his hand, and Dick grasp
ed it and wrung it with a grip that
meant more than words It 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
Il wanted to wait until we got home,
Dick" he said, with touch of visit
fulness in ais tones. II thought Mar
1orie was still away and that l could
tell you better in the house Marjorie
is going about great deal with George
Golson. She never comes near me now.
I have tried to find out what the trou-
Bile is, but she only says that l should
know as we'll as she."
1T will come out all right" said the
boy, with a brave effort at cheerful
ness. cat any rate, we shan't let it
spoil the homecoming, shall WEI" He
linked his arm affectionately through
his fathers, aud 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 oae of those printed texts
for framing, bat now it seemed almost
like a message from the dead, and he
put out the light and jumped into bed
with a drawer heart.
81 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 it 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 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.
II want to know just what the trou-
bic Isl he said commandingly. eff you
don't love me I'll not bother you again,
but If it's something that can be ex-
planned let's have it over with. Per-
haps there is an excuse"
"Your affront was inexcusable," she
said coldly. II desire no explanation"
''I 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, 81 can't run
away from you if you insist upon hold
ing on to me this way, but
II am glad to see you are convinced
of that" be said softly. II am not go
ing to let you 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. 1.-THE matter was entirely too
clear to admit of explanation. I don't
see why you should be so anxious to
be friends with me when you have
Marie"