Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-14
DOTS AND
SPACES
BY SHERWOOD BOYD
Copyright. 1906, by G. II. suterGe

platform OF the sleeper AZ the long
train pulled into the station
There, by the baggage truck, stood
his father soldicrly gray haired and
eager To welcome his son. Back In the
crowd were Il dozen familiar faces. but
the one he most auXiously sought was
not To be seen.
Where's Margicf" he asked when
all greetings had been exchanged and
at last he was free To fall into step
with his father and 90 up the familiar
street lie tried To speak carelessly
but his father caught tie note OF anx
iety Ia his tones ana sighed
81 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 II was jest Of the voice.
not the heart. aud he wondered how be
might break to this biz boy OF whom
he was 80 proud. the fact that his 1T
tie playmate had not only kept away
from them. but that II was common re
Ior; tia; she vas engaged 20 G""rg"
Colson
81 should think" said Truesdell.
that she might have ut least answered
my letters. tclesraphcd 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
OBTAINING hand upon his arm Dick
Truesdell had dropped his bag and
dashed across the narrow street.
He paused dumby 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 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 son, not
the son consollng the father
Dick 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 touch OF visit
fulness In his tones. II thought Mar
jorie was still away ana that | could
tell you better in the house Marjorie
Is going about n great deal with George
Colsou. She never comes near me now.
have tried TO find out what the trou
BILE is, hut she only says that | should
know rs well as she"
1T will come out all right" said the
boy. with Il brave effort at cheerful
ness. at any rate. We shan't let IL
spoil the homecoming shall wcf' He
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 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. II was simply. Look before
you leap" one of those printed texts
for framing. but now II seemed almost
like Il message from the dead. and he
put out the light and jumped into bed
with Drawer heart.
II shan't leap 10 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 II 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 II was. and by that
time Dick had her arm.
II want 10 know just what the trou-
BILE Is" he said commandingly. IF you
don't love me I'll not bother you again,
but II IT'S something that can lie ex-
planned let's have II over with. Per
haps there Is an excuse"
"Your affront was inexeusable," she
said cOldly. Il desire no explanation
II insist upon one he said quietly,
but with new note Of mastery in his
voice She recognized the tone and
shlyered a little.
"Of course" she said, Il can't run
away from you II you Insist upon hold
Ing on TO me this way. but
II am glad to see you are convinced
OF that" he 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 The matter was entirely too
clear to admit Of explanation. | don't
see why you should he so anxious 10
be friends with me when you have
Marie"
II don't want TO be friends with
you" he disclalmed. II want TO be