The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-11
WHEN
CAME

80 you've come at last" she said
coming to meet him.
Atherton smiled in enigmatic fash
ion. He seemed neither embarrassed
nor apologetic. The girl was plain
ly irritated.
my dear Margaret" said he. 81
know I owe you thousand apollo
giles, but really couldn't come last
evening. The fact is. had bust.
ness appointment"
"A business appointment?" she In
terrupted, incredulously.
EXACTLY" said he. And to-day
I was detained at the ofiice until az.
ter o'clock"
at the office7" she asked, with a
puzzled frown.
"At the Office" he repeated, anil
ing imperturbably. You see have
at last needed your advice. The old
careless life is behind me. I'm a
toiler nova bread winner. II you
like"
I'm what capacity. pray?" she In
quired, the faintest hint OF sarcasm
showing Mt the corners Of her mouth
I'm humble clerk in an insur-
ance Office" he explained. "Wither-
by secured the position for me-
Job he prefers to call It."
"Oh, see," she said. you didn't
come for-for your answer last night
because you wanted to walt un3l you
we're really doing something Ted,
I'm glad you're an idler no longer.
I'm proud OF you"
He smiled rather lugubriously.
Il must confess l prefer idling,"
he said.
"But you'll stick It outT" she
asked
"oh, ] shall stick It out. no fear"
said he.
well, I'll forgive you for not
coming last night" said she: And
since you are working--really do
ing something, however humble 1t is,
the answer you want"
Pardon me-" he interrupted her,
II can't have an answer. l have no
right to one. You will very kindly
forget, Margaret. that I have ever
asked for one"
put the old life behind me because j
had to. The failure last Tuesday Of
Simpson & Co. has put my finances
| In a tottering condition. There will
be something left, It Is true, but lit
tie. very little. am clerk because
| have to-because 1t means bread
| and butter to me-"
L fAr n al n a
| silence.
"Oh. Ted" she cried at length.
I'm so sorry"
| II don't mind the loss OF the mon
| ey so much" said he slowly, "and
| after all don't believe I'm so terri
bly, afraid OF work But the part that
hurts lies In the fact that have lost
| you. or course. dear, know just
what you are going to say--that
| you'll wait for me through eternity,
| II necessary, But that isn't wise.
You must be free, absolutely free
so that when the other fellow comes
along, aho Is just as good as | am
and little better probably, you can
listen to him with no disloyalty To
me-"
."Good-by," he said shortly; and
bolted for the door.
The girl rose quickly and barred
the way. Her cheeks were flushed
and her eyes shining.
Ted" she said, I'm ashamed OF
you-ashamed and disappointed"
He stood before her silent.
II thought you cared enough fol
me to understand me-" she said with
some heat.
Cared" he cried. Good Lord
Margaret. can't you see what this
means to me?"
But you don't understand" she
went on; you're not even trying to
You look at this matter In your one
sided man fashion. You don't ask
what 1t means to me or what ! wan
to do. You say to me You are free,
and you seem to think that ends 1t.
"It Is now you need me, when YOU
have everything to do" she said
"and yet you cast me aside as II
would be a drag"
Good heavens, no.. child" hs
said quickly. But do you suppose
I'd let You make such sacrifices fol
me? DO you suppose I'd let you live
In all that poverty means-the mar
rowness, the obscurity Of tt
Ted, what are narrowness anc
obscurity II have you?" she asked
Pm not afraid"
| Atherton's hands were clinchinl
and unclinching nervously.
Don't tempt me" he said.
She smiled at him with word o
tenderness in her eyes.
| Would be such hindrance?'
she asked. ~
| Child, I'D be happy sewer dig
ger-with you." he cried, and before
he knew 1t he had caught her in hi
arms.
And the funny part of 1t all is,
said she few minutes later, II hat
fully made up my mind that you
answer was to be mo. "---Kansa
CITY Star.
.