Middletown transcript., 1908-08-01

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Blank Netherwood, anyhow!
With all my heart, laughed
Jack; but cheer up, old chap. il
will come out all right. I'll set
my sister on her. She'll pull it
off. See if she doesn't.
Doesn't seem quite reasonable,
her point Of view. Told me her
story first. I understood, and
was pleased, because thought it
offset mine. Then told mine, and
she was jolly angry, eh?
Algy, my innocent, said Jack,
/ don't mind telling you that
women sometimes-only some
times-are a trifie unreasonable,
and even unjust. But rest tran
quill; we'll see you through.
While this interview was TAX
ing place in the garden, the priv.
acy of Mrs. Harding's sitting
room was invaded by a young
cyclone clothed with the person
ality of Miss Marion Holbrook.
Kate, she demanded, did you
know who Mr.. Langham was?
No, said Mrs. Harding, not at
first. Later, when he so OBJ
viously fell a victim to your
charms, felt it was my duty to
inquire and Jack owned up. AS
you were doing exactly the same
thing, my ruf1ed angel, it seemed
a perfectly fair game. and I did
not interfere. I fancy from your
apparent state of mind just now
that it's up to little Kate to do
the guardian angel act, and ref
cree the game. Own up, deary!
Kate, responded Marion, I'm
perfectly furious! It's too ab-
surdly humiliating! Ialmost told
him I thought he was poor man
and was glad I had money so I
could do things for him, and then
he sat up and announced that he
had a title that he feared he'd be
married for, so he was masquer-
aiding.
Well, dear, said Mrs. Harding,
you have a lot of money which
you feared you'd be married for;
SO you masqueraded. Where,
sweet logician, is the difference !?
Not at all the same, Kate, re-
piled Marion. I did it merely to
find out how people would treat
the real me.
Exactly, dear, said Mrs. Hard
ing. You see, you met and fell
in love as Miss Holbrook, com.
panion, and Mr.. Langham, plain
gentleman, just as you would
probably have done had you met
in your own proper persons. The
only trouble seems to be that
you are both crazy to do the King
Cophetua business, only They
amt no beggar maid,' with which
Mrs. Harding broke into trills of
delightful laughter.
Idon't care! cried Marion. You
may think it's funny; I think it's
awful, and I'm nearly as angry
at you and Jack as I am at him.
I'll never see him again!
Mrs. Harding came over to the
couch ON which the younger
woman had thrown hersef, and,
putting her arms tenderly about
the crunpled figure, she said
seriously, Don't say that, my
dearest girly. Love is too pre-
cious to trifie with. The real
thing doesn't come to US every
day. This, dear, is your golden
opportunity. Don't, pray don't,
let false pride and a distorted
point of view keep you from it!
Sometime later a slender figure
with tear stained face went out
from Mrs. Harding's room, fling
ing back these words, Well, he's
got to be punished a little!
At luncheon Miss Holbrook did
not appear. Langham was dis
consulate; but drew some encour-
agement from Mrs. Harding's
high spirits and cordial manner.
Later he sent a note to Marion's S
room begging an interview. The
maid returned with the message;
No answer.
When Marion came in she was
radiant, and in her face there
was a tender sweetness he had
never seen there before. She
rather pointedF avoided him,
however, and it was not until
well on in the evening that be
found an opportunity to speak
to her.
Marion, he begged, do let me
speak!
Wait, she said. Come down to
the garden bench. So under the
moonlight she led him down the
exUanA myoa1ls0ra rnc-d - -.a.l A.