Oxford Democrat., 1908-06-16

to care, are you, MaryT
Mary's lip trembled as she looked at
him.
81 care as much-more-than ever"
she said. "You don't understand. You
see, l have been papa's housekeeper
since was fifteen, and l simply can't
leave him alone"
"He is perfectly willing, Mary. Some
times l think he is anxious for you to
marry. He doesn't want to feel as II
he were in the way Of your happiness
"That's just it!' cried Mary. Dear
old dad! He'd sacrifice his own inter-
ests for me any day. I won't have it."
"Mary, how old is your father?'
Fifty
"And healthyY
Perfectly. We're all proud Of our
health"
Hes likely to live out his three
score and ten then"
IT hope SO, and If you mean that you
wish he would die, Dick Lane
easy, Mary; easy. Personally I'm
very fond Of your father That's one
reason why l am so anxious to get
| into his immediate family. But, let's
see. unless some unforeseen accident
occurs | shall be obliged to wait for
you at least twenty-five years. He
held up a warning hand as Mary start
ed to speak. Don't you see that we're
no nearer the goal than we were three
years ago? Don't wait to find a sOlu-
ton of the problem, dear. Marry me
now and We'll solve it together"
Mary rose impatiently.
"What's the use of talking that way?
You know l can't. I've thought and
thought, but there doesn't seem to be
any other way out. Father fatty re-
| fuses 10 live with us-says it's better
not-and l can't leave him. That's
why sent for you. I've made up my
mind that it isn't fair to keep you
waiting, so am going to break our ell
| gagement" She looked at him brave
| ly, though her eyes swan with tears
and her chin quivered.
Dick stared Il moment and then be-
gan to laugh, which, under the circum-
stances, was the worst thing he could
have done. Mary's eyes began to blaze,
and the tears disappeared.
Its joke, is it?" she blazed.
"Well, it's time It was broken. Here
is your ring. I'm sorry for your vast
ed time, and, since you are so anxious
to be married, hope you will find
some one who will have you right
away"
She slipped from the room. and not
| until he heard the door OF her room |
slam did Dick recover from his amaze |
ment. Then he laughed again and,
putting the ring In his pocket, left the |
house.
"Poor little Maryw he mused. well, |
see that III have to get her father to
help"
Mary, watching him stride up the
street whistling "AIary, Mary, Long
Before the Fashions Came" sank into
her big chair and wept.
"He wanted it broken! He wanted
1t broken" she walled.
Once admitted to the inner Office |
Dick took the leather chair which |
Mary's father indicated with his foot,
accepted cigar and lit it.
us this business call or just n |
visIt?'
Both. I've been up to see Mary"
Strange. Anything doing? Will
Mary marryT
"She says she won't. In fact, she has |
just given me back my ring. say she
must, and want you to help me-"
"Of course I can't force my daughter |
to marry you II she does not want to-"
grinned Mr. Arnold.
"Yes. you can-if you go about II
right. You see And he briefly out
lined his talk with Mary. Mr.. Arnold
smoked fercely while the young man
talked, and then they went over II de.
tailed plan together.
When the young man finally left, the
elder shook his hand heartily.
"I'll do my best, Dick. Mary's good
daughter, but she'll make just as good
wife, and I'll divide"
That evening Mary came to the din
ner table red eyed and white faced.
Little by little her father drew the
story from her. When she had finish
ed he said: I'm glad Of It, Mary. |
never would have asked you to give
him up, but am thankful that you can
see for yourself" He did not say
ho nd 40 Il
It's all over 1 don't mind telling you
that there are as good fish in the sea
as have been caught so far. Now,
Dick-well, he's SO slow! And then
But that's over now, so cheer up,
daughter, and fall in love with some
one else"
"Oh, I can't ever do that" wept |
Mary. ~ shall take care Of you all
my life."
"Tut. Tut! Just put your mind to
It and you can do It. am anxious to
see you marry and be happily settled,
Mary. OF course didn't say so. be.
cause could see that you didn't really
care for Dick. If you had cared you'd
have married him two years ago. But
now that he's gone
Mary gasped and stopped for her
napkin, sitting up again with red
face. Not care for Dick! Perhaps
Dick thought that too.
"And, aside from that" went on her
father, IT have been engaged to Ma
rian Howard for year, and l know
how you will feel about keeping me
waiting too long OF course | should
not think OF marrying again while you
are with me-"
Mary thought she must faint The
room went round and round, and then
she heard q voice, which must have
been her own, stiffiy congratulating her
father, heard him say something the
words of which she could not distin'
guish, and then she was up In her own
room.
"Oh," she moaned, "what shall doi
No one wants me. Papa Is going to
marry again, and even he thinks l dc
not care for Dick. 1 must have acted
terribly for papa to think that. And
why didn't he tell me that he wanted
to marry2 I'd have been glad of 1t,
for then could have married Dick and
would not, have needed to worry about
papa at ALL oh, 1t Is cruel! And now
it is too late No wonder Dick stopped