The Marshall republican., 1908-12-25

M utlDtus hCu btChlnU Gu"
gagged to you we agreed that u
would have to be q long engagement"
ITS been three years now, Mary.
and ] call that a lesa time. And you
seem to have ~ Mo- q ending the
wait at all. Ysu-ysa aren't foraettiaa
to care. arc yea, kssyv'
Msry's LIP tremblsa q she looked a
him.
II ARE ~ much-more-thsn ever"
che said. "You doe't understand. Yes
zee, l have been papa's housekcepss
since I was aftean, and I simp,y cast
isnve him alsne."
"He b perfectly willing, Mary. Some-
times I think he N anxious for you -
marry. He docrn't want to feel rs =
he yer In ths way a your happiness"
That's Just mr. cried Mary. Dear
cd dad! He'a sacrifice his own inter
ssts Cor me any Aay. I won't have it.-
"Mary, hsw ssa n ysur fstberr'
'w8ty!"
sAnd hsolgngY'
"psrsset,y. We're d, proud Of q
healsh."
"Hss likely 10 live cut his three
ecere and ten t1ssal"
II hope %, aAA n you mean that yGa
[ wish 10 woane do, D1ek Lane
"Easy, Mary; easy. Personally I'm
vesy fsUd q yeur father. That's n
reason why I am % anxious to get
into his fmmeaiats family. But, let's
Bee, unlcss some Unforeseen accident
occurs I shall b oeiABe6 to wait for
you at least twenty-Gve years" He
held up a warning hand as Mary start
ed to speak. 'Doa't you zee that we'rV
no nearer tno goal than we were three
years agoi Doa't wait to md q solu-
ton Of the probwn, Gear. Marry me-
now and wen solve II tOusther."
Mary res lmpatspseey.
whats the use q talking that ways
You know I can't. rye thought and
thought, but there doesn't seem to b
any other way cat. Father fatly 70
fuses to live with us-says it's better
not-and I can't leave him. That's
why I sent for yea. I've made up my
mind that IL isn't fair to keep y0u
waiting, SO I am going to break our en-
gag ament." She locked ut him brave
ly, though her Eyes swan with tearU
and her chin quiversA.
Dick stared q momsht and then b.
gan to laugh, which, under the clrcuRe
stances, was the wSrst thing he cou8
have done. Mary's eyes began to bla2es
and the tears disappeared.
"Its a joke, IL itrT she blaz0A
swell, it's time it was broken. Hero
is your ring. I'm sorry for your waOe-
ed time, and, since you are % anxious
to be married, I hope you will fin4
some IN who will have you riga
sway"
She slipped from the room, and noe
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 tho
house.
poor little Mary!" he unused. "WeA
I see that I'll have to get her father 30
help"
Mary, watching him stride up the
street whlstling "Mary, Mary, Long
Before the Fashions Came" sank inta
her big chair and wept.
"He wanted 1t broken! He wante1
II broken!" she walled.
Once admitted to the Inner ofics
Dick took the leather chair which
Mary's father indicated with his fooA
accepted a cigar and lit II.
'Ts this a business call or just q
visitT'
Both. I've been up to see Mary"
Strange. Anything doing? ,Wits
Mary marryT'
"She says she won't. In fact, she hiss
just given me back my ring. I say she
must, and l want you to help me-"
"Of course l can't force my daughtss
to marry you II she does not want to-
grinned Mr.. Arnold.
'Yes, you can-if you 60 about q
right. You see"- And he briefly oue.
lined his talk with Mary. Mr.. ArnoI4
smoked dercely while the young mas
talked, and then they went owe a do
tailed plan together.
Il When the young man finally left, tho
elder shook his hand heartily.
"Irl do my best, Dick. Mary's a good
daughter, but she'll make just as good
a 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 II, Mary.
never would have asked you to givs
him up, but l am thankful that you cas
see for yourself" he aid not sag
what she could see. "And now thss
It's all over I don't mind telling you
that there are as good fsh In the Sc,
as have been caught no far. Now
Dick-weil. he's 81 slowl And then
But that's over now, SO cheer up
] daughter. and fall IN love with Soma
4 one else"
I "Oh, i can't ever do thatg' wspl
! Mary. Il shall take a r Of you Al
9 my iifs."
d Tut Tut! Just put your mind q
4 1t and you can do II. ! am anxious q
sec ron marry and be happily settled
Mary. or course I didn't say 80, h9