The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-01-16

his heart the memory of slender fig
ure silhouetted against the light from
the open door,
In the early dawn the big touring
car slipped down the dusty road. There
was the usual gossip, and then Wich-
field forgot Treadway in the excite
ment of a revival meeting at which
a famous evangelist exhorted. But
Treadway did not forget, even though
he put the width of the Atlantic be-
tween himself and the little town
where he had met defeat. He dawdled
in London and loafed miserably in
Paris, but he could not forget the girl
with the big brown eyes. and he was
glad when ut last he turned his steps
homeward.
The summer had passed, but the
brisk autumnal air made touring de
light, and presently for a second time
the big black car rolled into Wichfeld
Perkins, the Treadway lawyer, had
closed his house and gone back to
town, but there was an excellent no
tel, and presently Treadway found
himself installed in comfortable
room. Once settled he sailed forth tc
find Marion
She was not at home, they told him
at the house. but Mrs. HiteSman added
minute directions by which he found
the patch of woods where Marion had
gone in search of nuts.
Evidently her nutting was but an eX-
cuse for a walk in the woods, for he
came upon her day dreaming at the
foot of a huge chestnut. AS he ap-
preached the looked up wonderingly;
then, after a moments pause, she
sprang to her feet with outstretched
hands.
For a moment ] thought you must
be a vision,'' she cried as he hurried
toward her. ''Mr Perkins told me just
before he left that you had gone abroad
for the winter"
81 did go across" he confirmed, ''but
I couldn't stay. / wanted to come
back and ask you if your decision was
final''
my decision?" she echoed.
"Yes," he explained. Il know you
told me that you would not marry me.
but could not be content until | ask
ed again. I went to London and Paris
to try to forget you. but the farther
from home l got the more l seemed to
want you, and so here / am"
''But the hundred or more who were
ready to accept you and your mil
lions?" she reminded.
"There might be q million or more
who would be ready to accept my hun
dreds," he replied impatiently. "but
the whole million in one big seragio
would not be you, dear. 1t was
silly, braggart speech that | am hearth
~ ashamed of now. 1t was that which
brought me back. | wanted to tell
you how well / realized what fool /
had been. l love you too much to give
up without another appeal. I've
whole lot to learn, Marion. but will
you be the teacher, dear. and show me
that the cursed money is not every
thingY'
81 think I should like to try" she
whispered as he caught her hand.
"And l came over here prepared for
the argument of my life." he said Won
deringly.
"You said this time what you should
have said before" she replied. The
last time you offered me wealth and
position. This time you have offered
me your love. 1t is love that girl
wants. Tom. It's not always the mon
oy she socks 7 liked Won before b11t
I could not be bought"
"But loved you them" he cried.
mot in the same way" she explain
ed, cor you would have told me So
You wanted me to teach you. That
was the first lesson"
"Then here endeth the first lesson"
cried Treadway, with laugh. as he
bent to touch the soft brown hair with
his lips. Let's hope the others will
not be SO drastic. You've been pretty
hard on your pupil, sweetheart"