Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1908-02-07
THE WOOING OF MARINA NORMAN.

The room had a homelike air that
pleased the young man seated near
the cheerful fire. He vas a we'll
built young man, with a clean-cut
face that bore a thoughtful express
sion, which gave place to a quick
smile as a slender young woman en-
tered the room.
Good evening. Philip" she said
and gave him her hand. Sorry you
had to wait for me.
ut wasn't long" he answered. II
passed the time looking into the fire
and finding castles in the glowing
Goals"
what sort of castles, Philip"
''The kind that turns to ashes,
Marina"
She frowned a little at his an
swer.
Things going wrong again,
Philip"
They're always going wrong.
Marn-."
And what is the latest trouble?"
She was standing by the mantel
looking down at him.
You remember that little attach
ment for an. engine governor that
/ showed you last week? I worked
1t out in brass and took it to Dewitt
Schuyler. He wouldn't consider it.
Said he'd had all the newfangled at
tachments put on his engines that
he could stand. And relied on him
to place it on the market.
Didn't you try to demonstrate its
value to him as you did to me-"
"Oh, l can talk to you, but
couldn't to Dewitt Schuyler"
And you didn't take it to Leon
ard Hester. nor to Demmelin Broth
ers, nor TO Hope & Co ?"
mo; was discouraged"
And where is this attachment
now?"
Il threw it back on the bench.
begin to think it isn't any good"
Philip, Phillip"
whats the matter. Marna?"
why don't you Persevere?"
IL don't know, Marna. l guess it
isn't in me-
"Of course you couldn't persevere
long enough to find out. But | tell
you it is in you. You need some
one to keep you aroused, to encour-
age you, to teach you proper pride
in yourself, 10 keep you moving along
the right road. That's what you
need. Philip
81 can't afford a partner, Marina.
There isn't enough IN the business
to pay two of us.
The girls gaze did not 7aver, but
slight flush tinted her pale
cheeks.
"The sort of partner mean would
not be exacting. Philip"
He stared at her.
Have you some one in view, Mar
na?" he asked.
YES"
Anybody know?"
"Yes."
Somebody who knows me?"
KNOWS you very well"
"Knows my limitations-my weak
nesses?"
KNOWS you thoroughly, Philip.
"And still wants to be my part
ner?"
yes"
There was little silence. The girl
still stood by the mantel looking
down at the young man. Her face
was flushed, her eyes were very
bright, and Philip Braithwood
thought he had never seen her look
so pretty.
81 don't see how it could be ar
ranged" he fretfully murmured
He wouldn't be satisfied with any
showing I could offer him. 1t would
simply be list of failures and dis
appointments"
The girl seemed to hesitate a mo-
ment
How long have we known each
other. Philip"
How long? Nearly twenty years.
Ever since we were little children
together"
Yes. You value ~ friendship,
Philip. And you will believe me when
say you need a partner?"
"Yes. But l have told you l have
nothing to interest him"
This partner will not bind you to
any agreement"
"And what interest does he ask?"
HE will leave all that to you"
"Ehl Who is it, Marna?"
Cant you guess?
"Youi%
She nodded brightly. Then her
face grew serious.
wait, Philip | am going to say /
something to you now that may i'm
peril our friendship. l have thought |
it all out and am going through |
with it no matter what may happen. I
l do not mean the sort of partner
you mean, Philip. | mean a wife"
''Marna%
His face flushed. He looked away
from her and stared at the fire.
81 knew it would startle you, Phil
ip." the girl went on. 'I was pre-
pared for that. And | am also pre-
pared to plead my cause. could
be very helpful to you, Philip. You
need me. Nobody understands you
as | do. Nobody knows so well how
to encourage you and to arouse in
yen the ambition you lack. | knew
you would never ask me. Philip. And
so ! had to ask you She waited
a moment, but he made no response.
Take your time to think it over,