Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-11-06
he began to be sure Butler was not nt
to look after her.

he began to be sure Butler was not flt
to look after her.
His surmise had been right. He saw
Grace. tall and big aud blond. stand
Ing watching that consummate idiot.
Billy. az lie pushed Marietta--hls Mari
ctta-high and yet higher into the air.
lie jumped from his car. motioning
Butler. who did not see him. to stop.
not daring to call lest he frlghten her.
He was sure the swing was not safe.
He came running up. facing the girl.
who. as she receded TO be pushed for
ward again by Butler, saw him aud
gave little cry. Out she came toward
him. far out. His heart stopped as
sudden warning creak from the chains
made him look up. The chain had
broken.
Without an instant's hesitation he
held up his arms for her and shouted.
Jump. Marietta. jump" Such COM
mand. such conviction, rang In his
voice that the girl obeyed as II her
own mind had prompted her While
horribly frightened silence fell on the
others and some people close by came
running up she fell safely into his
arms. where he stood holding her, tell
ing her and the rest. telling himself,
that she was not hurt. And. indeed.
she had miraculously escaped without
harm. for Butler had caught the chain
SO the swing could not strike her as
| she sell.
1t seemed ages to Frank Worthing
before he made everybody 60 away
before II dawned on Butler, who was
strangely willing. that he was to take
Grace home and leave him (WorthingD
to bring Marietta when aud how he
chose. She was very silent and queer.
and he had felt her cling to him as he
held her In his arms as II she would
never leave that shelter.
| They did not go straight home. be 1t
said. but out to the country. And they
saw the moon rise. and many things
were said. especially by Worthing.
whose usual slowness Of speech melted
away under his great need So pres
emily they were very much engaged.
and he stopped the car. the better to
hold her hand. a proceeding Of much
greater Importance than reaching
home. where he would have to let her
out Of his sight till the next day. Then
she demanded what had brought him
to the park. II gave him the desired
opening.
"You." he answered. with succinct
promptitude. II was going to toss
Billy into the lake while l asked you
what had done or left undone that
should be driven out Of paradise. 1t
dawned on me that might have
neglected you during that Lawton
case. because. you see. Alice He
| felt his beloved stiffen.
I'm sure nobody ever thought Of
hindering your devotion to Miss Law
ton. r. But he shamelessly inter-
rupted.
But. Marietta. dearest. you surely
knew II was legal necessity for me
to see her-to"-
ITO take her-alone-to your office
l saw you. Frank-to be with her con-
stantly. to have time for-nobody else"
Her aunt was waiting for her In
my office that time. had to be with
her. II was matter of business. You
surely see that, Marietta! And surely
you know 1t Is you that l love?" His
heart sang to think that he had been
right. that she had been jealous. that
she cared enough for him to be jeal-
GUS. That was the wonder. Most of
all his heart sang to know that In the
moonlight she lifted her face to give
him kiss Of forgiveness for the Of
Tense ne had never committed. He re-
fiected that he was not the first man
probably to joyfully accept pardon for
what he had not done; that she was
| not the first woman to whom q man
had vainly explained matter Of busl-
ness.
"Of course" she said suddenly.
drawing back to look at him. you
know l was not jealous. She is not
the sort Of girl could be jealous Of
80 very-unattractive." Workings
laughter was silent. thing Of the In
ner man. Alice Lawton. his old
friend. an accepted beauty. unattrac-
tive. But he was wise. and his dis
loyalty was very loverlike.
| Marietta. did you suppose ! could
think you were Jealous? And as for
Alice. well. you know can't see 9TH
er women. am blind"