Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-14

swhy can't you take themf"
because
"rhat isn't any reason he hung
out. do you mean that you dom
want me 10 Gomez
She held out one slim habd to him
Don't" she said beseechlngly-"don't
speak TO me like that. We must nj
ways be good friends. but you mustn't
come"
IL. took her hand. ITS to be just
friends?"
eyes"
"Never anything moreY
"Never"
"And yet that night after the acct
dent you let me kiss you-Margaret."
"Yes." very low.
The fire flickered and Slapped. The
little cat disturbed somewhat, slipped
down from Ridgeway's arms and curl
ed herself up on the rug.
would you mind" Margaret said at
last, turning of the upper light? The
strong glare hurts my eyes"
The rosy halo OF the lamp made dark
the distant corners of the room. Mar
The little cat was invisible except for
her emerald eyes. Ridgeway came
back and sat down; then he bent for
ward.
Margaret" he said sharply. 'you
are crying"
Eyes" she sobbed. I'm crying-oh.
because you are such black sheep,
Justin
He drew his breath sharply. $50
that's it?' he said at last
"Yes. | didn't know until tonight
Aunt Clara told me-"
He stood up. "Then there's nothing
more TO say. Goodby."
He went To the door, hesitated and
came back.
Look here. Peggy" he said grimly.
"if ! were story book hero I'd take
my medicine and so away and suffer
In silence Ana il would all be very
tragic and romantic. bat II wouldn't
be sensible"
He threw himself into the big chair
and knitted his hrnws. "rhe sensible
thing is to gel OYER the difficulty.
Let's begin nj The beginning. Every
body says I'm black shecpf"
yes" she mnrMuFcd
well. ! am. i',e wasted my time
IN riotous livne as D., BiDlr says 81
the prodigai. ard WIN ! funkcd in
my studies | 20, whai Naa coming TO
me But that was before met YOU.
Peggy | don'f Trims my worst enc
my could accuse ne since the night
/ saw you az tn" junior prom in your
white gown with your hair twisted
up in a big braid like crown. You
seemed the princess in fairy tale
and | made up my mind then and
there that I'd win out"
He drew long breath and went on
"But now know I'm not good
enough, and | know. too, that / have
not any right to ask you TO wait for
me. All I'll ask Is that you don't con
denim me utterly. don't shut me out
from your life"
His voice broke. Then as she held
out her hand to him he went on
steadily
I'm only going to ask that you will
believe in me and II, after two or
three years, no one else has come into
your life that you care for and
have made good, that you will let
me plead my cause again"
He stood looking down at her Her
cheek was laid against the bunch OF
white violets Their delicate fragrance
was roundabout her.
"Dear little girl" he said, "I1l stick
It out at college another year, and
then I'll go into business with dad
and show him what / can do. And If
you will have faith In me-
She sat up, her eyes shining. "Oh,
she said. II felt that back Of It all
there was a man In you, Justin-and
then-when you saved my life-I felt
that 1t belonged to you"
'I'm not half good enough" he said
humbly.
She took from the bunch Of violets
a half dozen blossoms and held them
out to him
''They shall be a-taliSman" she said.
"of faith and hope and love You
must let them keep you from all evil.
Justin"
And as he knelt beside the couch
the rapture in his eyes answered her