Smyrna times., 1909-01-06
"why can't you take them2'

"That isn't any reason" he fpng
out. do you mean that you don't
want me to cOmeY
She held out one slim hand to him.
Don't" she said beseechinGly-"don't
speak to me like that. We must al
ways be good friends, but you mustn't
come"
He took her hand. 'It's to be just
friends?"
"Yes'
"Never anything more?'
Never"
"And yet that night after the acci-
Cent you let me kiss you-Margaret.P
YES" very low.
The fire flickered and sapped. 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 off the upper light? The |
strong glare hurts my eyes"
The rosy halo of the lamp made dark
the distant corners of the room. Mar
garet on her couch was a dim outline.
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"
YES" she sobbed "Tm crying-Oh,
because you are such black sheep,
Justin
He drew his breath sharply. $50
that's it?' he said at last.
"Yes. l 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 l were story book hero I'd take
my medicine and go away and suffer
in silence And it would all be very
tragic and romantic, but it wouldn't
be sensible.
He threw himself into the big chair
and knitted his brows "The sensible
thing is to get over the difficulty.
Let's begin ut the beginning. Every
body says I'm a black sheep?"
Yes" she murmured.
''NNell. | am. I've wasted my time
in riOtOus living as the Bible says Of
the prOdigal and when | flunked in
my studies got what was coming to
me- But that was before l met you,
, | Peggy. | don't think my worst enc
my could accuse me since the night
l saw you at the junior prom in your
white gown, with your hair twisted
! | up in a big braid like a crown. You
= seemed the princess in a fairy tale,
and l made up my mind then and
there that I'd win out"
} He drew a long breath and went on:
: But now l know I'm not good
enough. and l know, too, that / have
e not any right to ask you to wait foI
me. All I'll ask is that you don't con
3 denim me utterly, don't shut me out
2 from your life"
: His voice broke. Then as she held
i out her hand to him he went OF
e steadily:
I'm only going to ask that you will
believe in me and If, after two Ol
: three years, no one else has come int
your life that you care for and
have made good, that you will lie
D me plead my cause again."
>, He stood looking down at her. He
cheek was laid against the bunch o
! white violets. Their delicate fragranc
was roundabout her.
- "Dear little girl he said, "Tll site
:. it out at college another year, an
- then Ill go into business with Ga
- and show him what l can do. And
~ you will have faith i'm me-
= She sat up. her eyes shining. "Oh.
a she said, Il felt that back of it a
there was a man in you. Justin-an
"a then-when you saved my life-I fe
oe that it belonged to you"
y I'm not half good enough" he sal
humbly.
10 She took from the bunch of viole
I'd half dozen blossoms and held the
out to him.
>" '"They shall be a talisman." she sal
ng "Of faith and hope and love. YC
es must let them keep you from all ev
ar Justin"
er And as he knelt beside the couC
.er the rapture in his eyes answered he