Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-06-25
MIrlam's Rival

Miriam watched TIE furniture vans
backed up against the curb on the op
yosite side Of the road and remem.
bersd jim Ridgeiey's promise.
He had purchased the land hesoss
the street from her swn home and
had built thereon = shaSisoms Rasi-
dsnee, The planning Of which had 90
supied many . pleasant evening. as
the fiudy golden head was bent close
beside the sleek brown hair, and inns
hand closed ever her own As HhS
pointed est defects N the blue pTlnt
plans.
Il an came Aauk 10 Miriam as she
saw the huglay shroudsd fuFRisuTe be-
ing carried into the house. h was
evident that s6me other girl vSald
share the home she had planhsd with
jim. and she tried to tell herself that
she DID nst care. steh while the tsaFs
s!TeAmed' down her cheeks.
In the interval that had elapsed
sineo she had given Jim back his Ting
and had refused to permit him an ez-
PLANTATION wounded pride had pecVent,
Eu HGI AN0ln nAhhe NNgA " hGAADtAf
that she SIN cared, bat the fuSaish
ing Of the house seemed very definite
There vas a horFid wsman, toe. super
intending tie operation Of moving Ia.
II was becauss OF this same woman
that they he'd parted. Miriam hSa
wanted to be the first Womsa ts en-
ter tho new house when II EAosh be
done. 0Dd she locked out enc noFnlns
to see this busipes0-lfke young person
let herseif in with = key. TAat et-n-
ing when Jirs had called, Miriam
had sent him away with the curt ex-
PLANTATION that she had found that she
did ret care for him. He had begged
that she tell hbm what the matter
was and suggested that there might
be some mistake, but Miriam had
turned deaf ear to his pleadinEs.
and after half q dozen OF his letters
had been returned, Jim had written
no more.
Late one afternoon Ridseley look.
ed up from his desk to behold Q small
feminine cyclone. He spfang to his
feet ard held out his hands In greet
ing, but Miriam shrank back.
"Do you suppose that would shake
hands with your" she asked seorn-
fully. Il am not come here to con-
gratulate you. but to tell you how un.
utterable Il my contempt for you"
Il think that you have gene pretty
fully into that exposition in ths past
few months" said Ridgeley. MAY /
ask what fresh occasion has moved
you to reduce your silent coatsmpt
to words2 Is It about the heussf"
Your conscience proves rsas
fauh," declared Miriam. "YOu might
have had the deceney to sell the
house
81 suppose that would have hesA
the best way" agreed Ridgeiey. but
as the real estate market IL now
could not soil to any great advantage.
1t would mean sn out-anA-sut sacFi-
nee"
II suppose that sentiment makes Ne
appeal to suppose" said Miriam seorn-
fully. but to bring another woman
to nSe in the house We had planned
together for our home! You have had
your revenge" she concluded weak
ly.
Il am not yet rich enough to kOsD
valuable piece Of property closed
up for lifetime through sentiment" ("
reminded Ridgeley gently. Il assure
you that feel none too pleasant
about It, but l had to put Il on the
market"
"On tho market sobbed NiTIan.
do you call coming TO live there
with the woman who made all the
trouble putting II on The marketf' Do
you deny that you are going 10 mar
~ that horrid womAnf"
"ItS the first I've ever heard Of .
'horrid woman" declared Ridgsley.
"and 30 ! can't very well marry her.
didn't know that there was q woman
at tho bottom Of things"
Shes thero this very minute ~
perintending thinEs." explained Miri-
am bstweeu sobs. II stood Il Just a.
ioag az l could; then / oams down
here to tell you what thought % Toar
conduct"
There is NO WOMAN A4io4oA
R,dEelsy.
Yes. there ia" iaHsbtaA SiEaasa.
Tbs same one who came aAd epsnt
morning in the house before saw
It myself-and you promised that !
should be the first woman to cross
the threshold"
So that's the troRble, Is III" asked
Ridgeley. why didn't you tell me
this before?"
What was the use when you
knew;" sobbcd the girl.
But didn't know" declared Ridge
ley. 1T must have been someone
from the decorators. I'll call UP and
hRd out"
There was a brief interval in the
telephone booth. and Ridgley emerged
smiling.
That is what II means" he con.
nrmed. Il didn't know 1t, but their
chief decorator Is a woman. She was
there tho first time to measure for the
curtains. I engaged Gie same firm
TO settle the house. so she Is there"
And you are not going to be mar
riedg" asked Miriam.
Not unless I can induce you to
reconsider your objection" said
RidEeley. win yOu, dearf"
Perhaps" whispered Miriam. s4f-
e you promise never 70 % It aEALa.-
Aidgeley smiled At the feminine
logic OF the condition. but his face
was very tender as he bent close to