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

Out OF the darkness Margaret said.
Then every one knows it?"
'~Every one but you, my dear. over
the Country club It is common
lk."
'But, Aunt Clara" vehemently,
they gossip so at the hotel"
"This isn't gossip. I've known II
,r long time Margaret"
"Oh"-the sigh was almost sob
ne has always seemed such gentle
lan."
''He has the training OF one" Mrs
sent affirmed His mother Is charm
49,"
After a moments silence Margaret
roke ont, But he saved my life
lunt Clara"
There was a rustic OF skirts as Mrs
Kent moved impatiently In her chair
Yes, and that's the worst Of It,"
Mrs. Kent ended the longer silence
hat followed by ringing for lights.
"No. no." Margaret protested. 81
Ike 1t better with just the fire"
"But / must go, dear and dress for
1inner, and you will be so dreary
klone In the dark"
AS she rose and stood by the couch
her caressing fingers touched Marga-
Ret's cheek and found tears on ii.
You'd better have the lights" she
said, and there was a worried note
b her voice II hate to leave you
here alone"
"Oh, shall be all right" Margaret
said. "Ill lie here in the dark and
pet Toodlekins.'
Still protesting, Mrs Kent found
her way out, and after a time In the
big room there came the sound Of
stified sob. and another and another,
and after that everything was very
Vuiet The fame OF the fire died
down The green eyes Of the little
cat, Struggled close to her mistress,
glowed I'm the blackness.
The click of an electric button and
ret's head out OF the cushion where
she had buried It, She shielded her
face with her hand.
'sYou are early, Uncle Dick"
"I'm late What's the matter with
the lights? Why didn't you get some
body TO look after themT'
II like the dark"
~Queer taste" he gave her keen
glance and sat down In the chair by
the couch. "How's the footT'
at hurts little, but it's going TO be
all right"
Everybody at the club is talking
about your accident They are making
q regular hero Of Ridgeway." He set
tied himself back in the big chair and
smiled at her genially. "He must have
had the strength of a Hercules TO hold
those horses back"
~He's awfully strong" Margaret
m athletics is fine"
~He fiunked in some of his studies,
though" Mr.. Kent teased.
Margaret's face famed. 81 know"
She smoothed the little cat with nerv
Gus fingers. Isis he very I'll. Uncle
DickT'
"Who-Ridgeway Um-well. that
depends. He's mighty nice fellow,
Peggy" He caught the eagerness OF
her eyes and pulled himself up. THAT
is--oh, well. your Aunt Clara wouldn't
exactly approve of him, and-and-I
don't know that he's Just the friend
for you, Margaret"
~Ohv' came IN fiuttering protest, and
after that Margaret lay with her eyes
closed, and nothing was said for sew
sral minutes.
Tired, little girlY' asked her uncle
finally, and when she nodded he stood
up.
IL must go and dress for dinner.
He hesitated by the couch. looking
down at her until she opabsd her eyes
and held out her hand and said, Dear
Uncle Dick" and then he patted her
cheek and said a little huskily, ''Cheer
up."
This time there was no friendly
darkness to hide the tears. 80 Marga-
rot dabbed at them with her handker
chief and stared until a ring Of the
front door bell brought her to an up
nght position.
ITS Mr.. Ridgeway." the maid an
Dounced-
I'm afraid i can't zee him." Marea-
~ said nervously.
~Please," doomed a big voice from
The hall--''please don't turn me out like
hat
''Oh, well" Margaret agreed, and the
naAd's place between the curtains was
wurped by a young man ~ big as his
voice. who came over and picked up
eAe pussy cat and dropped a small
square box In its place. 'If you'll let
~ pet Toodlekins I'll let you have
some flowers" he said. and as he sat
oown the little cat curied into the hol-
~ Of his arm and sang her song Of
sgntentment, unrufied by the change.
There were white violets IN the box,
and Ridgeway said, his big voice sof-
esned by some fine emotion They al
ways make me think Of you"
ooh, don't don'tr' Margaret said
With quick caught breath. and Ridge
way stared at her IN a puzzled way.
Don't you Ike themr be asked.
Yes
"Wefl. it's funny way to show IT.
There was so much Of the boy In him
mat Margaret smiled In spite OF her
elf.
ITS because like them 80 well that
don't want you to bring them to me
any more"
"You DON'T
1T mean IT," she said family. you
mustn't bring me any more flowers"
why notT sharply
because can't take tbem-