The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-29
W[1ENAMANMARRlES
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DYftARI ROBERTS RINEHART
Author Of TlECRdER SruHlAg 81 nE MANN LOwER1EN

over me ] must say for Jim that he
was merely pathetic. He said that
my happiness Was first that he would
not give me an uncomfortable minute
for anything on earth, and that Bella
had been perfectly right 20 leave him.
because he was sinking ship. and
deserved to be turned out penniless
into the world. After which mixed
hgure. he poured himself something
to drink. and his hands were shaking.
DaI and Anne stood on each side
81 him and patted him on the shout
Gers, and glared across at me. / felt
that ii / was rock. Jims ship had
struck on me and was sinking, as he
said, because OF me. 1 began to
crumbie.
"What~what time does she leave 90
asked, wavering.
Ten: nine; Kit. are YOU going to
do it?"
Mo-" ] gave a last clutch at my
resolution. People who do that kind
of thing always get into trouble. She
might miss her train. She's almost
certain to miss her train"
You're temporizing." Dallas said
sternly. We won't let her miss her
train; you can be sure of that"
Jim" Anne broke In suddenly
hasn't she a picture of Bella There's
not the faintest resem blance between
Bella and Kit"
Jim became downcast again. II
sent her miniature OF Bella a couple
of years ago" he said despondentiy.
Did IL myself"
But Dial said he remembered the
miniature, and it looked more like me
than Bella, anyhow. So we were just
where we started. And down inside
Of me / had a premonition that /
was going 10 do just what they want
ed me to do, and get into all sorts of
trouble, and not be thanked for 1t
after all. Which was entirely correct
And then Leila Mercer came and
banged at the door and said that din
ner had been announced ages ago and
that everybody was furnishing. With
the hurry and stress and poor Jim s
distracted face, / weakened.
Il feel like cross between an idiot
and criminal" l said shortly. "and
| don't know particularly why every
one thinks j should be the victim for
the sacrifice. But II you will prom
ise TO get her of early to her train
and if you viii stand by me and not
leave me alone with her. IL might
try it."
"Of course, we'll stand by YOU"
they said In chorus, We won't let
you stick" Aud Dial said, You're
the right sort of girl Kit, And after
It's all over. you'll realize that it's
the biggest kind of lark. Think how
you are saving the old tladys feel
ings' When you are an elderly person
yourself, Kit, You will appreciate what
you are doing tonight"
les, they said they would stand by
me- and that / was ii heroine and
the only person there clever enough
to act the part, and that they wouldn't
let me stick 1 am not bitter now, but
that Ia what they promised. Oh,
am not defending myself. I suppose
| deserved everything that happened.
| But they told me that she would be
there only between trains. and that
she was deaf, and that | had an OPP
portunity 10 save q fellow being from
ruin SO in the end i capitulated.
When they opened the door into the
/ living room, Max Reed had arrived
and was helping TO hide decanter
and glasses. and somebody said a cat
( was at the door.
| And that was the way 1t began