Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-06-09

Hes whatY' Cousin Kate was.
shocked. and somehow the explanation
sounded rather lame. To tell the truth.
Margery was miserable. She had
reached point where she felt that she
had to come to a decision. Jim's out
line had become haZy, his lovemaking
stereotyped. She felt the distance be-
tween them was widening hourly,
while Wagram was a real personality
to be reckoned with. His flowers. his
candy, his books. were all pleasures she
must take into account, and now she
must either decide to go on with a
shadow or cast it aside and confess
that she was mistaken In the strength
of her affection for Jim.
Prater came home with her after the
matinee and stayed until Cousin Kate
felt obliged to ask him to remain and
dine. He accepted, and in the even
ing Wagram called. Prater's intuition
told him that this was Jim's most for.
midable rival. and he was hostile in
consequence.
When Margery went up to her room
she had come to the conclusion to write
to Jim at once and break off her en-.
gagement. Fearing lest her resolve
might weaken IN the morning. she sat
up till after midnight trying to word
her letter so that it should not sound
too cruel and vet to show that her
decision was final. When she sealed
the envelope she was not satisfied and
it was white faced, fearful eyed Mar
gerry who crept into bed and sobbed
herself to sleep. She had not dreamed
the actual break would hurt so much.
Wagram came In the morning to es-
cort her to church, and she kept him
waiting beyond the traditional half
hour, and it took her 50 long to dress
that she forgot to mail the letter lying
on her desk. The day was busy one,
and she had scarcely time to think, bur
when Wagram tried to draw her away
from the others. suggesting that he
had something of Importance to telk
her, she put him Off
mot tonight" she urged.
Then tomorrow. Will you listen to.
me tomorrow, little glrl?"
She nodded, not daring to trust her.
self to reply. In the morning she
would post the letter to Jim, and in
the afternoon she would tell Wagram
what she had done. Nevertheless, in
spite Of the fact that she had stified
all regrets, her sleep was broken. and
when she awoke her head ached SO
frightfully that she could not raise it
from the pillow.
About 3 o'clock In the afternoon she
| crept downstairs for a cup OF tea. Her
cousins had gone to a musicale and
the house was very quiet. The tea re-
freshed her. and she curled up on the
| sofa in the library and rested cozily
among the cushions. She awoke with
start to find tall, clean shaven man
| looking down at her. a heart full of
love and longing In his honest eyes,
She stared up at him, wide eyed a
culprit
"Margery, my darling. have fright
ened you? | wanted TO take you by
surprise, sweetheart so / told Prater
not to tell you was on my way home.
But now. Margery, speak. Aren't you
| glad to see me?"
| He was terrified at her continued 81.
| lence. This was scarcely the girl
whose memory had never left him day
or night, whom he had loved during
! the long. dreary months he had spent
in the tropics. She had changed; she
was no longer dainty child; she was
! a woman. And then he grew tender
! Women were made of softer stuff
| than men. She knew what his COM
Nnr dAI Ii
afraid In q little while she would
forget and give herself up only to the
joy Of their reunion. He had been too
impetuous. He should have let the
maid announce him. But as he had
been as sure of her as himself he
had insisted upon going in alone.
At the sound of his voice Margery
felt her heart stir painfully, and as
she kept on staring at him his dear
face gradually blottrd out all memory
of that other till when he paused and
the silence between them grew em-
barrassing. y rush Of feeling swamp
ed all other emotion. and she put up
her arms suddenly.
"Jim. oh Jim am so glad" she
cried and the rest was lost as he
gathered her close tn his breast.
About an hour later when Jims
ring was again on her finger and they
sat side by side on no sofa. her hand
in his, he spoke of ',rater.
"He is fine follow, and I'm sure
you got Oh famouSly together" he
said.
yes" Margery admitted. Then.
with bu"9- of confidence. she added.
Nevertheless, Jim. think, after all.
I don't care for substitutes" She
blushed as she said it, and Jim in
terpreted it IL his own fashion.
"Stll, with Prater. darling. you were
perfectly safe. You were in no dam
ger of falling in. love with him, no
matter how he felt about YOU"
"No. dear" "-Margcry snuggled Il lit
tie closer-"I wasn't in any danger of
forgetting you for MI Prater" But
had she been perfectly honest she
would have said that Prater was not
the substitute Of whom she was think
ing.