El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-21

ownership OF canals and turnp1keS IN
the earlier days of the American
would be formed for the building OF a
was through me that he went straight
off and proposed to Marian; and now
they're married and I think Marian's
behaved very meanly. because word
from her to Mr.. Steadwen would prac-
morning I heard that a London man
had got the surveyorship, and-oh.
what's the use Of talking? It's
most ungrateful world"
I'm glad 1 have not got it," said
Roger.
'Why?' I asked blankly.
He did not answer for a moment,
then he got up and came over to me-
sitting down on the arm Of my chair,
so that 1 could not see his face.
eff I tell you something" he said
will you promise me to forget it?"
I love secrets. cot course I will"
said L
But Roger still hesitated.
Go on" said 1, but somehow my
heart felt little uneasy. somehow
know what was coming
He got up and walked away to the
Nmantelpiece, where he stood looking
down into the fire.
I watched him silently for mo-
ment then I said suddenly:
81 know what it is, it's about Mar
ian; you used to be in love with her
before you married lme."
NO said Roger quickly Il was
never IN love with her, but I was
once gagged to her-for "a hours"
1 said nothing; 1 felt as if 1 should
never be able to say anything again
1T was the night after you re-
fused me-" said Roger jerkily. The
night Of the Rutherford's dance. 1
suppose I felt bad about-about you.
and didn't care much what happened
and danced a good deal with her,
and asked her to marry me-"
He looked at me. 1 could feel his
eyes, but 1 did not raise my own.
at knew, directly afterwards, that
/ had made a fool Of myself"
He went on. "And. in the morning,
when your note came-do you re-
member that note Betty"
I remembered it well enough, the
diplomatic olive branch 1 had extend
ed to Roger after a s1eepless night.
when I first realized that 1 could not
bear to see him married to Marian
But I said nothing.
There was only one thing for it,
Roger went on ITO tell Marian the
truth. to make a clean breast Of the
whole thing. and that is what 1 did"
There was long silence here.
"She, she gave me back my free
DOM said Roger slowly.
Upstairs one of the twins started
crying. but did not move. sat star
ing at Rogers averted head with
queer feeling OF unreality. 1 am not
a jealous woman. but-well-
was wondering what Marian had
said when he told her. if she had cried:
Roger could not bear to see wo-
man cry; if he had kissed her
Then 1 spoke. and my voice sounded
stiff and unnatural
81 always said she was in love with
you,1 1 said.
"she wasn't" said Roger doggedly.
"She-she was no more in earnest than
1 was; she was Always firt She
"She did love you 1 said. Poor
Marian" I thought of the heir appar-
ent, fancy having to marry him
after Roger!
Poor Marianr' 1 said again.
Roger frowned.
us that all you can say?" he asked
irritably.
I laughed then. he looked such a
boy Us that all you can say?" 1
asked "You, who ought to be on your
knees asking pardon for having kept
me in ignorance all this time. Roger
turned suddenly and knelt down beside
me on the rug, and he said-but l am
not at all sure that 1T would interest
a third partJ 20 hear what he said,
or what 1 answered, so J VIII leave
it cut. but didn't feel jealous any
loneef.
Presently 1 caught sight of the
paper which Roger had thrown down,
with its absurd. flaring headline:
MARRIAGE OF THE MAYORS SON
And I was just going to say. Poor
Marianw for the third time. when
sharp "rat-tat" sounded through the
house.
I scrambled up from my chair to
fetch the letters.
There was only one, for Roger. an
uninteresting looking document in
typed envelope
another BILL" said I, with a sigh.
Roger opened it, and drew out the
letter. I read 1t over his shoulder,
the few lines which informed him that
he had been appointed town surveyor.
"Oh. Betty" said Roger and there
was more OF distress than pleasure
in his face.
Proof positive" I said. with pre-
tended jealousy. I could not resist IL
Roger caught my hand.
kiss me. Betty; kiss me at once"
he said.
1.-The babies are crying" I answer
ed, beating retreat to the door.
They've been crying for the past
But you're not going till you've kiss
ed me-
So I kissed him-what else could i