The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-18
Proof POsiive---A Short Story
By Ruby M. Ayers

IF / tell you something" he said,
will you promise me to forget it,"
love secrets. of course | will,
said l.
But Roger still hesitated.
But Roger still hesitated.
GO on" said j, but somehow my
heart felt little uneasy, somehow,
, l knew what was coming.
He got up and walked away to the
mantelriece. where he stood looking
down into the fire.
! watched him silently for a mo-
ment. then / said suddenly:
Il know what it is, it's about Mar
ion: you used to be in love with her
before you married me-
No" said Roger quickly. Il never
was in love with her. but l was once
engaged TO her-for twenty-four
hours"
/ said nothing; | felt as if l should
never be able to say anything again.
1T was the night after you refused
me-" said Roger jerkily. THE night
of the Rutherford dance. l suppose
, felt bad about-about you. and didn't
care much what happened-and-I
danced a good deal with her, and
asked her to marry mo"
He looked at me. I could feel his
eyes, but did not raise my own.
Il knew, directly afterwards. that
had made fool of myself"
He went on. And, in the morning
when yOur note came-dO Won remem.
Der that note, Betty"
remembered it we'll enough. the
diplomatic olive branch l had extend
ed to Roger after a sleepless night
when / first realized that l could not
bear to see him married to Marion.
But I said nothing.
There was only one thing for it,
Roger went on. ITO tell Marion the
truth, to make clean breast OF the
whole thing. and that is what l did
There was a long silence here.
she. she gave me back my free
DOM" said Roger slowly.
Upstairs one of the twins started
crying, but l did not move, l sat star
ing at Rogers averted head with a
queer feeling of unreality. l am not
a jealous woman, but-well-
l was wondering what Marion had
said when he told her, if she had
cried Roger could not bear to see a
woman cry; if he had kissed her
Then spoke and my voice sounded
stiff and unnatura
Il always said she was in love with
you,' said.
she wasn't" said Roger doggedly
l"She-she was no more in earnest
than l was; she was always flirt,
she -
"She did love you" l said. Poor
Marion" I thought of the heir appar-
ent, fancy having to MARI him-after
Roger.
Poor Marion!" l said again.
Roger frowned.
is that all you can say" he asked
irritably.
l laughed then, he looked such a
boy. rs that all you can say?' l ask.
Cd. You. who ought to be on your
knees asking pardon for having kept
me in ignorance all the time" ROg
er turned suddenly and knelt down be.
side me on the rug, and he said-but
| am not at all sure that it would in
terest a third party to, hear what he
said, or what l answered, so l will
leave it out, but l didn't feel jealous
any longer.
Presently caught sight of the pa.
per which Roger had thrown down.
with it's absurd, flaring headline:
MARRIAGE OF THE MAYORS SON
And l was just going to say. Poor
Marion!" for the third time, when a
sharp "rat-tat" sounded through the
house. -.
| scrambled from my chair to fetch
the letters.
There was only one, for Roger, an
uninteresting looking document in a
typed envelope.
Another BILL" said with a sigh.
Roger opened it, and drew out the
letter. I read it 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 l said, with pre-
tended jealousy. l could not resist it
Roger caught my hand.
kiss me, Betty; kiss me at once
he said.
THE babies are crying" l answered
beating a retreat to the door.
They've been crying for the pas,
ten minutes said Roger callously
But you're not going till you've kissed
me-"
so l kissed him-what else could
| do?
TO PREVENT THE GRIP.
LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE re
noveS tho cause There is only one