The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-11

listen, aren't you2",
Miss Mackan made little gesture Of
resignation. 81 suppose So"
81 got my raise today" he went on.
That's one reason haven't said much
] knew my salary wasn't as big as yours,
but now, hdt'S fixed"
"Dear, DEAR" sighed Miss Mackan, "is
it going to be as bad as all that1"
For not too serious fellow, poor Frank
was most tremendously serious at this mo-
ment. His round, good-looking face was
several shades paler than usual He dug
the tines of his fork into the tablecloth and
did not look at her.
81 know how you are with all the fell
lows" his voice was low. Everybody
knows it, guess, for that matter. You're
jolly with 'em, and ready for all the fun,
but the minute man gives you one look
that-that, well, that isn't exactly brotherly
you shy. And the next time you go out
with another fellow"
"Ho-hum," said Miss Mackan, looking
down to see if the Kitten was still purring
contentedly on the edge of her skirt.
"Most women aren't like that" argued
the suit-buyer, from the depths of his knowl-
edge OF womankind. "Most of 'em are
Just trying to get fellow going. But you
maybe that's why they're all so crazy about
you" he reflected gloomily.
Maybe it is" murmured Miss Mackan
with a sudden dazzling smile, as il such =
possibility had never occurred to her before.
And l know" he admitted, still gloom
ily that that's why you've gone around
with me more-because I've tried never
to let on that THAT /"
She shook her head reproachfully.
you've deceived me, Frank"
"Come now, Glory" he pleaded. "Do
take me seriously this once. Can't you see
now serious it is to me?"
She looked at him. "I'm sorry" she
said simply.
81 had to let you know. couldn't keep
from it any longer. ! don't suppose it's any
use, but l wish you'd tell me why nobody
seems to stand any show with you. Don't
you-don't you care-about-thac sort of
thing, you know?" He flushed little,
boyishly.
She leaned her chin in her hand and in
her turn drew tiny pattern on the table
cloth with teaspoon.
81 can't stick at home all the time-I
don't seem to be able to stand much of my
own society these days, somehow. So l
90 out with this man or that, to. dinner, to
the theatre, to dance With hedrummers
it's Just business"
II guess it don't pain 'em any," Tyler
surmised.
She did not notice. "I don'tlwant them
to make love to me-if they begin it, l
quit" She paused. at isn't that I'm
different from other women, bMt-I don't
want any OF these fellows you,speak of to
like me too much, because I'mmot going to
like them too much. l dontplay at that
game any more, Frank"
Something in her tone took the color
from his face again.
"What dye mean, Gory2" he cried
earnestly. "Have YOU had trouble? Tell
me-"
~ will tell you," she said gently
you've been a good boy to me. And
I'm awfully sorry you've got to caring
because it's no use-because Unmarried
already"
Johnny appeared with the soup. 1t is a
mere bromide to say that good walters
never see anything they're not supposed to
see. This Johnny was good waiter. He
did not observe the horror and surprise, in
the face OF the young -thesudden flare
OF long-suppressed fires in the eyes Of a
woman so carelessly merry.
Married. groaned Tyler. f"Why, why
nobody knows it, do they?"
She shook her head "No, nobody
knows it. Nobody here knows much about
me. But it's true just the same"
"Well," he said slowly, after a pause in
which he appeared to be pulling himself
together to be married nowadays doesn't
necessarily mean the end of everything.
If he didn't do right by ou-yorl-you-
you could get divorce, couldn' 'tiyou1" i
"a divorce?" she repeated, with that
little half-smile that seemed somehow like
deit foreign phrase-full of mysterious
meanings and illusions not understandable
to one who knows the mere words.
"Yes, suppose / could get a divorce
il wanted it."
"You don't want ite" cried her compan-
ion.
She met his gaze with her honest eyes
that always seemed purple at night.
No, Frank-I don't want it,"
He began to make a pretense of eating his
dinner, while she carefully examined piece
OF fsh for bones before giving the. kitten it:
second course.
/ The gentleness Of her eyes goaded him.