The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-18

And the presents" read Roger. in
his sleepicst after dinner voice, were
of most costly description, and over
two hundred in number"
He stifed a yawn, and threw down
our local afternoon newspaper from
which he had been reading-presuma-
bly, for my benefit-an account of Ma
rion Balls wedding blissfully regard
less of the fact that as the paper had
been in the house more than hour be.
fore he came home from the Office, it
was rather more than probable that l
had read it for myself.
l looked at Roger. half asleep now,
and decided that it would be propi.
tjous moment to inform him.
Roger | said.
He started, stretched his long legs
and settled back in his chair.
Roger" l said; Its an ungrateful
world
rs it," said Roger, without enthus-
iasm.
Yes. it is" assured him. IF you
don't believe it. look at Marion"
What about Marian" he asked. but
his eyes were wide open now, and he
looked at me curiously.
If it hadn't been for me-" ] said.
she would never have married the
heir-apparent.'
Roger looked increduious.
Its quite true | said on the de-
fensive You know what a shy stu
pid fellow he always was. ] believe
he'd have gone for another thousand
years without proposing if it hadn't
been for me-"
An explanation will greatly oblige''
said Roger.
Il am explaining" | said. Don't
be so impatient. Well. it must be
quite six months ago, long before Ma
rion was engaged to the heir-appar-
ent. she came 10 tea one afternoon
and told me she wanted to get mar
ried. No; she didn't exactly say it
in so many words | added hurriedly,
as Roger began to smile.
Roger sat up suddenly and felt for
his tobacco pouch, he always does
that when he is feeling self conscious.
Well" ] went on, "she, said she
was SO sick of being at home-fOr
her stepmother was never very nice
to her you know-and. that life was
SO disappointing, and how much she
envied me, and-oh, a lot more like
that
Rojer struck match on the sole OF
his shoe. and lit his pipe with exag-
gerated care.
Then" | went on, then she began
to cry. I've never seen Marion cry be-
fore-at least, only once, and that was
when told her l was engaged to you.
She said she was crying because she
was glad then. But ! don't believe it,:
believe. I really believe. she rather
liked you her self, Roger"
Rot" said Roger sharply
We'll. OF course" said I, Il told her
there was such a thing as getting out
of the frying pan into the fire; and
oh, gave her a lot of advice"
Roger smiled.
Then" added slowly. then ! ask
ed her why she was crying, and wheth-
who did not care for her; and she
got very red, and looked very misera-
BILE. and she said-she said it was the
heir-apparent. And do you know, Ro-
ger" | added, do you know that she
actually took me in, and that l believ-
ed her."
well. why not?" demanded my lord
and master. Though why in the
world women need go about telling
each other such things l can imagine.
didn't rush around London when l
was in love with you throwing myself
in the arms of every fellow I met
Its quite different" said l DISCUS
teddy woman can do lots of things
that men haven't any business to
do -
Go ahead" said Roger resignedly.
well I believed her." l continued.
And because I was sorry for her
thought Id help things on bit, see
ing what a slOwcoach the heir appar-
ent is-and-and so, Il added, looking
doubtefully at Roger, Il asked her
what she would give me if 1 did,
Roger stared.
"Oh. you needn't look like that"
said with evaporation. why should
MT I do myself a little bit of good
when when get the chance? It's
nothing more than what men do every
day of their lives in business. Why.
with them it's always a question of
What will you give me if do this for
your And it's not as if we can afford
to be SO nightly independent
Roger sat up, thunder-clouds on his
face.
Betty" he said, in a voice which
was calculated to strike terror to my
soul, but which only made me smile.
You don't mean to tell me that you
suggested-money?"
I screamed with laughter. till / re.
membered the nursery overhead, then
stopped.
Il didn't" said. Il merely remind
ed her that her future father-in-law
lis an influential man. being mayor OF
the town. and that if you could Get the
post of town surveyor. now it's va.
can't
LAS if l should take a post through
the influence of woman who is moth
ing to me-" he said, IF my merits
are not enough