Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-19

gorgeous motor. In t'Were Two youne
men and a gray-bearded gentleman.
One of the young men jumped out and
asked questions of the landlady. Then
he called back to the other occupants
Of the car, They're here!" And pres
entity three excited gentlemen went
clamoring up the steps and shouted
when Sara opened the door, We've
found you!"
Explanations followed; there were
trips downstairs to the car, and pres
entity the little table was .heaped with
American Beauty roses, boxes OF
candy, hampers of fruit At last the
gray-bearded gentleman said, Now
get on your best bibs and fuckers, and
we'll all go out to dinner and the
play"
ooh, dad" Sara demurred. But he
insisted, and finally she gave IN.
When they came out Betti was in
white satin, Anne in pale green, and
Sara in aforementioned chiffon
with pearls about her neck fastened
with a diamond clasp.
And it was thus that Griffith saw
her as he came up the steps In the
dim twilight.
"Sara?" he said incredulously.
my father has come" she said,
quickly, land the boys. They are up
there in our rooms. I came to let
you know"
He caught her hands in his. ITO
know what?" he demanded sternly'
THAT you are an American heiress?
Do you think 1 could have asked you
to marry me-if had known?"
mo. You would not said Sara,
steadily. "And now will you go
away, and come back later? I'll be
alone then, and will explain"
When he had gone, she went back
and faced her father.
Dad, DEAR" she said, Il can't CO.
I've engaged myself to the dearest
man on the earth, and I'm going to
marry him because he didn't Know
that l had money, and he loves me
for myself. And he's coming back
here tonight and I've got to tell him
that l am overburdened with worldly
goods 1t won't be pleasant and !
want to be alone"
She looked SO pale that her father
stared at her anxiously, but Betti
whispered, Let her stay" and some,
what reluctantly he left her.
When Griffith came he held in his
hand a little bunch of violets.
Perhaps I should have thrown
these away" he said bitterly, as ne
saw the American Beauties.
But Sara came up to him and took
the flowers out of his hand. Give
them to me-" she said. Don't you
know that l value them more than all
the roses in the world THAT I value
your love for me more than all the
money in the universe? You think
that I deceived yon-well, the truth
Is this: we three girls came here and
economical because Betti's guardians
wouldn't give her the money to study
Anne and I pooled our allowances and
made up our minds we would pay for
Belts music lessons, and we have
had a lovely. TING. doing the things
we wouldn't have dared to do in
America. We've cooked our own
meals, and we wouldn't write home
for money because our pride was ur
and then you came into my life and
didn't want you to know. Somehow
felt that your pride would stand
between us-as 1t is doing now
How could 1t be otherwise" he
said. slowly. 81 love you, Sara, but
you have been used to luxury. Life
with me would mean hardships."
Am ! such a poor thing she flung
back at him, that you cannot believe
me capable of wishing to share your
life? Oh, Griffith, Griffith. don'
send me back to petty things"
Could any man resist such an ap
peal? And so his arms went about
her, as she stood there in all her pale
beauty.
Dear" he murmured, "is 1t then
till death parts?"