Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-03
CHAPTER XXX.
Fooled Yet AGAIN.

His fate was ike alKall Ou LIS palale.
For twelve hundred miles he had ran
sacked the world for minister. When
one dropped on the train like mama
through the roof, eyensthis miracle
had to be checkmated by a perVerse
miracle that sent to the train an early
infatuation, silly affair that he him
self called puppy-loye. And now Mar.
iorie would never marry him. He did
not blame her. He blamed fate.
He was in solitude in the smoking
room. The place reeked with drifting
tobacco smoke and the malodor or
cigar stubs and cigarette ends. His
plans were as useless and odious as
cigarette ends. He dropped into q
chair. his elbows on his knees and
his head in his hands-NapoIeon on
ST. Helena.
And then, suddenly he heard Mar
tories voice. He turned and saw her
hesitating in the doorway. He rose
to welcome her, but the smile died
on his lips at her chilly speech:
May have word with you, sir?'
OF course. The airs rather thick
in here" he apologized.
lust watt" she said. omlnously,
and stalked in like young Zenobia.
He put out an appealing hand: NOW
Marjorie, listen to reason. Or course
I know you won't marry me now"
"Oh. you know that. do YOU she
said, with a squared jaw.
But, really, you ought to marry
me-not merely because, love YOU
and you're the only girl ever" lie
stopped short and she almost smiled
as she tainted him: Go OIL dare
you to say It,"
He swallowed hard and waived the
point: We'll. anyway you ought TO
marry me-for your own sake"
Then she took his breath away by
answering: "Oh, I'm going to marry
you. never fear"
You are" he cried. with rush OF
returning hope. Oh. ] knew son
loved me-
She pushed his encircling arms
aside: II don't love you, and thats
why I'm going 70 marry you.
But | don't understand
"Of course not she sneered; as II
she we're thousand years old, you're
only a man--and very young man.
You've ceased to love me- he pro-
tested, Just because OF a little affair
had before | met you?"
Marjorie answered with world-old
wisdom: "A woman can forgive
man anything except what he did be-
fore he met her.
He stared at her with masculine dis
may at feminine logic: III you cant
forgive me, then why do you marry
me?"
For revenge!" she cried. You
brought ME on this train all this dis
lance to introduce me to a girl you
used TO spoon with. And | don't like
her. She's awful"
Yes, she Is awful" Mallory assent.
ed. Il don't know how ! ever
"Oh, you admit it,"
NO"
We'll, I'm going to marry you
now-this minute-w1th that preach.
er, then I'm going to get OF at Reno
and divorce you
Divorce me! Good Lord! On what
grounds?"
"On the grounds OF Miss Kitty
Katty-Llew ellington - or whatever
her name h..
Mallory was groggy With punish
ment. and the vain effort to foresee
her next blow. But you can't name
a woman that way he pleaded, TOT
just being nice to me before | ever
met you"
That's the worst kind OF unIaith-
fulness," she reiterated. you should
have known that some day you would
meet me. You should have saved
your first love for me-"
But last love is best" Mallory in
terposed, weakly.
"Oh, no, it isn't, and If it is, how do
know I'm to be your last love? No.
sir. when I've divorced you, you can
20 back to your first love and go
round the world with her till you get
dizzy"
But / don't want her for wife"
Mallory urged, 81 want you"
You'll get me--but not for long.
And one other thing, l want you 10
get that bracelet away from that
creature. Do you PROMISE"
How can I get it away"
Take 1t away! Do you promise?'
Mallory surrendered completely.
Anything to get Marjorie safely into
his arms: Il promise anything, If
you'll really marry me-"
"Oh, I'll marry you, sir, but not
realty -