Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-08-21

-o w SOu w.. SuS Sul11cu up Il
Jimmy. and a warm color waved
across her cheeks.
How do you do?" returned Jimmy
dazedly. "I-er-I should say how dt
you do, Mrs. Lee"
Again the color flooded her face. anG
this time Jimmy recognized it as the
flag of embarrassment
Haven't you heard?" she asked
family.
Heard? No: I haven't heard any.
thing"
"You knew that 1 am not married?'
she asked in a surprised tone.
MOP
Il am not going to be-" Her voice
broke a little. but she smiled bravely.
Its best to find out people before
you marry them than afterward, isn't
it?"
Yes. but-ah, say, it's too bad, Mar
garet" Jimmy would have gladly I'm.
dertaken to reform Harry Lee and
hasten that young mans marriage to
Margaret if the deed would have
brought back the sunshine to her eyes
and the smile to her face.
Il am glad; but, oh. Jimmy. I didn't
know that he was so mean; nobody
knows at the Office. They believe it is
because of his habits. But-but be
said to let it go at that. But there
was another reason" Margaret's voice
was quavering. Jimmy slipped a hand
under her arm and piloted her through
the crowd streaming toward the ferry.
When they were on board and had
found a secluded corner he said:
Tell me about it if you want to.
You know I'm not a cackler."
There isn't much to tell. only the
day of the wedding. 1t was to be
very quiet at my aunt's. He never
came"
"He eve came!v' Jimmy growled
at her.
She shook her head. He came the
next day and said he ~forgot-forgot,
Jimmy. And then when l told him
that there wouldn't be any wedding
he said it would be a distinct relief to
him. He didn't think he was cut out
for a married man.
You loved him a lot. Margaret?''
whispered Jimmy hoarsely.
II believed I did at first said Mar
garet drearily, but it was only a first
attraction. and I drifted into an en-
gagement. and then | got to compar-
ing him with some one-with others
and he appeared so mean and con
temptible. But I was engaged to him.
and I would keep my promise. But it
seems he was tired of me too"
Never mind. Margaret" said jim
my. you ought to be glad enough to
get out Of it so easy. Did | tell you
about my new job with the Cont
mental people?"
Thereupon he told Margaret of his
rising luck. and when they reached
Brooklyn she babe him goodby with a
ghost Of her old smile lingering on her
lips.
After office hours he rode up to Cen
trail park and wandered among the
shady trees. trying to figure out in his
mind just what this change of Mar.
garet Gray's plans might mean to him
IT she only loved him it would be SO
easy. but he did not want to gain her
consent when her heart was sore from
a quarrel with Harry Lee.
lie sauntered through a bowery path
where solitude and bird songs were in
accordance with his newly stirred sen.
sat1ons. Here, in the shadiest corner
OF the most secluded path, he came
upon a skinny youth from whose lips
there dropped a cigarette. He was
lounging on 4 bench.
Mr.. Lee" raped out Jimmy.
HUH" The youth leaped to his feet
and faced the other with a queer look
OF surprise. A smile curled his lip. Il
guess you're the chap that got my girl
away from me-" he sneered.
What are you talking about?" de-
manded Jimmy.
II guess you know! We had a little
difference. and Margaret Il told her
that she was gone on you, and-welI.
oh, she cried and said you was toe
sensible to look at a silly thing like
her. and then she denied it. and, oh
we'll, you knew the wedding was off,
eh?"
Yes. l know the wedding didn't
come off. and l know why it didn't oc.
cur at the proper time. So now I'm
going to relieve my feelings a little,
Lee. There" Jimmy Dilrs fists flew
back and forth as he soundly wallop.
ed young Mr.. Lee. And when that
youth lay on the grass and looked
reproachfully up at his antagonist
through n rapidly swelling eye Jimmy
Dill looked down at his foe.
II just had to do 1t. Lee. believe
1t will do you good In the end, and now
you'll have to excuse me. I've got to
get q train for Brooklyn"