United labor bulletin., 1913-12-27
THE DOG IN THE MAhGER
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

John Fenton watched grimly while
Howard Mayhew's gray team drew up
before Betty's gate. He could see the
blue CLINT of Betty's gown as she de-
scended-Betty, whom he was accus-
toned to seeing dressed like the mod
est little wood-bird that fitted timidly
through the wild-plum thickets.
THAT makes the third time this
week." muttered John sternly. q
wonder if they think 1 am going to
stand for this sort of thing, with all
the neighbors grinning at me like a
set of lunaticsl" And he strobe to
the roadside as Mayhem drew near,
raising OBTAINING hand.
Sorry to trouble you, Mr.. May
hew," he said with forced evenness.
Il merely wish to say that this sort
of thing has got to stop"
'T should say that is matter which
concerns only Miss Betty and myself"
answered Howard Mayhem, without
heat.
well, it concerns me-" said Fen
ton, shortly.
II see but one way in which you
could enter into the question Do you
mean that there is an engagement be-
tween you?"
"See here. Fenton." Mayhem leaned
forward, pleasantly in earnest 'Ive
never wished to take what belongs to
another man-if he really has a right
to it. But when he fiaunts his rights
in my face l want to be sure he is
not a dog in a manger.
Il don't deny find Miss Betty's So
ciety mighty agreeable, but l should
never have dreamed of taking her
driving if 1 had supposed she was en-
gagged to you-and permit me to add
that do not believe she is the woman
to go. If she supposed it! An agree
ment of the. kind you intimate can
mean nothing but an engagement.
Have you asked Betty Martin to mar
~ your"
'1 like your assurance" scoffed
John Fenton. do you think I'm fool
enough to tell you what has passed
between Betty and me? All I have
to say to you, sir. is that 1 want you
to leave her alone"
Just a minute" cried Mayhew,
quickly. 81 have a word to say, also.
l refuse to acknowledge any such
agreement. No man worthy of the
name will hold girl to an agreement
in which he does not commit himself.
You are dog in the manger, that is
my answer"
John Fenton stood watching the
grays disappear in the twilight,
shaken by such anger as had never
before touched his self-centered, de-
liberate existence. an anger which
grew with every step he took in the
direction of Betty Martin.
Betty sat on her dilapidated front
steps contemplating the hand spread
out on her blue-clad knee. There was
soft shining and twinkling about it
| that sent unaccustomed and delightful
thrills through Betty's whole being.
To think that she could ever have the
privilege of accepting or refusing such
ring as that.
She still sat as if spellbound when
John Fenton strobe in at the gate and
up to the steps. Betty" he cried.
seizing the hand with the ring upon
it and regarding her sternly, does
this mean that you intend marrying
that fellow?'
lido not know" faltered Betty.
We'll. / know that you are not 60
ing to do it. Do you suppose 1 am
going to be set aside in this fashion +?
Give me the ring and I'll take it back
to Howard Mayhem in the morning.
Fire flashed In the gentle eyes of
Betty Martin. NO one can decide
the question OF whom I shall marry,
except myself. Howard has asked me
to marry him. and I know of no one
with the right to interfere. I could
not give him definite answer this
evening. and he begged me to keep
the ring until 1 could. tell you this,
in spite of your unwarrantable' intru-
sion, because of our long friendship.
And remember this another time,
John. a woman knows only what she
is told,"
The succeeding "a hours were bitter
to John Fenton. He did not want any
one else to have Betty. Il had the
chance and did not know enough to
take it. I'm not good enough for
her." he groaned aloud. Betty is
not selling herself for worldly pos
sessions; she wants to live; she is
tired of waiting. l shall do the fair
thing by her once-I'm going to tell
her she is doing right"
The fire returned to Betty's eyes
when she saw who stood at the door.
She wore the blue gown and the ring.
on the possibility of Mayhew's appear
ance. and the indecision which had
been torturing her crystalized into
firm determination when she beheld
Fenton.
I'll take only a minute of your
time. Betty" he announced with amaz-
ing humility. after one comprehensive
glance at her, "and this is the last