Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-06-17

she volunteered. 81 guess maybe you
20 right in" And she left him. He
walked toward the doorway, bus was
halted abruptly by Marjorie's voice,
raised in unmistakable distress and
Indignation. 81 have given you no
cause to presume in this way, Philip!
Sir. if you attempt to kiss me again
! shall call for help. Yes, ] arr ex-
)ecting every moment one who has
proved himself noble-one to whom
my Happiness is dearw All, she was
expecting himl Dicks chest ex-
banded at the sweet confidence in her
,oice. lie would prove to his perse-
cuted darling that her faith was JUS
;ifcdl He Again her voice, close
70 the portieres, and heavy with APP
prehension, as she soliloquized "0h,
why, why doesn't Arthur come?
Why should he be late, tonight, in
nv hour Of need?"
Dick stood petrifed by this new
complication. Arthur? A little in
voluntary groan of perplexity es-
capped him and betrayed his presence
to those in the library. Glide in the
alcove-quickr' came Marjorie's
terrified whisper; "I'll draw the cur
tainsp Dick set his teeth and
walked in, straight up to Marjorie,
who stood before the alcove, breath
ing fast, with red cheeks, trying to
regain her composure and look as
though her low-cut gown of flaming
nasturtium satin was her usual choice
choice for a quiet evening at home.
Marjorie" said Dick, firmly, 81
can't stand this mystery any longer
You know Pm not a 'buttinsky' by
nature, but it does seem to me I've
a right to know the meaning of a
few things L couldn't help overhear-
ing. Why do you admit this cad,
Philip, who is annoying you? And
who is Arthur, and what right has
he?" Then relenting, as she turned
away suddenly to hide her face in her
hands, Sweetheart, what is troub-
ling you? Can't you trust me to
help your"
She threw herself on the sofa, her
face still hidden, shaking with hys-
terical emotion, while he waited help
lessly. "Oh, Dick, dear!" she
gasped; then rising, she walked
toward the alcove curtains. "Phil-
ip," she called feebly, "come out and
wen 'fess up!'
From the slcove stepped a slim
figure in evening clothes, high hat
and long overcoat, which the owner
drew about him modestly and sub
sided into large easy chair. A sec
ond glance at the face, with its
dark mustache, showed Dick the
laughing eyes and square, boyish
chin of-Nan! Marjorie collapsed
again into helpless laughter, while
Dick stared, with a slow grin of COM
prehension. Nan removed the mus
tache, and tenderly felt her upper
lip.
Philip, stage villain, at your
servicep she announced, "and
Madge is the prosecuted heroine. Ar
thur isn't here tonight, but his other
name is Louise Crawford. Our new
melodrama is a strictly feminine af-
fair, so don't you dare to tell the
other boys. We've tried to rehearse
here, in our big library, but what
with people coming in-especially
you, Dick = Once we just man
aged to phone Louise as she was
starting here IN the motor IN her
brothers uniform; and once we
'muggled her into the dining-room
just in time"
Marjorie sat up and wiped her
ewes. "Oh, it was awful! But, Dick,
indeed I'd no idea that anything you
saw or heard could make you worry
so, YOU blessed old stupid, or I'd have
told you a weeny bit, TO ease your
mind! You'll forgive me, won't
you?' Dicks manner indicated en-
tire forgiveness, and Nan rose with
Lightly. "If you're going to be
,poony," she remarked with pretend
ed primness, i'll suiting her costume,
'it's time for your hated rival TO de-
part from the painful spectacle.