The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-07-09

two curls bobbed over one ear and
were caught by white rose. The silk
en- gown swept in folds about the tiny
straight figure and hid the awkward
feet. while chiffon scarf made a
charitable place of concealment for the
red hands.
The young man who had driven
home with them came forward eagerly.
"Cinderella?' he murmured, laugh.
ing into Anne's startled eyes.
Don't tease her. Mark" Margaret
protested. with perceptibIe note OF ir-
ritation in her voice.
rs he your beau?' Anne asked her
in dim corner Of the library.
The men were smoking on the bal
cony, which overlooked the Italian gar
den.
I'm not sure" Margaret said. with
a catch in her voice. I'VE are not en-
gagged if you mean that"
HAS he ever kissed you?" Anne de-
manded.
Out of long silence Margaret whis-
pered:
"If he had, what then?"
Because that would show that he
wants to marry you. Dave kissed me
this mornin' on the mountain. and that
means that I'm his!'
"You DEAR" Margaret said quickly
and turned the subject to other things.
But that night when little Anne was
in bed in the pink and white room
Margaret came in looking very beau
tiful, with her long braids framing the
white oval of her face and hanging
dark and glossy against the silken
folds Of her scarlet gown.
Tell me about Dave" she COM
manded.
1t was a simple little tale, but 1t
breathed of youth and love.
Mark wants to marry me-" Mar
garet said slowly. He asked me to-
night after you came up"
Little Anne sat up in bed.
"Then it's all settled?"
NO; it isn't settled. | can't be sure
of Mark He knows that l have mon
ey and that father has influence, and
he is an ambitious young lawyer. oh,
little Anne"-she threw herself down
beside the wondering child-"I am
afraid it is not love he gives me-"
Little Anne. puzzled by complexities
which had never disturbed her pellucid
mind. reiterated:
He wouldn't have asked you IL he
didn't love you"
In spite of her doubts Margaret was
comforted by that simple faith.
Next evening little Anne again wore
the white gown. After dinner she sat
alone on the balcony with Mark. while
Margaret played for them. Below the
balcony the garden was asleep under
a silver moon, From beyond the stone
walls came the soft night sounds of
the city streets.
do you like it here, little Anne?"
Mark asked.
Dave" she told him.
"Dave?"
I'm goin' to marry him."
You're much too pretty to marry a
countryman."
He threw his cigar away and sat
down on the marble coping which en-
circled the balcony. His change of p0-
sition brought him just behind her. SO
that she had to turn to look up at him.
He bent toward her suddenly.
"Such a waste of sweetnessr' he
murmured and kissed the parted lips.
She flung him from her and stood
very still and silent in the white
moonlight.
IF you were up on the mountain
Dave would surely kill you for that"
she said at last. and he shrank from
her primitive ferceness.
In the other room the music stop
ped
"Come here" Margaret called. both
of you"
Anne went to her swiftly, like bird
flying to cover. Mark followed slowly.
When they stood beside her Margaret
talked of plans for the next day-a
matinee and dinner at Bartin's or the
opera and the Russian dancers.
"You-you needn't plan for me-" lit
tie Anne said. Pm goin' home"
Margaret stared at her in amaze
! ment.
you promised me a week."
I'm sorry, but I've changed my
mind" little Anne insisted obstinately.
Mother needs me-"
But that night she crept into Marga-
ret's room.
"It's Dave / want" she confessed.
They clung together for moment In
the darkness. Then Anne whispered:
Don't you marry Mark. Margaret"
why not?" was the sharp demand.
"Because-oh." she whispered with a
shuddering sense of the secret she
must not share. wait till somebody
loves you like Dave loves me. Marga-
ret"
The next day Dave. driving to the
mail train, found more precious
freight.
A soft rain fell on the mountain and
made the forest road thing of moist