The Ely miner., 1914-02-06
THE DOG IN THE MAhGER
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

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 81
wonder if they think l am going to
stand for this sort of thing, with all
the neighbors grinning at me like a
set of lunatics!" And he strobe to
the roadside as Mayhem drew near,
raising OBTAINING hand.
Sorry to trouble you, Mr. May,
aew," he said with forced evenness,
T merely wish to say that this sort
OF thing has got to STOP"
'I should say that is matter which
concerns only Miss Betty and myself"
answered Howard Mayhem, withous
heat
"W'ell, it concerns me-" said Fen
ton, shortly.
81 see but one way in which you
could enter into the question. Do you
mean that there is an engagement be.
tween your
"See here, Fenton." Mayhew leaned
forward, pleasantly in earnest. ''Tve
fever wished to take what belongs tC
another man-if he really has righ;
to it. But when he fiaunts his rights
in my face l want to be sure he is
moi dog in a manger.
''t don't deny fiId Miss Betty's so
ciey mighty agreeable, but l should
never have dreamed of taking her
driving if 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.
ry you?"
IL like your assurance" scoffe6
John Fepton. "Do you think I'm foo
enough to tell you what has passed
between Betty and me? All have
to say to you, sir, is that I want you
to leave her alone"
JUST d IulHute, CTlcu IdyNS
quickly. 81 have a word to say, also
l refuse to acknowledge any suci
agy cement. No man worthy of the
name will hold girl to an agreemen-
in which he does not commit himself
Yoa are dog in the manger, that is
my answer"
John Fentop stood watching the
grAys disappear in TIE twilight
shaken by such anger as Lad never
before touched his self-centered, de
liherate existence, an anger which
grew with every step he took in the
direction Of Betty Martin.
Betty sat on her dilapidated froI
steps contemplating the hand spreaa
out on her blue-clad knee. There W.
soft shining and twinkling about
tnat sent unaccustoT1e6 and delightfU
thrills through Bettys whole beir
To think that she could ever have the
privilege of accepting or refusing sucl
ring as that
She still sat as if spellbound whei
john Fenton strcde in at the gate an6
up to the steps. Betty" he cried
sejzing the hand with the ring upor
it and regarding her sternly, "doec
this mean that you intend marryin.
that fellow?"
lido not know" faltered Betty.
''Well, know that you are not go
ing to Go it! Do you suppose I 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 l shall marry,
except myself Howard has asked me
to marry him, and 1 know of no one
with the right to interfere. l could
not give him definite answer This
evening, and be begged me to keep
the ring until I could. tell you this,
inespite 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. / shall do the fair
thing by her once-Pm 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 Mayhews appear
ance, and the indecision which had
been torturing her crystalized into
firm determination when she beheld
Fenton.
I'll take only minute Of your
time, Betty" he announced with amaz
ing humility, after one comprehensive
glance at her, land this is the last
word shall ever have to say about it.
I've come to take back what l said
last night l had no right to speak
as / did. Lit is hard for me to
say, but think you cannot do better
than to marry Howad Mayhew And 1
do not think you are selling yourself"
But you never said l was selling
myself" faltered Betty, timidly.
Il said it tc myself" declared the
man. I'm not fit to ask your for
giveness. Mayhem was right, I've been
nothing but dog in manger.'
With a sharp intake of breath, Bet
ty drew the ring from her finger and