Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-03-27
A MESSAGE FROM MARCIA.
BY Laura kirkman,

He could not ask her to mary him
even though he loved her because Of
her resemblance to his first wife; the
specter of disloyalty held him back.
suppose Marcia had locke upon re-
marriage as an act of faithlessness?
1T Was strange that in their five
years OF married life they had never
marriage. Not one word of Marcia's
could he recall that would give him
a clew as to her feelings upon the
taking of such a step.
So the one thing that remained to do
now was to break with Amy. 1t was
not fair to the giEl to keep on pay
ing her attentions when he knew in
his heart that he could never. con
scientiously. ask her to marry him.
Nor Was there any time to be lost
in making this break. Already he had
delayed logger thar was consistent with
his code of honor. He must. that very
morning. let her see that relations be-
tween them were changed. OF course
she would be angry that the new order
of affairs should be established by him,
but Would he not rather have her angry
with him han heart-heavy because OF
him"
True to his resolve. he started to
make the change upon reaching the
store.
Good morning." he said briefly. and
with purposeful aloofness. as he passed
the ribbon counter behind which her
face glowed as brightly as the ribbons.
AS he stopped. a few feet way, to-
give his orders to his assistant floor
walker. he could feel her great brown
eyes fixed ON him in surprise: it was
the first time in weeks that he had
not stopped at her counter to say good
morning.
His heart sank when, as he turned
swiftly. he saw her eyes switch fur
lively away. He wondered how long
it would be before she formed the habit
of averting her face altogether when
he was near.
friendly.
What's the matter-sick?" she
asked solicitously when. to allow a Gus
toner to pass, he was forced to halt
at her counter a moment.
He locke down at her wistfully. 1t
vas just so hat Marcia had looked
when she was worried about his health.
"Yes!" he answered iercely. Sick
sick all overt.
Binding tears sprang to his eyes as
he strobe forward. She vas enough
like Marcia to give him that babyish
feeling he had always had she
worried over him-tlat childish hank
ering to be mothered.
And then he began to feel really sick.
His head began to ache, DULY. The
pinkish glare of the artificial light
stung his eyes. He tried closing them
q ome to rest them. 1t was in his
moment that he felt some one clutch
his arm and speak his name. He
opened them quickly.
'Loring!" he exclaimed.
The tall, middle aged man before
him smiled.
well, we'll. john he said heart
lily. didn't know l vas this side of
the Rio Grande. did you?"
John took his hand dazedly. The
sudden appearance of this man, so
closely allied in his mind with Mar
cia, brought Il thousand sad memories
rushing pack over him. 1t was this
man who had been father, mother.
everything to Marcia in her child
hood. He hung onto the rough
miners hand silently.
Then, wincing at the glare of the
light, ne nodded his head toward the
door at the back of the store.
Let's step out into the vestibule--
let's get some air." he suggested.
w can't talk here, anyway"
Anxiously the older man looked at
him as they made their way through
the crowd. When they reached the
daylight his hand fell heavily on
Johns shoulder.
You're looking sick: what's the mat
ter?" he asked.
John smiled wanly.
Its q disease we had for five years
and two weeks"