Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-11-05
CHAPTER III.
Complications.

CHAPTER III.
Complications.
aw WANT to talk to YOU said Rod
ney, coming toward Mary. I've
been Wanting this OPPORTUNITY
for days, and now that I've got
it l dout propose 70 be Interrupted.
That's why locked the door
Rodney had come over to her.
Il want to talk To you.H he said inl-
petuousiy. Mary, will YOU marry mefa
WHY. really began Mary shyly.
Il don't know what to say hesitat-
al the girl. feeling her ground
Say yes. cried Rodney, waiting fe-
verish Y To hear her answer,
1t came at last shyly, Yes. where
upon Rodney cried. you ANGEL joy
fully aud tried to grab her, But
things must not 80 quite So fast. Mary
thought intuitiYely and drew away n
little from him, though, TO tell the
truth. she would willingly have let
him catch her as she felt now.
mo, no: wait moment, she said
We'll be married right away" went
On Rodney unabashed.
.'But suppose, your father disap-
proves 2" said Mary.
"He won't know anything about 1t
-iintil we're married. and then what
toud he fo?' objected Rodney
"He might cut you off" suggested
Mary sagely.
/ Would you caref" asked Rodney.
Il? No, no. indeed" said Mary hasti-
IL. Il was thinking of YOU, dear"
Don't you bother about me- cried
Rodney We'll be married tomorrow
and then come home for the parental
blessing
mo. I couldn't do that" said Mary.
ut wouldn't be right. I'm his private
secretary. He trusts me and brings
ine here to his home, and then to find
I'd married his son on the sly-no,
Rodney, we couldn't do that"
5.'You do make ii sound rather bad,
said Rodney 81 shouldn't want to
treat father badly We've always been
pretty good friends, he and |. | guess
I'd better tell HMM a week or SO =
AIarys self composure had been rap
lIly returning during this colloquy. and
khe was surer of what she wanted.
Indeed 1t piqued her little that Rod
ney should have made such proposal
to. her, so that now her own inclina-
tions and the old gentleman's upstairs
ran in the same channel. She spoke
up quite resoiutely:
"Why. Rodney. If you love me you
will want to get this awful suspense
over with"
'.Bnt suppose he does objectY" Rod
ney argued. seeing his light of happi-
ness grow dim.
.iIGven then | wouldn't give you up
said his sweetheart.
Mary
'You could go into business she
went on, make big man of yourself,
make me proud of you
You talk Just like the heroine in
play l saw last night" protested Rod
new. She wanted the hero to go to
, work, and he did, and then for four
acts everybody suffered
Don't you want TO work Z" asked
Mary anxiously.
Il should say not" Rodney answer
ed quite seriously Imagine going TO
bed every night Knowing you'd got
to get up in the morning and go to
business"
you'd be happier, wouldn't you."
queried Mary, IF you had job?v
please don't taik like father" pro
tested Rodney. Hes preached a job
at me ever since / left college. Why
should ! work? Father made millions
out Of soap and Is forever complaining
that he's always had his nose 10 the
grindstoBe, that he's never known
what fun was, that it's all made him
old before his time can't see the
sense of following an example like
that-I really can't He's got enough
for you and me and our children and
their grandchildren. I've explained all
this to him, but | can't seem 10 make
him understand. But it's simple-wlly
work when there's millions In the fam
lily? And why even talk of IT when
you and are in loveg"
He leaned hungriiy toward her
stretching ont his arms 70 her, and fin
ished on note Of genuine appeal:
Come, kiss me, Mary
But Mary drew back from him quick
Is. "No yoa mustn't she said firm
ly. ~Not till you've spoken to your IA.
iheF-
You won't even kiss me TIL ten
hina
No.
sAnd you viii when dor
YES
~Then II tell him right away cried
the valiant kyrar, striding 20 the doos-
"oh, Rselney. you're spiendidf ap-
plauded Mary. ~and don't lie afraid.
rAfraid.s echoed Rodney scoFnfully.
But be paused moment at the door
and said
you don't think I'd better wait till
the morning.
.No. don't" said Mary. And don't
be silly about his govt. He really Is a