The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-10

the extended hand, giving little yips
Of delight at this splendid game and
sliding 1udicrously on the polished
floor.
Suddenly Margory raised flushed
face and saw Sandy's master regard
ing her with a. look of undisguised
admiration.
"Margory," he said in low impas-
stoned tones, "Margory, dear, can't
you forgive me? If 1 did tell you an
untruth it was because your love
means everything to me and I was
afraid of losing that love. You must
know how you are hurting me.
For the sake of our happy years OF
friendship, say that you will give me
another chance"
The serious girl turned from the
window and studied her companions
face for a minute before replying.
ut is for that very reason, Davy,"
she answered in grave voice, that
/ find 1 can't put you back in quite
the same niche in my heart. Ours
was such wonderful friendship that
I didn't think you could profane 1t
in time 1 shall feel differently, but
now I would rather not talk about
it,"
"But we must talk about it," came
the quick reply. II love you and /
can't bear the way you are treating
me-"
Margory's troubled face clearly be-
trayed her agitated mind, but instead
of answering the last outburst of her
companion, she silently started out
of the room. Almost beside himself
with anguish, David Manley seized
the distressed girl in his arms and
pressed his kisses on her unrespon-
sive lips. She quickly freed herself
from this almost rough embrace and
with heaving bosom stood regarding
the distracted secretary.
II did not think you could do such
a thing" she said slowly. IT want
you to go now and l don't believe
ever want to see you again."
AS the deeply wounded Davy was
about, to offer some plea of extenu-
alton in reply to this final edict, he
happened to glance around and the
words died unspoken on his lips.
Framed in the doorway was the fig-
ure of his white-haired employer with
unmistakable signs of anger written
on his face.
Il am sorry, .Davy," said the STERN
eyed banker as he advanced into the
room, "but you have brought this
upon yourself. l never expected to
see the day when should have to
order you from. my house, but after
the insult you have offered Margory.
you are no longer welcome here"
The face of the boyish secretary
went white under the lash of these
harsh words. Then without a word
he stopped, and gathering the collie
puppy under his arm, strobe toward
tho door. As he was about to cross
the threshold, his steps turned to
where the sorrowful-eyed girl was
standing.
SANDY is only dog, but he loves
you too" he said in a broken voice,
won't you please take him just as a
token of the happier days we have
known"
Margory hesitated a moment, then
she extended her arms for the puppy
which made frantic efforts to caress
her with his pink tongue. And when
the door had closed behind Davy's
forlorn figure, Sandy's mistress
buried her face in his silky coat and
cried as though her heart would
break. Her father. who but few
minutes before had seen Margory
fiaring with anger, shook his per-
picked head over the eternal riddle
Of womankind and hurried off in
search of her mother
Following his disastrous rout at
the battle Of Seven Oaks Hill, their
one-armed enemy had seemingly de-
clared a truce, and now the gentle
Mrs. Golden, in the hope that 1t
might prove a distraction for the
deeply brooding girl, planned a gay
lawn fete. to which the whole coun-
tryside was invited. Under the
stimulus of preparation for this
elaborate affair. Margory's dropping
spirits revived to a certain extent.