The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-09-07
Marjorie S
Inspiration
1t Brought About an Unex.
pected Climax.
By ]. W. EVANS

Marjorie was little more than fif-
teen. She called it a little less
than sixteen, and, in keeping with
that declaration, she surreptitiously
heightened her skirts so gradually
that her unsuspaoting mother never
noticed it.
Also she read ~His Hearts
Queen" with the same circumspect
privacy and tortured her tip tilted
nose with strenuous massage till
she found that her ardor to make
it classic merely made it red. In a
word, Marjorie was growing up.
Her present grievance as she
looked from her window with a face
as dismal as the sky was that her
sister Rachel was to leave in a few
hours to attend house party in
Philadelphia, from which she, for
sooth, was excluded by reason Of
her tender years. And that horrid
Tom Norris, who had laughed when
she said she was near sixteen, was
to 60 with Rachel.
Well, the papers predicted rain,
and she hoped it would just pour.
1t was at that point that her
thoughts took turn by undoubted
inspiration, and she suddenly dart
ed downstairs with an expression
from which the wrath had partially
cleared. She'd show themI
A few hours later she escorted
Rachel urbanely to the door. Good
by, DEAR" she said sweetly. Don't
forget your umbrella. It's going to
rain. You two look just like a bride
and greom," she added maliciously
as Norris picked up Rachers suit
case. She was pleased to observe
that Rachel flushed with annoy
ance.
81 sent mine by express" said
Tom apologetically.
"Pooh! You did it on purpose. !"
'Marjorie" said her sister Sc
verely. The only response as they
departed was derisive laugh.
ashes a little imp sometimes" :"
said Rachel, "but she's growing up.
l suppose I was just as bad"
When they emerged from the
subway at Twenty-third street the
rain was falling in a fine, business
like drizzle that had evidently come
to stay. ooh, dear, these plumes!"
walled Rachel. 81 didn't think it
would come so soon. No; don't put
up the umbrella. The car is right
here. 1t won't be worth the trou-
bic, and you have the suit case"
A shadow of a smile fickered
across his face, which she noted. 81
believe you enjoyed her horrid
joke" she scolded, shaking her
head at him.
The car made its way west with
exasperating delays, and at last,
within block of the ferry house, it
came to stop with a sudden jerk
of fnality. The conductor told the
exasperated passengers that the
line was blocked somewhere and
that those in a hurry had better
walk.
Lets make the best Of it." said
Rachel. "And blessing on that child
for reminding me to bring my um-
brella."
When they stepped from the car
platform a moment later Norris
raised the umbrella hurriedly to
protect her hat. A bewildering in
slant passed before they fully un-
derstood what had happened, but
they were terribly aware of the roar
of delighted laughter that went up
from the damp crowd, which turned
amused faces on them as if glad
of anything CHEEKY on so gloomy a
day.
The ground where they stood had
the appearance of a sudden snow.
fall. Every corner and crevice Of
their clothing was white with a
cinging shower that continued to
patter to the ground with every
move they made.
The rim of RachePs wide brim-
med hat caught reserve supply
that fell in a continual stream
whether she looked up or down.
The curved brim of Toms derby
made up in depth for what it lacked
in area and contributed its mite to
the seemingly endless supply. The
crowd was in a second paroxysm Of
delight before the two victims
grasped the dreadful truth that it
was rice.
s'That awful childw was all Ra-