Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-06-29
EVIDENCE
sx CATHERINE cRANMER.

his hat and stick which he held In
readiness for departure.
II refuse to be bulIied SO refuse
to answer your question because you
flung ii at me az demand to account
to you in advance for my movements"
Now, Dot, you can't think that; Il
IL ali from my desire to exercise the
right and the privilege which our en-
gagement gives me to protect you"
Protection actuated by jealousy and
intolerance isn't what / want or eN
peet. AS for our engagement, Why"
She began to tumble with her ring
Please, Dot" said Gerald quickly,
don't say anything about that now
and please think seriously before you
Join those feather-brained Gilbert girls
and Charley Mason In lark at that
public masque."
Good afternoon" was Dorothy's
only reply, but as the front door closed
behind him she crumpled up on the
big davenport and sobbed.
Geralds pleading failed to keep Dor
otly away from the public masqua
bail, although she did decide to wear
4 black domino instead OF the fan
tastic costume she flrst had IN mind.
The Gilbert girls, Charley Mason and
the two ether young men in her party
dressed as a band OF gypsies. and they
were surprised and disappointed when
Dorothy appeared In her domino. Once
in the gay crowd, though, all entered
heartily into the merriment Here
and there through the hilarious crowd
other domino-clad figures were scat
| tered, giving a needed touch Of black
10 the Kaleidoscope whirl Of color.
Some energetic domIno-clad man I'm.
dertook to gather all the dominoea
together and line them up in mock
protest at some OF the gayeties going
| on about them. Dorothy was drawn
into bis group. and she gayiy, though
silently, tried to induce tall, broad
ahouldered fellow-domino to become
also fellow participant In making
things gay. Reluctantly. at first. but
/ gradually moro willingly. the tall fg
| ure began 10 move about With some
show Of life.
As the crowd grew more mirthful
Dorothy became less and less gay. Her
tall companion could see that she
was vainly searching for someone. He
squeezed her hand roassuringly and
broke the long silence between them.
4 see that you have loat your
friends.s he said simply. @Wiil you
allow mo to help you find them or 10
take you home II You can't find them71
a FEW moments later they were en-.
toring taxi, 70 whose ifiscr Dor
4 othy gave the half Of visiting card
containing her residence number. hay-
ing nodded vigorous negative when
her escort asked her destination. As
they we're whiried along IN the taxi.
the man softly asked her TO speak to
| him. "a no was sure her voice must
be as charming al wore her grace and
ease In dancing. lie even squeezed her
hand lightly. and although she was
unreaisting she stili shook her head
and remained silent. This seemed to
add to Che young mans determina-
ton. FOR he began TO plead eloquently.
but was astonnded to be roughly
pushed away with two tiny but deter
mined hands.
Az the taxi turned a corner. Dor
othy realized that she was nearing
her home, and she quickly sprang up
and covered the eyes Of her escort
with her hands.
Swear you won't look" she whis-
pered hoarsely, and with those SOFT
hands pressing his eyelids, the man
willingly promised. A few moments
/ later, the taxi came 70 a full stop, and
Dorothy electrified her companion BY
kissing him full on the mouth and
springing from the door the instant the
1 driver opened II.
Quite forgetting his promise, he
| sprang after her, but took In his sur
1 roundlngs with a dumfounded glance.
About six strides took him the distance
that Dorothy had covered in sixty rap
i'd steps. and he overlook her Just as
she reached the marblelired vcstibule
/ 10 her home.
Dorothy, DEAR he pleaded. why
/ didn't you let me know It was your"
Just because Wanted to Dec how
far you'd go in doing the very things
you tried to forbid me doing when
limited was going to this ball" she
eyed him deiiantly, like plueky fight
er at hay. Your tender pleading for
the sound OF my voice and your gem
/ tie squeezing OF my hand when YOU
| thought | was somebody you didn't
even know convince me that you are
at least human enough to be incon-
aIstent and also that you're not to BIO
| trusted"
Which ought also 10 convince you
that It's time to treat me like a human
and take me for better or worse.
Then, very sSltly. he added Don't
you know. dear. that it was only be-
cause | wanted to look after you that
/ I went TO that old ball9a
Dorothy had backed UP against the
bell SO that with her elbow she had
managed to press the button without
Geralds knowledge
And don't you know, she retorted.
that 1t was only because / recoe.
nized you by your dancing that / pre-.
tended to be lost from ray friends ana
enticed you into bringing me homer
The silent footman opened the front
door and Dorothy vanished through Il
with softly spoken good night before
! Gerald fully realized the unexpected
| good fortune that had come I'd him.
| Copyright, BY the Mcclure Newspaper
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