Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1916-03-17

that has bearing upon the case az
present
The court cannot sustain your OBJ
lection" said the Judge. CURLY. ut is
very unfortunate for you. Mr. Lang
don, but whatever brings out the de-
tails of the relationship between Mary
Page and James Pollock is decidedly
relevant
The District Attorney smiled In tri-
umph. He turned to Ruth, who look
ed startled at the interruption, and
said. gently:
You We're saying, Miss Pollock. that
Mr.. Langdon threatened your brother,
Was there tight?'
NO. Mary IAN between them and
said that James had right to kiss her,
that-that-they We're engaged
What did Mr.. Langden say them
lie didn't say anything. He just
turned around and walked away. and
Mary began TO cry
WAS the engagement of your broth
er and Miss raee made public?"
Yes. At 4 dance"
Did your brother and his fiancee
seem happy on that o casion?'
NO. lin fact, know they We're
not
Did they tell you SOP
no. but | overheard WAS hiding
in the conservatory"
With smethesed gasp of surprise
MaIy's head came up suddenly and for
the first time the eyes of the tive girls
met: but now it was Mary's that We're
accusatory and Ruths that were troub-
led and it was in answer TO that re-
proach. rather than the startled look
on the prosecutors face. that made
Ruth add shyly: 1T was all Just in
fun, | had promised a dance to Mr..
Brandon but | had told him that if he
could find me before the music was
half over, | would give him two more,
for | had discovered nook behind the
palms which ! was sure no one else
could find
She stammered over the girlish con-
fession, a tide of crimson dyeing her
pale cheeks
while | was hidden there, Mary and
Mr.. Langdon. who had been dancing
together, came into the conservatory
I-I-didn't move because | felt |
should look so silly, hiding like a kid
behind the palms. and ! thought they
would Soon go away. But - they
didn't
Did Miss Page say anything about
her engagements"
They were talking about it as they
came in. and the first thing | heard
was. / have given my word. Philip
and | must go through with it-even if
it kills me- She was half crying. Then
Mr.. Langdon said quietly, Mary, you
don't love him, do youE And Mary
said, You know | don't, Philip. There
is only one man in the world that
love-. Then he took her in his arms
and she broke down and sobbed; but
when he tried to make her say she
would break her engagement she
wouldn't and she wouldn't tell hin
why she had promised to marry James
She only said that she could never be
free unless James gave her back her
promise"
DO you mean to say" interrupted
the judge that Mr.. Langdon knew
nothing OF the episode of the forged
check
NO. Mary told me she couldn't beal
to tell him about her father Besides
James had made her promise to KEEP
that part of their engagement secret
from everyone.
1T seems incredibler' said His Hon
Or settling back. and the prosecution
asked. as if suddenly seeing new
viewpoint:
Did your brother know of Miss
Pages love for Mr.. Langdon?'
Il don't know whether he knew then
or not. but he knew later because Mr.
Langdon told him While | was still
back Of the palms james came to hunt
for Mary, and she didn't want him to
see she had been crying, so she went
ont and Mr.. Langdon stood waiting for
James He told my brother that Mary
was very unhappy in her engagement,
but felt that she was in honor bound
o go through with it. and he urged
flames TO set her free"
What did your brother say?"
well. he was-very angry" she an
swered, deprecatingly. .I-I-know be
thought it was just interference, and
he said, Il suppose you want her set
free so YOU can marry her. And Mr..
Langdon said, 1 want her set free be-
Low and IL
breaking her heart over her promise
to marry YOU What is that to your
asked james. Do you think she Is in
love with your And Mr. Langdon
said angrily. Il know she is, but that
has nothing to do with the matter.
Can't you be decent for once and set
a girl free when she doesn't want to
marry you? That made James even
more furious, and he fairly shouted,
Mary will learn TO fove me fast enough,
once we're married. and | shall never
set her free She has promised and
I'm going to see that she keeps that
promise. Besides. do you think I'm
going to let everybody say she Tilted
me. after we've announced our engage
ment this way? l should say not
Did Mr.. Langdon replyf'
.No. He just turned round with a
shrug and walked away, and | came
out and joined my brother"
Did he ask if you had overheardF,.
Yes.
Did you tell him of the conversation
between Miss Page and Mr. Langdonf'
YES. ! felt that he ought 10 know
You-you see. he was my brother, even
though Mary was my friend
did your brother make any com