The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-12

sSeoh W lain .
upon him With the full force OF q Wig.
orous and anserdriven arm.
AT last the ordeal was over. Mr..
Blake showed the tortured boy away
! from him and stamped out OF the
room Marjorie ran up to Tom and
caugL. his p~ain-clenched hands in
hers.
Toni" she walled. "oh. Tom,
You poor, poor boy! I'm SO sorry!
But why did you tell him It was you
that broke the vase? Why didn't
you say 1t was Harry"
IL had to tell him the truth"
painted the boy. There wasn't any.
thing else to do"
From the days when he had defend.
ed her from the colliedragon. Tom
Blake had loved Marjorie Lampson.
And now. at twenty-one, 1t wal no
longer the affection Of a child for q
child. but the whole-souled alteration
o. a man for a woman.
And n evening he told her so.
It vas during his senior year at the
university. He had but three months
more to study. After graduation he
was to go into business with his IA.
ther.
He and Harry Lampson were in
the same class at the university. But
their childhood acquaintance had not
ripened into friendship.
It was on the evening after his "a
Their had promised to take him into
the business that Tom called on Mar
jorie with the good news.
"And, DEAR" said Tom, after a half
hour Of the delicious idiocies that
lovers consider such infinitely wise
conversation. 1T won't have to be
a long engagement. either. Father
promised me today that he"
Marjorie darted away from the
clasp Of his arm.
Dads coming In" she warned him.
a" heard his key in the front door.
I know he won't approve. Don't let's
tell him-yet."
why, little s~weethearttr Tom re-
assured her. HE won't bite US. Be-
sides. It's the only square thing-the
only truthful thing-to do. We can't
live q lie. He has the right to know"
But"
Mr.. Lampson hearing voices in the
living room, strclled IN. Harry, at his
heels. caught sight OF Tom and halted
irresolute, Just outside the doorway.
Good evening. Tom." Mr.. Lamp.
son greeted the caller, not over
cordially.
"Mr. Lampson," spoke up Tom,
nerving himself for the ordeal. my
father promised today to take me into
the business with him In June"
II congratulate you" said Lampson
perfunctorily.
THAT will mean" went on Tom,
chat I'll have good pay from the start;
with a prospect of a raise as soon as
/ make good. And I'm going to make
good. Not only for fathers sake and
mine. but for Marjorie's, too"
"Marjorle's?" repeated Lampson in
mild displeasure. What has Mar.
torie to do with it?"
81 hope she will have everything
to do with It." answered Tom.
II don't understand you"
"Mr. Lampson," said Tom. II have
Just asked Marjorie to be my wife.
VIII you make US both very happy
by giving your consent? II you will
let US marry as soon as l go to
work"
81 am afraid I cannot consent to
anything Of the SORT" said Lampson.
stifly. II"
"But Mr.. Lampson! You know all
about me. You know my parents.
You know Marjorie cares for me, that
I shall be able to support her, that"
II do not care to go into that CUES.
ton at ALL" said Lampson. at Is
enough for me to say that / cannot
sanction any engagement between
you and my daughter"
THAT means," flashed Marjorie,
that you've been listening to more
OF Harry's stories about him. Harry's
Jealous Of Tom, because Tom Is popu-
lar and"
THAT will do, M~ar1oriei" said her
father. Il don't care to discuss the
matter. positively forbid the en-.
gagement. And I forbid you to see
Tom again, for the present.
"Mr.. Lampson!" broke out Tom,
"this Is unfair. II you have any OBJ
lection to me. It Is only honest to tell
me what Il is. L"
II am not compelled to explain my
motives to every scatter-brained col.
lege boy" said Lampson. "My daugh.
ter is not yet OF age. and IL therefore
subject to my wishes. I forbid her
to see you again. And ! forbid you
to call here. Good night"
Tom stalked ansrtly out Of the
room.
When he came home from college
next afternoon-he lived only about
q mile from the university-Tom
found waiting for him q letter from
Marjorie. Eagerly he opened It and
read: