Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-08
Mary Page
BY Frederick Lewis. Author of :: Pictures by
What Happened to Msry'' :: Essanay


David Pollock's money or give him
chance 60 speak 60 me again
Did you agree TO go?'
NO | said that burrs weren't IN II
with mo when It came to stickin' aud
II there was going to be any walking
OF scrubblug | would be on the Job q
90 my share. That Mary and | were
pals-and we'd take what was coming
together"
A little murmur Of admiration stirred
the silence Of the room. and Mary. lift
ing her head, smiled al Amy through
tear-misted eyes. and Tor an instant the
brisk ioyousness forsook the little wit
ness. and she dabbed at her own eyes
with wisp OF a handkerchief. suddenly
bursting forth explosively.
We'll. anybody would have stuck by
Mary. She-she's the best ever"
Did MIR Pollock leave with the com
psny?' asked Langdon. warning note
| In his voice. and with a little start she
turned back to him.
NO. We thought he had gone hut after
the train had pulled out. l looked out Of
the window and saw him comnE back to
the Understanding"
Did you tell Miss Page"
! No I thought It was better for her to
| think he was gone. so that She would get
! a good nights sleep Afterwards !
wished | had told her"
! why
Because Il was such an awful shock
70 her when he came to our door in the
morning"
! will you tell us the circumstances Of
that meeting. please?"
Well Mary and I were both dressed
and ready for breakfast and we were
talking over the chances Of getting some
sort OF work to do in the town tin we
| could get word home to mother TO send
us car-fare. II costs quite n lot from
Prindlevile 20 the big town and we knew
II might be DAYS before the old lady
could raise IT, and we had TO eat in the
meantime. While we were stil talking
we heard knock at the door, and think
ing It was the chambermaid, or maybe
the proprietor. Mary sings out, Come in
And at that David Pollock opened the
| door"
What did Miss Page do?"
she screamed and turning hid her
face against my shoulder for moment
Then she stood up and faced him How
dare you come here?' she asked, and he
n.
dare because am worried about YOU he
said, I can't go and leave you stranded
here; you've got to let me help you L
shall never accept your help cried Mary,
and could tell by her voice that she
was pretty close to tears, so I stepped
forward and said, Look here, Dave Pol
lock, it's a pretty mean trick for any man
to prosecute girl the way you're perse-
cutting Mary Haven't you a shred of
decency in your poor little soul? II you
have you'll beat it-while the goings
good
Did he answer your
Yes. For minute l thought he was
going to hit me. Then he said Miss
Page Is thoroughly capable of answering
me herself. Miss Barton. and l must ask
You not to interfere in what does not
concern you Anything that concerns
Mary concerns me- 1 retorted. but Mary
put her hand on my arm. Mr.. Pollock,
she said, and there was a queer note in
her voice. I thoroughly agree with what
Amy has said-you are prosecuting me
i you are torturing me-and cannot bear
any more. For Gods sake 60 away and
leave us in peace At that Mr.. Pollock
flung out his hands and said hoarsely,
| mary-Mary-you can't mean that
aren't you tired OF this poverty and mis-
cry? Haven't you had enough of this life?
one would think to hear you that / was
some brute pursuing you, when all I ask
Is TO honorably marry you and protect
you from the hardship. Honorable!'
cried Mary. DO you call II honorable to
assist the others because YOU knew II
would leave us stranded and helpless? Is
II honorable to force yourself upon us in
this fashion? Is it honorable to prosecute
me- when I've told you over and over
that I'll drudge all my life and wear my
fingers to the bone with work before
Will marry your Then she burst into
tears, and ordered Mr. Pollock out OF
the room, saying that he'd gotten his an
swer and he might as we'll CO."
Go BE Continued Tomorrow !