The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-01
MARJORIE'S NIGHT letter
BY CATHERINE CRANMER.

Marjorie arrived in the Middle-West-
ern city on Il hot August afternoon.
She had thought that New York could
get hot until she walked across the
streets of this overgrOwn young city
and felt the blistering heat of the tar
that oOZed from the wooden blocks
used as street paving. She regretted
having decided to stop even few
hours there on her way to the Rocky
mountains.
Roger Davis, her first sweetheart,
had gone to this city five years before
to practice law, and Marjorie had Civ
en- him her promise not to become en-
gagged to another until Rogers first
years work either proved or disprOved
his professional mettle. The promise
had been easy, but gay social sea-
son and trip to Paris and European
watering places the next summer
dimmed the memory of Roger, and her
: letters gave him so much evidence of
her growing Indifference that he re-
Trained from pressing his suit; lest the
! Indifference change to dislike.
| AS her train sped across the harvest
fields of the Middle West, and drew
near to the city where Roger lived,
Marjorie began to feel desire to see
this place. AS she crossed the street
in the shopping district, however, the
hot tar almost melted her sentiment
and the city. She went into de-
partment store to avoid the heat out
| side. AS she entered an elevator to go
to the tea room on the top floor two
young girls in smartly-tailored linen
suits preceded her.
"She must possess some hidden
charm beside that lovely country place
tucked away among the .lms," said
one girl. with smile.
Hidden? Not at all. At least not
! hidden from Roger Davis, who has
been the family lawyer for two years,
with every chance to know the finan-
cial charms of the only daughter. It's
no wonder if they we'd The speaker
; was obviously proud of her blase
speech and manner.
E Leaving the department store, she
crossed the street and entered a bank
to have a travellers check cashed. AS
she left the window after receiving her
| money, she became conscious that a
/ man was standing near her, with his
hat in his hand.
Marjorie p exclaimed the man, and
a quere, trembly sensation took pos
: session of her as she looked into the
honest gray eyes of Roger Davis and
felt the pressure of his strong hand
: Roger she said, weakly, like an
echo of his own greeting.
I'm wondering what luck has
brought you here" said Roger, as they
moved toward the door,
4rfc'It wasn't luckgft' was-sselE really,
: l hardly know" said Marjorie. 4
! merely stopped for glimpse of this
city. But tell me how you manage to
live in this terrific heat?"
4 "And this from New Yorker?'' Rog.
er shook his head ruefully. But come
q with me and I'll show you the city's
d beauty spots and the loneliness of its
environs. How long will you be here"
Il Until eight o'clock this evening"
d We'll have just time to end oul
d sightseeing trip with dinner at the
q Country club. Gomez said Roger en-
y Enthusiastically.
Marjorie forgot the heat of the city
d and she forgot the disagreeable word.
IS she had heard in the department Stor,
elevator until reminded of them b,
Roger.
l THAT house on the hillside owe
y there is the Elms, the home of Mis-.
u Andrews, a client of mine," he said
a and Immediately Marjorie knew tina
y the lovely, rambling house almost hid
den by great elms belonged to tn,
plain but wealthy girl referred to il
\ that conversation in the elevator
Marjorie abruptly changed the sub
\ jcct. These hours with Roger hat
made her yearn for return of thei
former close friendship, and perhap
for even more than that.
They had to take chances with
motor cop to make Marjorie's train
As they hurried through the station
u Roger secured the evening newspaper
from an alert newSboy. He gave tn
papers to Marjorie when he had seel
Ut her seated in her section of the sleep
err A headline on the outside pag
q caught Marjorie's eye.
Ut rs that the Miss Andrews who's
- home we passed." She pointed to tn
announcement of the heiress' engage
!. menr to an Eastern man, and waite
:, eagerly for Rogers reply.
=, The very one said Roger, scar
!, ming the item, land the man she is t
=, marry is u brick
;; Then it wasn't true what the
~ said2'
~ What wasn't true, dear?" Roge
!. caught the eagerness of her voice,
=. THAT you are going to marry he
- for her money" with quick emphasi