Graham guardian., 1918-11-08
BEING A HEROINE
sy VINCENT q. PERRY.
Copyright, 1918, BY the Mcclure Newsps-
mar aYndicatAl

SandfOrd Ross took his coat angrliy
from Scales, the butler. and waved
aside the latter's attempt to assist him.
He was angry-more angry than Scales
had ever seen him. and that was one
way Of venting II. After the door had
closed Scales sat down to enjoy his
laugh he had been suppressing.
"He and Miss Geraldine have been
havin' q tin again, but It's little
worse than usual" he chuckled. u
wonder what new Idea she has been
noutin' on him, now"
As Sanford walked his anger abated.
BY the time ne reached home he was
able to see the humorous side OF 1t.
"What q dear. little, ridiculous Thing
she is," he muttered thoughtfully. III
some Of those ideas Of hers don't get
her into trouble III be surprised"
The week passed and Geraldine did
not hear from Sanford. She told her
self she was glad she didn't. She was
skipping through the most interesting
part Of novel--just where the
heroine had sacrificed her Jewels to
buy bread for her starving father and
crippled brother--when her own father
came into the room.
"My DEAR" her father began. sitting
down beside her. II have favor TO
ask you--a very great favor, one that
will change your whole llfe."
"Yes, father7" she gasped. for al.
though ionged for, II was unexpected.
"I-l-I-" he hesitated as II In
doubt. but finally went on. II would
like you to marry"
rs that the favor7" she asked In
disappointment.
"Yes. that Is the favor. and II makes
II harder for you to grant II when !
tell you that now you believe you don't
love the man I have chosen and that
I must not tell you his name until the
day Of your marriage. II will spnre
me d great unhappiness II you make
this marriage sacrifice yourself to my
Wishes
"I will do anything for you, father
anything" II was speech from one
Of her popular novels, but she did not
realize It.
But being martyr was not the
grand thing It appeared in novels.
Geraldine began to think after she
had become accustomed to the idea OF
It. As the day approached for her TO
marry the man she had never seen. she
began to wonder II she hadn't been too
hasty In offering herself for the sacri'
flee.
The night before her wedding day
arrived. Her clothes were beautiful.
but that did not interest her. What
hiockery 1t was to have big wedding,
she thought. Somehow her mother aud
father did not seem concerned about
her. They appeared to consider the
affair wonderful one for her instead
Of a great unhappiness. Surely they
could see she was unhappy, although
she had carried out the herolne's role
to a finish and hidden II from them.
Oh, II there was only some one she
could tell her troubles to and receive
comfort FROM There was some one.
the only one who would listen sympa.
thetically, and no matter what he or
anyone else thought, she was going to
tell him all, she decided, and went to
the telephone before her courage failed
her.
II was a very plalntive and meek
voice that Sanford Ross heard over
the wire. "Please come. Sanford.
want you," was all II said, but he
recognized II as Geraldlne's. and that
was enough. He arrived Mt the
O'ConnOr home In record time.
She did not mind when he took her
In his arms and she cried out her
troubles on his shoulder.
"Oh, am so unhappy, and being a
heroine is the worst thing ever tried
TO do! hate sacrifices and ! was
never meant for martyrl" she walled.
"Of course you weren't, dear, and
knew 1t all along, but you've been a
little brick" he comforted. III had
known you would have taken 1t so
seriously i would not have allowed
your father to play this trick on you.
am all to blame, Jerry dear. 1t is all
my fault"
"Your fault, Sandfordr She
stopped sobbing and looked at him in
wonder.
"Yes. am the man you would
have met at the altar tomorrow. l
knew would never be able to get you
there until you were satisfied by max.
ing some kind Of a sacrifice"
"But father told me"
"He didn't tell you very much, DEAR"
her father said, as he stepped into the
room. "He Just told you one little Hb
and you took the rest for granted"
"Two fibs, father" she corrected,
smiling through her tears. "You said
had never met him, and It would
save you from great unhappiness."
$50 II will." her father smiled, know.
ingly. ~ knew you loved Sanford,
and II would have made me unhappy II
you had rejected him because of silly
little notion about heroines and such
things. But you have been heroine.
Jerryw
"NOt much Of one" II was surpris-
ing how quickly her appearance had
changed, for she was smiling radiant.
~. "Oh, wouldn't have looked fool.
ish when found you at the altar wait
ing for me, Sandfordr She was able
to laugh for the first time today.
"Would you have7 Then am glad
l came tonight. Tomorrow you will
look wonderful-the way you always
look"
'Oh, I hope so," she said enthuslas.