Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-11-13
For Better
or Worse
(copyright)
~
By HENRY KIRK

large square ones piled WIN sitteiii6
~things-in one a rope Of pearls, I'D
another a collar Of diamonds.
The girl to whom these things be-
longed sat very still and stared al
them. There was no light of triumph
In Der eyes, no Joy of possession that
one might think should be there. she
showed no satisfaction. no supreme
eIauon. She was almost a thing OF
stone.
she looked over them all as II they
did no exist, as II they were not even
thought Of, and the shining collar In
It's velvet box threw no light INTO
her eyes.
A man who bed been standing by
the window turned carelessly.
you'll have TO send them back,
won't your" he said. The girl did not
look at him. miserable business, but
it's the thing 10 do. Wonder what
they'll sayl" He took up a sapphire
brooch. Mrs. DIN Winthrop! Mrs.
DIN will say, Thank heaven, | can
use this again." The girl did not
move. "For heavens sake, old girl,
why don't you look upI"
MY dear FREQ, you will be good
enough to remember that this Is not
your wedding"
Nor yours, either" the man laughed.
az don't see anything funny in
that"
"You know why you're going to do
itY
Yves, / know that"
"Welll"
"And I'm going to do It'll"
whats all the fuss about, then?'
A man with iron gray hair and
gray eyes came into the room.
Father, I wish you would insist
upon Fred being a little more decentl''
She got up and went to the window.
The young fellow started after her.
Marion, I'm not doing anything
What's up? l think we're all con
cerned in this little strategy upon an
equal footing"
"What is it?"
Nothing, dad. / was only-trying
to-cheer Marion up a little"
"You don't seem to have gone about
1t In the right way. Marion?"
"Yes?"
"Come here" The girl went to hel
father.
"Bayliss Is repeating his father:
game. All day he has been at it
pushing me to the wall-and when he
has me there, making me 60 upon my
knees TO him. Well, have you moth
ing 20 sayf'
The girl looked at her father witt
cold eyes. what may ! say? / an
going to do this thing tomorrow.
am going to deny him at the altar II
the presence of my friends and hi!
friends-of the whole world, as fal
as that goes!"
cit is your duty"
@Yes, father, and I shall not shirI
It. For you-but what will become O
me! What man would care to ask m,
to marry him after l had done such
thing"
II say, Marion"
"Well, Fred Story, would you
Would you go to a girl who had re
fused a man at the altar, shamed him
Inundated him in the most horrible
manner possibleT
His father almost ruined you
father-nearly disgraced him! Is tina
something to forget? And the hate o
that man is in his son.. l hate hir
as much as he hated me. The Who'll
Bayliss tribe-for fifty years they hav
been In my way, and this boy is doin
the same thing his father did-nC
only trying to do it, for l shall hav
him where l wish him! I"
Don't get melodramatic, dad; yc'
know very well Billy Bayliss isn't tina
bad, although it's crude enough as
is. Marion will turn him down tomol
row-then VIZ will call it square. ID
you take this manT-Not on your life
Bling ring thrown upo
foor-Exit naughty Marion Stor
amid the applause of the gallery an
the Misses of the opposing faction !"
, Four girls came gaily into the room
Marion" said one Of them, "Tv
brought the girls to see the thing!
r You've met my father; my brothe
Fred? Aren't they simply glorious
Just look at this collarl"
: Miss Story waited in her father
. drawing-rOom for the man she ha
promised to marry.
z He would come to her In a momen
with violets or some other delicai
s offering.
Her romance with viii Bayliss ha
v begun six years before, when they wei
little more than children.
The opposition of their parents ha
made little difference.
She had loved this man with all h,
0 thought. but now 1t seemed to hay
given way to quite another feelin
1t was anything but the old tenderness
, Regret was there, and 1t was the r
greet that a woman might give to
. dead child.
!. The opposition of her father hl
. made little difference at first, but Ill
| Uafar driDpiuU upnu n e&ono a. 0onv