Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-05-07

4 BeDluu "a CAOh01 . NN
Thus spoke a voice rather severely In
Margaret's ear. Really" 1t continued,
"you ought to be ashamed You
haven't taken one bit of interest In
ANYTHING since John Stevens went
away ten years ago. Then you were
the belle Of the town, Margaret, n
now at thirty-two look at you'll Sup
posing he should come back suddenly;
do YOU think he would be pleased with
the present appearance of the girl ne
used to known"
'Mary, you're my sister; / suppose
Won have a right to say such things"
returned Margaret YEARLY, although
the bright color famed in the usually
pale cheeks. "John and / loved each
other, and IL only / knew what sent
him away without a word" Don't
say any more about It," broke in
| Mary. 81 know it's been hard, but you
haven't done a thing to make 1t easier.
You must begin to put the past
behind you. Come down to the church
tonight-therc's a fair, you know-and
help me~in the apron booth. Wear
something besides black and gray-and
a smile, too; and now I-warn you, IL
YOU fail to come / shan't trouble you
again for a long time"
Mary hustled out rather noisily leay-
ing Margaret alone with her thoughts.
Her sisters words had stung, and re-
sentiment burned in her breast.
Choosing a simple white dress OF
soft, clinging material, she looked very
lovely as she adjusted the last fold;
but the pink In her cheeks cried aloud
for q touch of blue. Opening a bureau
she deity fashioned a girdle for
her slim waist, and with a pink o
plucked fresh from the rose vine out
| side her window, she made her way to
the church. Divested of her wrap,
Mary came rushing towards her.
Margaret, is 1t you!" she exclaimed.
"You look like a dream" Soon they
were stationed behind a mass Of aprons
Of all sizes and descriptions, and Mar
garet was soon busy, and interested,
too. Presently a stranger entered the
church vestry. Almost us soon as
Margaret had caught sight of him,
Mary nudged her and said: "Looki
Margaret, there is Mark Andrews.
He's been away for years. Poor fell
lowl he looks sick. How determined
he once was to marry you" Here a
customer claimed Mary's attention.
much to Margarets relief.
Sure enough. it was Mark-he was
coming towards her now. After q
hand-shake and a brief conversation
with the two sisters, he disappeared;
but when the evening was over and
Mary and Margaret were ready to 90
home, they were surprised to find him
waiting outside the door.
II have something to say to you,
Margaret" he said In a low tone. Il
have no objection to Mary's hearing II.
I will tell you as we walk back over the
old road where years g we all
romped and played together on our
way to school. You would always let
me carry your books, Margaret, when
John wasn't there" he said, as they
started forth, and the idea got stuck
in my boyish brain that II he wasn't
around at all I might always have the
pleasure of serving the little girl Of my
choice. That idea grew with the
years, and while ~outwardly John and I
seemed friends, no one knows how I
longed for a clear field in which to
press my suit with you.
"It was the winter that Johns uncle
in the West came home for a visit that
7 Iocf oil hama opd haoap 70 rot NOR.
bid. I could see the love growing
steadily between you two, and my
heart vas as icy In those days as the
frozen millpond where we used to
skate. I was walking home one eve
ming when John overlook me. Hello!
Mark he said. How would you like
to go West on short notice with Uncle
Bilr His uncle had received a tele-
gram calling him back at once, and he
wanted some young man to 60 along
with him. John had refused to con-
slider ~going-you can guess why. He
"a on his way then to you, Marga-
ret. Then and there ] played my last
card. No. / told him. T-don't care
to go West at present. Margaret has
promised to marry me, and our plans
for the future are still unsettled John
was too honest to suspect deceit In an
old friend. With white lips he asked,
rs that true, Markf' and when / as
sured him that 1t was, he simply said,
'Good-by, old chap. and the best Of
luck to you both. I 60 West tonight
with my Uncle. Bill I tried hard
enough to win you after that. Marga-
ret, but I am glad now that / failed,
and at this late hour I am trying to-
make what reparation I can. Before
John sailed for France I told him all,
and when he comes back he'll come
straight to you. He has never ceased
to love you; nor have lit has been
my punishment" He turned abruptly
and wal gone.
Margaret was weeping softly In her
own little home when her sister final
ly babe her goodnight, but they were
tears OF JOY. In her heart she felt glad.
Womanlike, she was already planning
wonderful new wardrobe in which
black and gray had no part. Throw
ing open her shutters the next morning
n ooked out upon a world which
seemed to be all blue sky, golden sun
shine and pink roses. "Behind the
Clouds at last" she Thought hsnniIv