The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-08-14
The. p orest:
Gill;
By VICTOR REpcLIFFR

III VICTOR REDcLIFFR
(copyr'sht. 1918. y Wsstss. Nswspapse u,ioa.)
The first time that Marvin Hull saw
Meta Deane he was on business bent.
Not that Marvin was business man
rs yet. He had just graduated from
college and had long vacation ahead
before he decided what profession he
would choose for the future. >a..'.&
His father was the attorney for
Elias Druse in the Boyden will case.
The same involved q fortune left by
Gregory Boyden in such a complicated
way that 1t was necessary to appeal to
the law for coherent decision, as to
whether Elias Druse, or Miss Ottilia
Marsden, poor and humble spinster,
was the beneficiary. Marvin's father
Miss Marsden had no money to hire
an attorney and in her patient, re-
/ signed way was willing to abide by
what the courts decided.
Poor as she was, Miss Marsden had
! found the impulse in her charitable
heart to adopt Meta Deane, orphan,
and also a relative of Gregory Boy
den. They had to live very close and
carefully, those two, and both had to
,, Join their efforts in the sewing line to
earn sufficient to keep the wolf from
the door.
The mission that Mr.. Hull sent Mar
Z vim on was to leave legal notice for
( Miss Marsden. The latter CHANGED to
be away from home on the occasion,
but Meta, bright eyed, pleasant and
scanning the visitor with an approving
eye, made an instantaneous impression
on Marvin. She charmed him into lin
gering about the, modest little home
for an hour and she hoped she would
see him again. She did. Ill
Within two weeks time Marvin had
called at the Marsden home no less
than seven times! ..
Il shall never see her equal" Mar
win fervently declared to himself. I'D
marry her tomorrow If she'd have me
uues IL tnc 1OlKS-
There Marvin halted, and quite de-
pressedly, in his self communing. His
father and mother had high social
views, as he was we'll aware Mr.. Hull
was quite wealthy, and, Marvin was
assured, would look upon any attention
to a portionless maid as almost a
crime. Marvin therefore employed 4
good deal Of circumlocution in his ,ini-
tial wooing. He reached the object of
his devotion by a detour route, so
that no one would learn Of his visits
to Meta. 81.
One day Marvin met on the street
Madge Warren. At college her pros
pective fiancee had been Marvin's
closest chum. Marvin had all kinds
Of delightful things to say about Jack
barlow and Madge was only too glad
to hear it all. While they We're. con-
versing in an animated, friendly way.
Mr.. Hull passed on the other side Of
the street. The latter lifted his head
a rifle higher, scowl came to his
stern, severe face.
snow I'll catch it," ruminated
Marvin as he left Madge, and he was
right. When he reached his fathers
Office Mr.. Hull closed the door and
regarded Marvin with acute displeas-
ure.
II saw you with John Warren's
daughter" he spoke aggressively.
"Why, yes" responded Marvin, 1--WE
don't often meet and wanted to give
her a message from Jack Darlow."
"Well, don't let it occur again. You
know that Warren and myself have
not spoken for years, and my dislike
extends to every member Of his fam
lily. I shall discourage any attentions
In that direction. Understand me?"
II think I do,' replied Marvin, and
then a brilliant idea came into his
mind. He managed to meet Madge
quite frequently for a week after that
He even encouraged the gossip among
his friends implying that he and Madge
were something more than friends. 1t
led to another Office lecture. The
watchful, wary attorney-father had
heard of the purchase OF ring, boxes
of candy and flowers by Marvin. They
had gone to Meta Deane, but Mr.. Hull
did not know that.
Marvin" he spoke with unusual
flrmness and decision, IF learn Of
your having anything further to do
with the daughter of that despicable
Warren, whom look upon as deadly
enemy, shall send you away for
year to come. Why, would rather
see you married to the poorest girl in
Bromley than to any member Of that
brood!" :.
The poorest girl in Bromley! Mar.
vim chuckled as he repeated the re.
mark. The poorest girl in Bromley
why, Meta Deane was that. All! what
fortuitous observation! What q sug-
gestive means of solving his intense
problem of love! Two weeks went by.
Marvin came into the Office, looking
pale and worried, although his heart
was overlooking with Joy. S',--5%
Father" he said boiling desperate