Democratic messenger., 1919-08-02

lie decided that he had been thrown
over" and, having proud, sensitive
urture hr resolved 20 stay away from
Sclma.
lie dill not know that the head 0f
the music sales department of H." en-
tire nationwide chain ni emporium
stores was ia the city that evening TO
Tux" an inventory Of the two local IS
tnblshmrnl, aud lhat Nclma ana this
official We're simply on their way from
ON of the stores to th" other when
ned saw them.
When Nrlma said she would be
busy that night She meant IL IN it,
eraI >rns" and She was not entertain
lus snine other young man. nntwith-
standing appearances.
Erluu felt rs bad about IL aS Ncd,
but she lkrwisr possessed n cnnsid-
rrnhlr amount of pride and. know ~.
Sh,. was in the right although re.tli@-
ing the cirCumstantial evidence was
againS her she would not permit b r.
self 10 take the iirst step toward
reconciliation.
One evening shortly after the
busy" one, while she was trying 10
read and failing because OF thoughts
TINT inirudcd. she suddenly cam" 20
realization That Beethoven had dis.
appeared lie had been IN the room
only a moment previous and mast
hHv" Slipped out when velnH went Ia
the ic" box AT the end of ih" hall.
Here was "a chnnre to give her mind
diversion and AZ the same time per
hnpS fathom III" mystery OF III" MSS
ing cat She stepped to the door and
looked out
Yes. far down he hall was B""thn.
ven just starting down the stairs. Sh"
followed him 20 the second aud then
10 the first floor, and finally into III"
hack part of III" basement which Wa-
used is >tnr"roon and which con
,ain"d III" furnace. From n disiau"r
She SuW the eat crawl through q WI
dow uf III" basement. and She hurried
upstairs and dnrted outside.
Beethoven was walking clos" 10 ia"
building. prrring into Nari"uS win
dow> that came in his way! She saw
him stop before one near the front oi
the house. und as She watched hand
came ont of The Aperture and >rz ii
thu cat drawing him inside. Without
stopping lu consider who's" room l;''~
thovcn had entered. Nclma hurried To-
the window and sfoul hooking dumn al
\..I -. ~, lt.
what ar" y"u doing with my
cnt:" She ,lrnuudrd. in what was in.
tended To hc stern tones
Your cntt' Nrd inquired trying 10
be somewhat cold What do you
mean: This Is my eat"
Hes mine and his nam" j. Ecetho-
ven 80 Shr Snnpp"d
Each lonkcd defiance nj j'r other
Tor moment. then smiles took the
plncr ot ~cowlS on both the faces
We both seem 10 own him. Nclml
said d"murcly. kicking prhhlc with
her small boot. "Whnt can We do to
settle lt?"
\ desperate thought entered N"d'-
mind. Here was n chance 10 find out
his fate and ull the unc"r ninty he
had been lab"rlns under for months
FrnrinS he would bc lost If he hr>i
tat"d. he gay" voice 10 the big idea
without waltln. Tor II chance 10 change
his mind.
Standing there framed by the base.
ment window. Il car crawling over his
shoulder, lo"kn. up eagerly and
somewhat timnrou>ly nj a girl outside
Who was Kicking pcbblc around fool.
ishly to hide her confusion he said
There's only one way know. lets
form a permanent partnership OF our
selves. and that will make all three OF
US happy. Al least am in hopes
that Il win"
She gave the prhhlr furiou, kick
that sent It spinning away.
"lt sure will" was her reply.