Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1919-01-04

Down the hill they trudged. in alb
stract silence until they came TO the
bank of small steam, between the
Champion and Skillman farms, where
six years before. he had awkwatdly
held her hand and said "good-by."
Time and city life had wrought great
changes in him since, but, as she seated
herself, with grace, on the handker-
chief he had spread for her on the
grass, she still seemed the same little
Marian, whose tousled black name he
had once pulled-Daore mature, more
beautiful-but the same Marian.
Lounging at her side one arm thrown
carelessly over big bowlder, he
caught the indefinable look in her
eyes he had noted at her first greet
ing. With characteristic frankness,
he came right to the point
whats the matter with me. Mar
ian?' he demanded, and she started.
"Why-nothing Dick" she STAN
mered, guiltily.
Eyes, there's something wrong" he
| lhSiotSu, SiiAiIy. ISSI ilhC q IASo
Easser. You all make me feel it."
"Dick!" she demonstrated, gently.
II mean it," he insisted, stubborn
| ly. II don't seem to fit in. It's be-
cause I'm from the city, l suppose"
He paused. eff you people came
to town, we'd treat you better than
that"
Dick, please don't-quarrel," she
begged him.
"Then I'll quarrel on anOthec sub
| ject," he retorted with a smile. "You
told me you were coming to the city
once to study music. Why didn't
your"
For two reasons" she answered
Zone was the conditions home Since
mother died dads been leaning on
me. I couldn't bear to leave him
alone" She wistfully pulled up sew
eral blades of grass. And, besides,
l like you, would not fit in-in the
CITY,"
Nonsense !" he exclaimed impa-
| tiently; then he patted her hand reas-
suringly. They'd love you in the city.
| See here, Marian, l want you to visit
us-for a month. Your father could
get along without you that long, and
my mother would be delighted to have
you. And l want you to meet my
friends. AS for myself" leaning clos
er to her, II want you too. You've al
ways been my sweetheart. Now l
want to have you in the city, to COM
pare you with our girls there. l know
| you'll tit in--there can be no doubt of
that"
| She shook her head, and a long ar
gument ensued, but in the end, as he
rose to take her back to the house, he
won her promise to visit his mother.
"a kiss, Marian, to bind the bar
gain" he urged, and shyly, she turned
her lips to his.
I One afternoon, a month later a dusty
figure strobe up the path to the Skill
man home and pulled the old brass
knocker. But he received no response,
even after a loud "hello." Then he
went to the edge of the orchard, and
| lOOhluS uON Ii llic I'LL lOWuIu lllc DIOOh
he saw figure in white sitting ON the
bank.
A minute later Marian turned, then
rose to her feet stiffiy.
1--WE been looking for you, Marian"
he announced breathlessly. did you
get my letter."
Yes" she admitted briefly, her face
averted.
Marian, dearest, what's the mat
ter?" he cried taken aback. aren't
you glad to see me?"
She gazed at him for an instant,
topped rock, motioned to him to sit
down.
''Dick" she started, cycling him
strangely, why are you here?'
ITO see you, of course" he replied,
awkwardly. ITO take you back with
me for good
| She shook her head winsomely.
| please, Dick, don't say that" she
pleaded. Come, let's be honest with
each other. When / said good-by to
you in the city 1 meant good-by."
"Why?" he demanded, dumbly.
| you know as well as l." She met
his questioning stare frankly. II tried
your city. Every day was torture.
You and your friends tried to be nice
but it wasn't real. l could feel they
We're making fun Of me-Of my clothes
of my talk-everything. Your life
and mine are different And you were
ashamed of me, Dick" She made
hasty gesture. Don't deny it, Dick.
wasn't like your girls. 1 didn't have
their finish, their poise-all that you
look for in girl. II didn't fit in"
Her voice choked, and he leaned over
and took her hand.
Marian, I'm ashamed" he admitted,
hoarsely. you're right about one
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