Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-10-08

husky whisper, you'll have to act as
our social secretary. My throat won't
permit me to do any telephoning, so
I'll have to ask you again to call up
Ethel Marbridge and tell her Wen be
over about 2 o'clock this afternoon"
Dale was sitting In the room, smok-
Ing and reading the morning paper.
For q moment Marjorie tried to con-
tain herself. She was vaguely con-
sclous of wanting to avoid showing
what little temper she had when
aroused. But restraint went flying at
this second instance of brotherly blind
ness.
"Tll not do anything of the sort,
Harry. I'm sorry, but-well, I don't
like Ethel Marbridge and I'll not tele-
phone to her." She forgot for an an
gered instant Dale's presence In the
room and went on: II won't give
that girl chance to laugh at me. I'm
sure she knows how I've been looking
forward to Mr.. Dale's---"
Her sentence went unfinished. With
a quick glance at Dale and little
cry of confusion she rushed from the
room in tears.
"Well, I'll be hanged" remarked
Brother Harry, stunned. II never
saw her act like that before l always
thought she was blushing violet. AL
Ice" he said to his older sister, who
had just entered, whats the matter
with Madge? just asked her TO
phona On TthaI Marhridro an1 zha
fatty refused. Flew into rage and
said something, to the accompaniment
of flashing eyes, about having looked
forward to Jerry's visit. Can it be
that. BY George, I'll bet that's itr'
"Of course that's It," said the shrewd
and observant Alice. "0nly blind
and stupid brother would have failed
to notice 1t. Why, she's been moon.
ing over Mr.. Dale's picture ever since
the annual came"
Excuse me, please" said Jerry, ris-
ing, II have to go up to my room for
something"
But Dale did not reach his room. On
the way to his room he had to pass
little alcove on the second floor, and
from that alcOve he heard sounds Of
crying. He knew 1t was Marjorie. He
hesitated moment and then went in.
Don't cry, please, Marjorie" said
Jerry. He felt great desire to COM
fort her. However, Jerry had had
very little experience with girl psy-
chology so his resolution went to bits
when at his first words of attempted
comfort Marjorie turned on him, eyes
blazing, and all Inundated at the re-
membrance of her half-uttered confess
sion of what Dale meant to her.
'Please leave me. I'm crying about
something else,' said Marjorie In
denial that was the best confession.
81 don't care what you're crying
about" said Jerry. "Don't cry at all.
II don't like to see you cry"
81 guess | can cry II | want to.
Please let me pass. want to telc-
phone to Miss Marbridge."
To the unlnltlated Jerry this exhibi-
ton of perverse feminine psychology
was n puzzler. Hadn't her protests
to Brother Harry meant nnythne7
Why had she refused to telephone In
the first placer Girls were funny nnd
variable, thought Jerry Dale.
Marjorie brushed past him and
started for the telephone at the other
end Of the hall. she had given the
number when Jerry, still remonstrat-
ing, reached her side. His pleadlngs
were Of no avail. Marjorie was bent
on telephonlng, cost what It would to
her heart.
She was sure she hated Dale as
much as she hated her brother ard
the world In general that fine April
morning What right had Dale TO
overhear her impulslve revelation of
his Significance In her thoughts
Hello! Is this Ethel MarbrldgeT
asked Marjorie in her sweetest voice.
"Thls is Marjorie Brown" She was
on the point OF delivering her brothers.
message when strong hand was
placed over her lips and another took
the receiver away from her ear She
was held in Jerry's arm AWAY from the
telephone.
"Hello," said Jerry into the trans
luib 10 WI Athlts W. hHhtu
Marjorie to call your number for uS.
Harry can't whisper over the phone
so he wants me to tell you that we
can't come over this afternoon Sorry"
There we're a few perfunctory re-
marks and Jerry hung up. "Now, Mar
jorle, do you understand why Ira
not going over to Miss Marbridge's
this afternoon? Because I'd rather
spend the afternoon with you. Madge,
look r. He took from his pocket a LITTLE
photograph Of Madge.
1--WE carried this In my pocket for
months. Harry missed 1t from his
dresser, but he never guessed that mis-
roommate lad appropriated the plct Axe
Of his pretty sister. We can tell Him
now. And we can tell him that Il
like you Very much, Madgep
Marjorie was having hard time
making her lips stop their trembling
happy, fearful trembling. Was It real
ly true? It must be, for she was look
ing into Jerry's gllstenIng eyes.
Lets go into the alcove," said Mar
Jorie, Jealous Of these happy moments.
And in the alcove they came to very
happy understanding. When finally
they came out, In response to Harry's
repeated calls for Jerry, Madge, after
u mad, glad embrace, said: "And you
can tell that thoughtless, blind, brutal
brother o mine that IL like you very
much, Mr.. Jerry Dale"