The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-09-30
MAKING HER WAIT
By RUBY Il. MARTIN

I - iase b. Mcclure Ns~spss.r syndicate !
Grizcl had stopped Ga her way home
10 pat another bit of money in the VII.
iage bank But the big house had
never seemed 50 lonely nor her waiting
quite 50 futile as II did this sunny DAY
/ when her bank credit stood for an
even thousand Grizel held the worn
book tightly as She went up through
I the house where She had lived alone
since her father died She aha not
need 10 glance through the open doors
10 be reminded that the rooms needed
renovation Had she not known the
way so well she would have stumbled
on the attic stairs because OF tears.
Living here alone, saving every bit she
could 10 exc out the restoration fund
Grizel WAS keeping her tryst for the
soul and body Of Jim Brett.
Il promised always TO be waiting.
and TO believe he viii make good" she
whispered on the stairs
Stepping into the attic She locked
the door behind her aud crossed to-
ward the caves She always did lock
the door before she opened the old.
iron-bound sea chest that smelled Of
the stun of much yoyaging around the
world with some ancestor.
When they were children Grizel and
Jim had thought the rambling attic
marvellous place for games and dam
sells in distress. and kings, and queens,
and knights errant. Even then Grizel
had kept her best treasures Ia the old
sea chest, and what treasure could
need more careful guarding than jim
story of temptation and fall, and his
determination to make good the awful
deficit he had peculated from the
bank? Was not that confidence for her
the greatest surety Of his lover
So II was that Grize had kept her
tryst these five years since the short
age had been discovered aud Jim had
fled TO escape the punishment How
much time stretched ahead until he
should have saved the money TO make
restitution, and return? She dared not
ask to receive one word of assurance
from Jim I'm his far country. She
dared not lose for one moment the
grip on her own faithful waiting. That
simply must have some hold on Jim
And now she knelt there by the open
chest TO renew her promise.
Somewhere al a distance shop
whistle blew, and Grizel jumped up.
She had forgotten the attic door key
that had slipped into the folds Of her
serge gown, and It clattered 10 the
floor. bounced sharply on the plank,
and slipped into a wide floor crack.
Grizel heard II hit the sides of the par
titlon as It fell down and down.
"Now I'm locked up here" she
cried. dsmayed by the Immediate diff.
ficulty
She could not hope TO break down
the door of strong, hand-hewn planks.
She could not hope 10 make any
nelghbor hear from the single, small,
back window Of the attic. II was a
question when she might be searched
for She opened the window TO let In
the sunny air, and knelt by the sill
and laughed softly at her sorry plight.
She might well be a real damsel in
distress. And Jlis had always come
TO the rescue when II was game.
The shop whistle blew again and
Grize settled 10 watch. The shad-
ows had heightened to the wall when a
boot crunched on the gravel walk be-
low. Some one was at the house door
I'm locked into this attic!" called
Grizel. If you will 90 to the shed you
viii find large magnet to tie to a
rope | will let down."
When she had the rope down he
came around the corner with the shoe
shaped iron. and tied II on
Pull away. my lady Grizel!" he
called.
"Jlinr
Pull away" he said sternly.
Grizel's hands trsmbled on the cold
iron OF the magnet, and then she let II
down through the floor crack TO reach
the key Would the magnet find that
iron? Would the key cling fast? The
rope In her hand slsckened when the
magnet touched bottom, and then she
pulled II tsut The key was found and
held
Flinging open the unlocked door she
saw Jim. older. thinner with eyes that
questioned hers. a. he stood there 90
the attic stairs. Grlzel put out her
hand. but he had no mind for social
amenities.
I've just handed the money in at
the bank" he said slowly
you saved IL ally
Every cent! I'm ready 10 start for /
myself now. guess ] need you more |
than ever. Grizel. but Il isn't fair 20 /
ask you to make any such wait as you /
may have to until TIA on my feet. That /
is what I came around 10 say"
81 don't see us waiting Jim I've I
got some money saved that can use |
to hx the house up. and We can start /
having q home right now my knight 7" /
My lady Grizel A fellow just has /
% keep making good with yourself I
having the faits that he VIII said /
Jim.
Record for Woman Msehinist