The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-07-08
His Victory
By MURlEL BLAIR
t@. 1921, Western Newspaper Union.)


marriage" Marjorie Iamented tear
fully.
''Why not?" Tom asked, kissing the
pretty, pOuting lips.
Because he'll say that you can't
support me-" she cried. "And I'll
never be happy with anyone else
"All right, dearest, III try and see
what he says right nOw," and before
Marjorie could demonstrate he went
into the house, for the two had been
out on the veranda and, guided by the
light under which Mr.. Graham was
reading his evening paper, soon put
the case before him.
$50 you want to marry my daugh-
teri" was the quick question.
81 do, sir" Tom replied. "She's
dear and sweet enough to make every
one want to do that"
Mr.. Graham shook his head. mo,
Tom" he said decidedly, Marjorie
can't marry any man who has moth
ing more than you, with my consent.
OF course she can go ahead if she
wants to without it, but | don't think
she WILL" and no amount of pleading
would change him. He and his wife
had married on a very small salary
and he always felt that her early
death was caused by the hardships
she went through before he was earn
ing enough to take care of her proper
ly.
Marjorie fretted, but to no purpose.
Occasionally she saw Tom, but always
felt she was wronglng her father in
doing so. Tom worked and saved, but
seemed to make no progress in his
suit.
Mr.. Graham was unhappy, too. He
liked Tom, but felt that his daughter
was worthy of someone who had al
ready made his mark In the world,
and so would not give his consent.
I'D gladly share a crust with you,
dear" she told Tom on one of the
occasions when they met.
II guess l could buy two of them"
he said dOggedly. 1t was hard to be
called a pauper when he was earning
q fair salary, was not dlssipated, and
was working day and night to attain
his cherished object
81 didn't mean that, DEAR" she
sobbed, clinging TO him.
81 know, sweetheart" he said sad
ly. 81 guess it's just another phase of
the high cost of living" and once
more he set himself TO solve the
problem of how to overcome the op-
position of his father-in-law to be.
Matters were in this very unsatis-
factory state when Mr. Graham was
invited to be one of the speakers at
a banquet given a visiting dgnitary
He was surprised TO find Tom at the
same table with himself; in fact, to
lind him there at all, but he did not
know that Tom was a friend of the
son of the man who had originated
he banquet, which would have ex-
planned his presence.
The affair passed off agreeably, the
great parsonage departed, and some of
he visitors drifted Snto the lobby of
he hotel, Mr.. Graham among them.
After receiving congratulations upon
lis well-chosen speech, which was one
# the best Of the evening, his atten- (
ion was attracted towards some
What noisy group oser i'm one corner
md seeing Tom among them be saun-
cred In their direction. If he had
.One deeply into the reason, II would
ave been that he was trying to find
ull justification for his attitude to-
yard the young man.
AS he came up, one of the number,
he son of Toms employer, was say
ng tauntingly:
"Afraid to drink, are your
Mr. Graham remembered that he
ad noticed that Toms wine glasses
ad been turned down during the ban
net.
NO" Tom said quietly, and Mr..
iraham realized that Tom was not
to the noisy conversation
( the group.
"Then what makes you such a poor
pOrt?" continued the young man, who
ad evidently been drinking too much.
"Me? Oh, | don't drink because
ont care for II, that's all. The next
ay headache seems too high a price
D pay for a somewhat questionable
leasure the night before" and he
lughed easily. then added:
"Come on, Bob; let's go home"
you're afraid TO drink. / dare you
D take a drink, just one TO show you
now how" and the tone was so taunt-
lg that Mr.. Graham fully expected
D see Tom turn with his friend into
he cafe; but that young man only
iughed again, and throwing his arm
bout the shoulder Of his tempter,
aid quietly:
you're coming with me-" and man
ged to get him away from the con-
ivial crowd.
Mr.. Graham jammed his hat down
n his head and went home. For a
ull hour he studied over the matter,
nth the result that the next evening
e sent for Tom. When that aston
shed but delighted young man ar
iyed, he told him briefly.
take my girl. I'm satisfied. A