The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-06-29
Neva Wins Back
Her Fiance
By DOROTHY wHITcoMB
o. 1921. western Newspaper union.l


nature. Portia Manville sat with closse
eyes. She was immersed in tri
| umphant yet bitter day dream thai
humid, languorous June afternoon.
She was thinking of Dolph Merrill
a man well worth thinking of, she told
herself Her mind went back year,
when, with one chapter of her life
closed. a dark and stormy one. she
met Dolph Merrill. just returning from
college. Both belonged to families OF
wealth and position. The fathers and
mothers had encouraged a love match.
Portia had played her wiles well. She
had fascinated the bright. open-heart-
ed Dolph as she had entrapped others.
He was happy in the meshes of her
fascinations until her true character
became disclosed to him. Too late he
discovered that he lad taken interest
in lovely woman for love. He doubt
ed even that she cared for him down
in her heart. But they had become
engaged.
And then, one glorious love-tilled
month. when Portia had been away on
a IL
CT happiness. First as acquaintances.
then as friends, and then as unspoken
lovers he and Neva Throop had drift
ed into hours when the sight of one
another was bliss complete. Then the
rude awakening-the return of Portia
and his soulful remorse that he had
learned to love Neva and had taught
her TO love him.
She never chided him when they
parted. Dolph had gone to Portia.
He had confessed his mistake in their
engagement. There was no pity in
that stony heart. Just one firm, cruel
curl of those proud lips. and Dolph
Merrill knew that this siren woman
would never release him.
On that same afternoon Neva
Throop sat with her work basket be-
side her. The sad tears fell, she be-
came lost in dreary reverie, and
was only aroused when a hand stole
across the porch table and seized the
long, sharp scissors.
"Why, Margaret. she exclaimed.
looking up with q start and recogniz-
ing II poor demented woman who
wandered about the district, cared for
by charity in her lucid spells and kept
under lock and key when violent.
Poor Margaret had been crazed
through the death of her only child.
Don't get frightened dear" spoke
Margaret. quietly enough. but Neva
noticed that her eyes were more than
f,f..lt arif ..-fld
to borrow your pretty scissors for a
few minutes"
But what do you want them for,
Margaret?"
Never mind. I'll tell you when
come back" replied the woman with q
sly laugh. and she darted away.
Neva was on her feet in an instant
She was greatly alarmed. She made
out the object of her anxiety disap-
pearing through hedge and ran il
rapid pursuit Of her.
Margaret darted through a row OF
lilacs fringing the rear of The Man
Vile place. Neva halted. hesitatins
and Undecided. She shrank froiI
meeting Portia Manville.
Mad Margaret had come up softly
behind Portia ManviIle. just now
DIE stood grasping in one hand the
long luxuriant braids of her hair. II
the other she waved the keen glitter
ing scissors threateningly.
Don't you cry on again" her voics
sounded harshly. because if you do
will stab--stab -
"What-what do you want 2 ful
tered the frightened and trembling
portia, shrinking in dread from the
brandished weapon.
Il am going to cut off your hair
declared Margaret determinedly. "it's
50 beautiful Besides that. I've go
to have it. Little Nellie wants it, ant
| must always get any thing for hei
that she wants"
Por.ia dared not stir. Her heart
sank at sense of her certain help
lessness.
See. Margaret" she faltered. The
pretty brooch wear--or | Will go {
the house and get you some money
Please don't cut off my haiE.''
"Take care. take care!" warned her
captor, you're stirring. I've got to
have your hair. I've made Nellie a
great rag doll and ! want to put real
hair on its head. Light hair golden
and shining, just like yours"
Just as the cruel blades were de
scending. Neva reached the spot She
grasped Margaret by the shoulders
with all her force. tore the scissors
from her hand, and threw them rs fal
as she could away from her.
Then placing her arm about the
poor distracted creature. she soothed
her gradually, promised her some false
hair her aunt had, and gently drew
her away from the place.
Just before dusk that evening Por
tia Manville came over to the Throol
home. There was strangely subdued
expression in her face. Well there
might bel BY some strange fate. one
hour after her rescue by Neva, let
ter had come that had changed ali
the tenor of her emotions.