Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-08-27

determined gait, and something told
Frances that the crisis was at hand.
This was substantiated presently when
she heard Mr.. Gordon downstairs, ask
ing for "your mother" lnasmuch as
kathryn was the person addressed,
Frances was the one sought.
II believe she's upstairs, but she
may have gone out she heard Kath-
ryn say. "I'll go up and see"
Hes coming to ask permission to
marry Kathryn" Mrs. Sparks told her
self. II must postpone it-until have
time to think way out of the mess"
She slipped into jacket and hur-
ried down the hall to the back stair
way. Descending. she FASTENED out TO
the garage and presently emerged driv-
ing the Sparks family motor. At a
fast pace she drove out into the street
and away.
Nature is good person TO consult
when problems arise. and Mrs. Sparks
drove into the country. Her mind &C.
cupied with her new-found troubles.
she happened to glance backward and
see Nathan Gordon's roadster pursu-
ing AT good pace. With him was
Kathryn.
Frances opened the throttle and the
little car hummed; but the big road
ster behind drew nearer. uttering
shricks which might have meant get
out OF the way or wait minute"
ire he IN a
never face them now. Her plan Of
action had not been shaped.
When she saw that she could not
0utdistance her pursuers. Frances
stopped the car by the road and ran
into the woods. treading well-trav-
eled path. Presently she came TO a
clearing in which stood big oak with
its trunk grotesquely shaped into n
seat. She sank into this natural chair
hoping She would not be found
As she sat there the problem Of her
daughters welfare suddenly left her
mind and she became conscious that
memories Of the past were Cruwding
In on her. And no wonder This was
the place where her class AT school
had held II picnic ages ago. and she
had sal OF this same oaken trunk with
Nathan Gordon. II made her smile in
spite Of her anxiety.
The smile fed, however. when she
saw Nathan himself approaching In
company with Kathryn The latter
Jagged behind while the former ap-
preached the oak.
Nov I've got YOU" he said trl-
umphantly and smiling broadly. II
called today 10 ask you very serious
question and I'm going TO have the
answer here and now"
Mrs Sparks head seemed rcsound.
ing with the strains Of IAN old mans
gold" At bay. she was determined to
fight for her daughter.
IL know your question" she said
her Indignation bursting forth. "You
want 10 marry Kathryn. and all l can
say H. you ought Ia he ashamed OF
yoursclf-a man Of your years and Il
youngster not yet out of college who
has the best years OF her girlhood
ahead ~ her"
Nathan lifted his eyebrows in amaze
ment. lie was spcechlcss for n mo-
ment, but gradually that fascinating
smile returned and he spoke quietly 4:
"You are iaboring under n misappre
henSIon. Frances. | have no such de
signs on your daughter. II Is this
way. My son Alfred attends the same
college as she. and they have become
fond Of each other. They had little
disagreement. aS lovers will. and he
wrote me about the trouble. came
here iu see II | couldn't patch the mat
ter up, feeling tha; was friend OF
the family. b,lieve my mission has
been n success.
but something new has developed
When saw you realized that | loved
YOU and sat on this very tree trunk
| told Kathryn wanted to marry
YOU, but she said She wouldn't let me
All this time I've been trying to get
her consent. and my arguments and
ploadineS finally have won. No. |
d,n'i care TO marry your daughter. III
leave that Ia my son. The person ]
want 10 marry Is y"u."
This time II was Mrs. Sparks who
was amazed. She did not answer for a
little while. but sat picking AT the
bark Of the oak. her eyes downcast
"rll-l'll have 10 think IL over" she
finally said. but her mind was made
up.