Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-07-30


"a the house. He progressed with a
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.
Il believe she's upstairs, but she
may have gone out" she heard kath-
ryn say. "Ill 90 up and see"
Hes coming 10 ask permission to
marry Kathryn" Mrs Sparks told her
self Il must postpone it-un,il have
time 10 think way out Of the mess
She slipped into n jacket and hur.
ried down the hall To the back stair
way Descending. she FASTENED out 10
the garage and presently emerged driv-
ing the Sparks family motor. AT
fast pace She drove out into the street
and away.
Nature is good person 10 consult
when problems arise, and Mrs. Sparks
drove into the country. Her mind oc-
cupied with her new-found troubles.
She happened To glance backward and
see Nathan Gordon'S roadster pursu-
ing al good pace. With him was
Kathryn.
Frances opened the throttle and the
little ear hummed; but the big road
>ter behind drew nearer uttering
Shrieks which might have meant get
on ~ the way" or wait minute"
Mrs Sparks chose not TO wait. She could
never fac" them now. Her plan OF
action lad not been shaped
When She saw that She could not
outdisiahce her purSucrs. Frances
stopped the ear by the road and RAT
into the woods. treading a Wcl-tray.
ei"d path. Presently She came TO
clearing in which stood big oak witt
il trunk grotesqu.ly shaped into
LAT. S.c sank into This natural chair
hoping She would not he found
A. Size sat there the problem Of hen
daughters welfare suddenly left hei
mind and she became conscious ihat
memories Of the past were crowdnt
III on Ter. Aud no wonder This wa
t." place where her class al schoo
had held = picnic ages ago. and She
had ~; on this same uakcn trunk with
Nathan Gordon. II made her smile il
spite II her anxiety.
The smile fled. however. when she
saw >aihnn himself approaching IL
company with Kathryn The latter
Jagged hchind while he former IN,
preached The oak.
"<,w I've got You" h. said trl.
umEhantly AMI smiling broadly. 81
cailc' today TO ask you a very serious
qu,> al aud I'm going 10 have IN,
alsve; here and NOW
Mr. Sparks head seemed rcsound
h- witt The strains ~ IAN old mans
gold A; bay. She was determined 10
fight Tor Ter daughter.
Il know Your question" She said.
Ecr Indignation bursting forth. You
wat. !" marry Kathryn. and all can
-! i Aou ought Ia be ashamed Of
4"urscIf--:l inlu IL Your wears and "a
t"uugsier not Vet out 81 college. who
has The best years ~ her girlhood
ahead al her
Nathan lifted hi> eyebrows IN amaze.
men; liz was ~pecchlrsS for mo
incul tut gradually that fascinating
smile returned and he spoke quietly
You ARE iaborng under Il misappre-
hcnsion. Frances. | have 10 such DE-
signs an your daughter. II is thi,
college a. She. and they have become
fond Of each other They had little
disagreement. rs lovers will, and he
wrote me about the trouble came
here 10 see If couldn't patch the mat.
ter w. feeling that I was friend OF
the family. | believe my mission has
been success.
but something new has developed.
When | saw you | realized thai loved
Yen. the same aS I'D wears ago when
you ar! | sat on this very tree trunk.
! told Kathryn | wanted 10 marry
You hut she said She wouldn't LEI me.
All This time I've been irving To get
Ter consent, aud my arguments and
pleadine> finally have won No
cont care 10 marry Your daughter, I'll
leave that 10 my son. Tie person |
want - marry is Nau."
This time # was Mrs, Sparks who
wa amazed. She lid not answer for
little While. but sal picking al the
bark ot Tie oak. her eyes d"wncasi.
"Tll-I'll have 10 IlinE II over" she
finally said. bun her mind was made
up.