Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-13
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Verify the Gods
BY A. w. PEACH
What do Won think -


Beth Mills lifted the blue, quizzical
eyes from the sewing in her lap and
repeated the excited sentence of her
friend. " What do l think?' I shall
think you out of your mind if you don t
calm down -
well, you will be out of your mind
when | fell you that there's man
going to marry you" Edith went on.
Beth smiled a moderate smile. II
hope there is-somewhere : and I'll grab
him If he meets specifications!
mo. really. Beth Blue Eyes, q man
has taken out license to marry you.
MY dear" the cool voice answered.
you are dementcd. The man whom
But I'm not crazy. HIS name is
Marden Campbell
II never heard of him-honcst In
jun!'
Never you mind he knows you. He
has taken out license, and it gives
your name and address. You know the
Star is printing the names of those
after license; and it must be you,
your name and address. See - She
thrust the newspaper in front of Beth.
Beth put aside her needle and calmly
took the paper. There was mans
face, and under it brief run of type
which said in effect that Marden Camp
bell, young engineer who had in
vented new mining process, was stop
ping in the city long enough to wed Miss
Beth Mills. etc, and that the honey
moon would be spent in South Amer
lea. where he was to be employed.
'Hum-m, honeymoon in South
America. and I have always longed to
roam; verify the gods understood. Dad
used to say | ought to marry a viking
or hobo. | wonder which he is?'
Beth commented.
Her staring friend burst out, "You
cold booded witch. do you know him"
Edith, ! never saw him, never knew
him. never heard of him+' was the brief
answer "Ah there's the telephone
suppose
A gay voice. touched with the tone
that is suggestive af manhood, strength
and determination, spoke to her. Did
she recognize him? she was asked. The
spirit of mischief and daredeviltry that
had been the bane of her mothers life
and the quiet joy of her fathers, took
possession of her. Yes, she recognized
him yes, she would be glad TO see him.
He could come right over.
Good heavens, suppose he has made
up his mind in some crazy way to
marry me; | really believe he would.
He certainly looks like the kind dad
used to call a herman.
She made no special preparations ia
meet him. nor did she plan any cam
paign; for sine realized that such a
situation might work out in too many
ways to be arranged beforehand She
had heard of men impulsive and i'm =
nnt,
mon ones; but this specimen-he was
unusual.
When word came that he was down
stairs she was decidedly nervous for
a moment; then she laughed 1t off
Come. Beth. your people were pio
ncers, faCCrs of the unknown. Look
him over ~
She stepped into the room and closed
the door. lie l0Omcd before her, tall
brown of face. his eyes smiling. His
gaze was direct and frank-the sort OF
gaze she liked. He made no impulsive
step toward her rs she entered.
The smile vanished on his face. Par
don me. came to see Miss Beth
Mills"
She nodded and said. II am Miss
Mills, and smiled as his face went tC
blankness, astonishment, then to ar
HtI httH tgtS moi
fathom. Only she knew that behind the
face was a swift working mind.
His face relaxed. "But-but this is
a deuce of situation ="
She laughed, for the expression was
n favorite with her father. She stopped
when she saw a new interest light in
Campbell's s face.
But | certainly am engaged to Miss
Beth Mills at this address," he said, a
faint smile on his face.
lie seems to take the disappoint-
ment rather lightly" was her sugges :
tion to herself; then she said aloud.
please sit down, and perhaps we can
unravel the mystery
lie Oteyed willingly enough, and in
the frank way of men who live brayely
and openly and have nothing to conceal
he told the story he had to tell. As
he went on. his grave, steady eyes
upon her, she ,rlt n stirring within
her such as no man had ever caused
before. After all he was her breed
the man of the open. battling with
great obstacles. clean lived, open soulad
and "a honeymoon in South AMERICA
was the phrase that came to her mind.
1T looks as II somebody had nut
something over on me-" he said without
trace of bitterness. you see, my work
is with things that play fair, and some
men and women don't"
She nodded again, my father was
mining engineer, too.