Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-01-26
Good Morning!
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE

III
ming for Muriel Delevan. and she was
content to lilger upon the porch and
dream over the various events that had
made her nineteenth birthday a red
letter event in her life. There had
been tennis all the afternoon and mu-
sic and dancing until eleven o'clock
and now, nearing the mystic hour OF
midnight. the last guest had departed.
Old. Abel Strong, the gardener and
general major domo. had retired after
a final survey Of the grounds. Mrs.
Walters, the housekeeper, was going
upstairs to her room when Rose, the
younger sister. came out AID sat down
in Muriel's lap and put her arms low
ingly about her neck.
'sTired. dear?" she cooed in gentle,
soothing tones. ~
mo. just lost In happy dreams"
came the low murmured reply. Il think
shall never forget this great, lovely
day Of my life."
.sDo you think Rodney Blair will,
either?" mischievously inquired Rose.
sOh, don't know" replied Muriel
In an ecstasy Of emotion, but he was so
kind and thoughtful and almost senti-
mental"
"And he stole away from the others
In your stroll about the grounds. Why,
you palpitating, ecstatic little humbug,
you are in love with him and afraid
to think it,
'.Now, Rose"
NO. now Muriel!" disputed Rose,
'.you are to come to bed at once. You
know we promised papa early hours
while he was away and here it is go
ing towards one o'clock. Come, DEAR"
and Rose led her sister into the house
and they went up stairs.
Rose was yawning and sleepy, but she
INDUCED her sister In not hurrying
her from final survey of the numer
GUS gifts she had received. There was
diamond ring from her father and a
handsome wrist watch from her Aunt
Dorothy. There were minor articles
( Of jewelry from her girl friends and
there was bouquet from Rodney
: Blair which she had placed upon the
little stand at the head Of the bed.
Muriel stole glance at Rose who had
already retired, noticed that she was
asleep, selected a bud from the bou-
quef and turned out the light and tip
toed softly to the open window. She
pressed the cherished flower to her
lips and looked out upon the garden.
Life seemed still and sweet, the
zephyrs blew gently down vale Of
bloom. There seemed to be a rare
magic where the moon, shining
through the trees. Illuminated dells Of
fairy light. She was lost In maiden
reyerfe until wavy glow Of light
showed, disappeared, moving about
from spot to spot beyond long row
Of stately lilies.
Instantly Muriel thought of some
lurking marauder. She recalled that
her absent father always kept money
and securities in the library safe.
Teen, tee, a sudden inesnmable value
to her cherished present was present
ed to her active mind. She swept the
jewelry from the stand into a drawer
and quietly left the room. Abel Strong, 4
the gardener slept in an attic over
4 the kitchen. She reached its door and
tapped.
"What is it?" at length sounded a
sleepy voice.
"Please get up at once" answered
Muriel "Some one is proving about
I the garden-some one with fash
light"
Abel came out in a few moments
pistol in either coat pocket. Murtel
related what she had seen.
'sYou stay on the porch here. Miss"
spoke Abel finally. II will leave one Of
the pistols and If the light comes near
the house fire 1t off as signal to me-"
It was an exciting and suspenseful
Eve minutes for Muriel. The flashes
Of light had ceased there was an in
term of silence and then approaching
voices sounded and the gardener and
another came into shadowy view.
Muriel stepped to the door, reached in
and turned on the porch light.
She stood spellbound as the illum-
nation revealed the gardener and
Rodney Blair. The latter held fash
light in one hand, in the other a long,
fiat wallet. .-,
IF you please, Miss" spoke the
gardener, "the gentleman says he will
explain to you about his being here"
and with q slight smile on his face
went away around the house.
(gVV hn fa19
deredly uttered Muriel.
II must be an unwelcome intruder,
causing you such an unwarranted
alarm" said Blair, equally confused
"When we-that lie, in the stroll about
the garden last evening must have
dropped letter from my pocket. 1t
was one I had written to my mother
and, Miss Delava1, Yet me make full
confession. 1t was all about you. Per-
haps the clearest thing to do is to ask
you to read It." gu.
With growing emotion Muriel pc.
rused the missive in which Blair told
his mother of his love for her and ask
ing IL she would welcome the loveliest
girl in the world as daughter-in-law
IL he could win her.
Rose Delavan was heavy sleeper,
but she had awakened at the echo Of
voices. She had gone to the window of
her room and peered down at the
porch wonderingly.
"Oh, l am surely dreaming" she
fiuttered, for on its lower step Rodney
Blair was kissing the hand Of her sis
ter in q tender
"Good night, my love-"
"Good morning, you mean" cried
the irrepressible Rose and Muriel ran