The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-08-18

SiO6Sup y udCk AQQ 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 we'll. She
had fascinated the bright, open-heart-
ed Dolph as she had entrapped others.
de was happy in the meshes of her
destinations until her true character
became disclosed to him. Too late he
discovered that he had 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. T.
And then, one glorious love-hlled
month, when Portia had been away on
a visit came to Dolph q full measure
of happiness. First as aequaintances,
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 q dreary reveris, and
vas only aroused when q hand stole
.cross the porch table and seized the
eng, sharp scissors.
"Why. Margaret! she exclaimed,
looking up with a start and recogniz.
ing q poor dementsd. 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.
"Dont get frightened, DEAR" spoke
Margaret, quietly enough, but Neva
noticed that her eyes were more than
ordinarily wild looking. II just want
to borrow your pretty scissors for q
few minutes"
"But what do you want them for,
Margaret"
"Never mind. I'll tell you when I
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 a hedge and ran in
rapid pursuit Of her.
Margaret darted through a row OF
lilacs fringing the e a Of the Man
Vile place. Neva halted, hesitating
and undecided. She shrank from
meeting Portia Manville.
Mad Margaret had come up softly
behind Portia Manville. Just now
she stood grasping in one hand the
long luxuriant braids Of her hair. In
the other she waved the keen glitter
ing scissors threateningly.
"Don't you cry out again." her voice
sounded harshly, because If you do I
will stab-stab! !"
"What-what do you Want?" fal-
tered the frightened and trembling
Portia, shrinking in dread from the
%brandished weapon.
II am going to cut Off your hair"
declared Margaret determinedly. IT'S
so beautiful. Besides that, I've got
to have it. Little Nellie wants it, and
| must always get any thing for her
that she wants."
Por.ia dared not stir. Her heart
sank at q sense Of her certain help
lessness.
"See, Margaret" she faltered, "the
pretty brooch | wear-or ! will go TO
the house and get you some money.
Please don't cut off my hair"
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 l want to put real
hair on it's head. Light hair, golden
and shining, just like yours"
1t 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 as far
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 Throop
home. There was a strangely subdued
expression in her face. Well there
might be! BY some strange fate, one
hour after her rescu by Neva, a let
ter had come that had changed all
the tenor Of her emotions.
It was from the only man she had
ever loved. still loved, just released
from a penal Institution. He had EN-
bezzled to make her expensive pres
ents; o he was free. He appealed
to her for the sake of the old love.
.sYou saved my life" said Portia,
cOldly as ever. but with her restless
soul d volcano. Il am going nv az
from here tonight forever, and ! give
you back-DOlph Merrill"