The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1921-04-01
His Victory
-
By MURIEL BLAIR
l@. 1874. western Newspaper union-)

fully.
.Why not?n Tom asked. kissing the
pretty, pouting lips.
because hell say that you cant
support me-" she cried, And III
never be happy with anyone else"
IAN right, dearest, IN try aud see
what he says right now" and before
Marjorie could demonstrate he went
into the house, for the two had been
out ON the veranda and, guided by the
light under which Mr.. Graham was
reading his evening paper, soon put
the case before him.
$50 you want TO marry my daugh-
ferr' was the quick question.
II do, sir" Tom replied. shes
dear and sweet enough 10 make every
one want TO do that"
Mr.. Graham shook his head. mo,
Tom" he said decidedly, marjorie
can't marry any man who has moth
ing more than you, with my consent
or course she can go ahead II she
wants 10 without 1t. but don't think
rhe will" and no amount Of pleading
would change him. He and his wire
had married on very small salary,
and he always felt that her early
death was caused by the hardships
she went through before lie was earn
ing enough to take care of her proper
".
Marjorie fretted, but to no purpose.
occasionally she saw Tom, but alwaRs
felt she was wronging her father in
doing so. Tom worked and saved, but
seemed to make no progress In his
suit.
Mr.. Graham was unhappy, too. He
liked Tom, but felt that his daughter
was worthy OF someone who had al
ready made his mark in the world,
ana SO would not give his consent.
"rd gladly share crust with you,
dear" she told Tom on one OF the
occasions when they iifet.
Il guess l could buy two Of them"
he said doggedly. II was hard TO be
called pauper. when he was earning
4 fair salary, was not disslpated, and
was working day and night to attain
HIS cherished object.
II didn't mean that, dear" she
sobbed, clinging to him.
II know, sweetheart" he said sad
siy. "I-guess it's just another .-slase Of
the high cost of living and once
more he set himself TO solve the,
problem of how to overcome the OPP
position of his father-in-law TO be,
Matters were I'M this very unsatis-
factory state when Mr., Graham was
invited to be one of the speakers at
a banquet given visiting dignitary,
He was surprised to find Tom at the
same table with himself; in fact, to
fnd him there at all, hut he did not
know that Tom was friend of the
son Of the man who had originated
the banquet, which would have ex-
planned his presence.
The affair passed off agreeably, the
great parsonage departed, and. some of
the visitors drifted into the lobby Of
the hotel, Mr.. Graham among them.
After receiving congratulations upon
his well-chosen speech, which was one
OF the best of the evening, his atten-
ton was attracted towards a some
what noisy group over In one corner,
and seeing Tom among them he saun-
tered in their direction. II he had
gone deeply into the reason, II would
have been that he was trying to find
full justification for his attitude to-
ward the young man.
As he came up, one Of the number,
the son Of Toms employer, was say
Ing tauntfngly:
afraid TO drink, are your"
Mr.. Graham remembered that he
had noticed that Toms wine glasses
had been turned down during the ban
quet.
mo" Tom said quietly, and Mr..
Graham realized that Tom was not
contributing TO the noisy conversation
Of the group.
~Then what makes you such poor
sportf" continued the young man, who
had evidently been drinking too much
"Me? Oh. don't drink because
don't care for it, that's all. The next
day headache seems too high asprice
to pay for somewhat questionable
pleasure the night before" and he
laughed easily, then added:
-Come on. Bob; let's go home"
you're afraid to drink. 1 dare you
to take drink, just one to show you
know how. and the tone was so taunt-
ing that Mr.. Graham fully expected
to see Tom turn with his friend into
the cafe; but that young man only
laughed again, and throwing his arm
about the shoulder of his tempter,
said quietly:
you're coming with me- and man
aged to get him away from the, con-
vivial crowd.
Mr.. Graham jammed his hat down
on his head and went home. For a
full hour he studied over the matter,
with the result that the next evening
he sent for Tom When that aston
ished but delighted young man ar
rived. he told him briefly.
take my girl. I'm satisfied. A
man who can control himself can al
ways control others. ! need you In
my business"
Il need him, too, father" Marjorie
whispered delightedly.