The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-18
WHEN A GIRL MARRIES
 aSCT
BY ANN LESLIE.

''The first I heard of him in years was when got word that he'd gone broke went to look him up. He was down and out. But he wouldn't take help Leastways no more than would set him up with ready cash enough to start a. place for boarders on the one ranch he hoped wouldn't be foreclosed n him. I bought it | up and made up my mind I'd deed it fback to him. Got that straight % "Yes,'' I said. +tI guess I got more | out of that than you told me-"
 He went on without seeming to hear. It was if he were living it all over again and trying to get rid of what he saw quickly, in pungent l phrases and homely words that re- verted to his humble beginnings. Then along comes my own trou- ble. Loretta, she's always been kinda strange. And she gets queer. The doctors say asylum I says, no Sirree. And as had to travel a lot L think now this is where I ask Etienne to | do me a service so big that taking an | oTnery fruit ranch from his old pal will look like nothing. So I take her l to fdenne and his wife, and they promise to look after her like she
 was their own. didn't mean to ask
 more than had right to: I didn't
 mean to put them out. You know that. don't you, Anne?"7
 ''Yes. I know" I said.
 Well, Loretta. she got worse and
 worse And this little girl, Valerie. coming up to her young 1adyhood. without the things she'd had as a chlld--sho takes care of her. IIoret- ta wasn't grateful She was always magining the poor kid was making sheep's eyes at me-old enough to be her father. That poor kid, giv- ing her young life to take care of my poor crazy wife. Can you see the injustice of it?'
 I shook my head-fiIIing in word lessly the picture of Val going ruth lessly after the richest and most eli gible man who had ever come across her barren girlhood.
 Loretta was always making up fanciful tales of how little Val taunt-
 ed her and sneerred at her. Crazy Loretta Lore was, I could see that the pity for my poor wife. The poor. pretty little thing seemed like a daughter to me coming and and cry ing out her troubles on my shoulder time and time again We'll, once, when l got back from looking over the piece of land where we struck a gusher and made my big haul, I mo- ticed how pale little Val is and tuck cred out from taking care of Loret- ta- Sc l tell her how it worries me to be, putting this blight on her youth.
 And the poor little thing breaks down and
 He stopped. his face twisting in | agony and his breath coming fast, as | he lived it over as if it had happened this very day.
 Must you tell me this:" I asked pityingly. ''If you're going to help fight this Mason woman" he replied.
 There was silence for a moment. Then he continued his words stum blnig out jerkily:
 I'm the only man little Val ever
 sees except fruit ranchers and sheep herders. She breaks down and tells
 me even taking care of my sick wife makes her happy-because it's-my wife. Nhct's man 70 do? Here I
 am with poor Loretta tied to me And
 this poor little girl thinking I'm all
 she has to love in the world Whats
 a man to da ?''
 What did you do" gasped.
 shaken by the tragedy in his voice. To Be Continued.