Mountain advocate., 1922-08-11
THE SACRIFICE
BY GRACE o. wEArHERsY

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There was a little breathless silence
while, with fingers that shook tritie.
Anthony Pyrton slipped a cleaning
diamond on the third finger Of O small
white hand that lay coldly passive in
his.
The girls face was deadly pale, her
eyes wide and very blue, her lips co1n-
pressed ever so slightly, You see, this
was rather an ordeal for the gay Mar
ion. She didn't love Anthony the least
little Bit II was one Of those unfor'
tunate Affairs where love is sacrificed
ON the altar Of family protection, and
yet there was a strange twist 70 II
that seldom enters into the rch-man
poor-girl stories.
Anthony wasn't the sleek, smooth
gentleman that the rich man usually
10. He was just a plain. hornely man,
with. long, lanky legs that moved q
trife Rwkwardly, and eyes that re-
minded the exasperated Marion Of
faithful dog she once had. What mat
ter II be did have millions7 He wasn't
the type OF man she could love.
These were the thoughts that finally
prevailed upon the girl 10 give up her
dream Of love and to place her hard
IN Antbonys when he proffered the
ring.
Marion his voice was husky with
eagerness. 'I know you don't love me,
but, honey, I'm going TO try my best
10 make you very happy"
And so-she was married. With
mother and dad installed in the big
house on the hill where there was no
cold, nor hunger, nor housework, nor
worry, where every whim was satis-
fed, every want anticipated. Marion
seemed 10 relax
One night, a year after they had
been married, a sudden illness pre-
vented the dinner guest from coming.
and an evening at home resulted. Sud
denly, very tired. Marion curled up on
the wide couch before the open fire.
place and fell TO dreaming. Anty, find
ing her thus, her cheeks flushed by
the flames, thought her lovely in
deed
Honey" he pleaded, 1--WE haven't
had our. honeymoon yet Don't you
think a trip TO California would be
nicer
But the prospects Of q trip alone
with Anty did not seem TO appeal 10
Marion. and she shook her head. NO.
Anty, please. II is so cozy here, and
couldn't leave mother and dadv
There was nothing more said, and
turning presently, she found he had
gone. She settled more comfortably
in her cushions. II was nice to stay
home once in a while.
So It went on until Judy came. The
sudden death of a relative brought her
from her western ranch, and as she
and Marion had not seen each other
for many years, she planned TO stay a
week AT the big house. An hour after
her arrival she discovered Anty sit
ting alone before his fire.
as this the famous AnthonyT
Startled. he rose 10 his feet, stammer'
ing, but she gave him no chance TO
speak. I'm judith wentworth, ana
I'm just as happy as l can be 10 meet
you!"
Marion, coming in search Of her
friend, felt a queer sinking in her
heart when she saw Anty respond to
Judy's cheerful tlattery.
The week heightened into month,
and threatened to last longer! Marion
saw very little of her friend. She
walked with Anty--lOng hikes that
brought them back rosy and tired out
riding With Anty in the park, and
Judy was using Marions own particu-
lar horse.
The climax came one terrible night
when the wind howled and the snow
was drifting fast. Inside the big house
all was CHEEKY. CARRIED In a witching
evening gown OF blue and silver, she
trailed her fingers almlessly over the