The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-23
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANNE LESLIE.

Carl and then his look of irritation and chagrin suggested that he'd take back the words, if that could be man aged.
 Daisy Condon is clever girl. re- piled Tom with sort of weary pa- tience. "She was faithful to her work and very successful in it. I admired her for her ability and liked her TOT her sweetness.
 And if anything happened to her you'd feel badIy?" asked Carl, on the verge of a sheer.
 "Very,'' replied Tom oIietlv.
 Because you'd reproach yourself for overworking her or anything E6S that 2" demanded Carl. AS is he were taking his cue from the other mans words, Tom replied: q was guilty of burdening her with a mass of detail that must have been almost staggering at times. And she had lot of responsibility. If Daisy has broken down it's because hadn't sense enough to see that there are limits to what a delicate, eager. high strung girl can stand" "Precisely," agreed Carl. and I had | a feeling that he in turn was taking his cue. There are limits to what | a higfn strung girl can-stand. Daisy didn't appreciate her own hnitatlons: l She-gave too much. Flung herself l into her work you might say. lnevit- able resu1t-nervous breakdown 1 Again I had a feeling that tho two | men were appraising each other. l They seemed to be coming to some sort of tacit agreement It was as | if they had to settle things between themselves before admitting me to their inner circle. With feeling | that was eavesdropping I tried to shut off my perceptions and take in no more than was meant for me
 Now that we've cleared away all the dead wood,' said Carl smoothly, we're ready to talk. Of course, you folks know that Daisy's helped herself to a much needed vacation. That's what she meant it to be. But think now it's going to amount to quitting a job that was too much for her.
 "Oh, she mustn't give up." began, stif1ing the exclamation on my lips as J Tom bowed his head gravely and said:
 'If you think that's best suppose Mrs. Harrison and I, as the rest of 1 the counsel of Daisy's three friends, must at least hear your reasons
 Daisy had a bad breakdown. She felt it coming. Painted at the office one afternoon. Couldn't bring herself back even when she heard the bell pealing as if some one was set on get ting in. Might never have come out of her swoon if she hadn't struggled | to answer that ben.'
 As he spoke visioned myself stand ing in the hallway outside Toms stu dio with my finger on the bell and my every nerve strained to make the per son stirring behind the locked door 1 answer me. made no comment, how l ever, and Carl went on as if he were 1 saying something he'd thoroughly re- hearsed.
 When she got so she could move l around again Daisy was in a blue funk. All she wanted to do was to ge away. She felt she'd been to the gates of death and back. She says she was in sort of a trance. When she came to she found herself in 1 sanitarium. They told her she'd walk ed in a week before asking to be giv- en a rest cure. She got herself out wad of money she found shed provid- ed herself with-all her savings-and went to a little lace down on the lake Then Daisy sent for me.
 We were good friends back in the l days when she was at Haldanes. She said she had to turn to some one, and I seemed right. I'm very glad of that. Any man might be glad to serve Daisy to help her find herself again. |
 His eyes were on Toms face all the while he was speaking. It seemed as if he were imposing some unspoken demand or command on Tom Mason. and Tom bowed his head as if he un- Il derstood and acquiesced.
 1 Daisy sent for me and told me all her troubles" Carl went on almost dogged1y. "I felt that she'd had a. plenty fotsted on her. I've always been mighty fond of Daisy. ' I began to feel a sort of-awe of her when T. heard all she'd been able to-see her self through
 l l realized that Carl was picking his way carefully. He seemed to be testing words and discarding them to be choosing others in place of those he had weighed and found wanting.
 She told me-everything," he con- tinued almost chsllenging1y. His eyes blazed at Tom. Their intensity seem ed terrible. I felt it must burn through to whatever he was seeking. 1 Tom, avoided his eyes with a self consciousness that baff1ed Carl. But he ploughed ahead doggedly, ignoring anything but what he seemed to feel he must say.
 ''she told me everything. I found it stirring me-to the depths. It made me realize that the only thing in the world I really wanted was just Ito have-the right-to take care of her. We were married the next day. Will you both congratulate me?" 1 In the DIur or emotions that fol- lowed I heard Tom Mason gasp out in something like disbelief:
 Daisy married you!"
 TT married Daisy" corrected Carl, rising to his feet with a quiet dig, nity that was a challenge to Tom, land I'm waiting for you to tell me what a luucky man I am.'' 1 CHAPTER 666 Both, you are a lucky man. and no mistake" decelared Tom Mason, heartily and smoothly. Daisy Con don was splendid girl. Daisy Booth will be a fine woman. I congratu- late you.''
 Perhaps Tom took his cue from Carl and spoke in answer to a tacit demand. But there was nothing missing in his tone. If there was also nothing back of it, that didn't