The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-04-28
THE SACRIFICE
BY GRACE o. wEATHERHY


white hand that lay coIdly passive in
his.
The girls face was deadly pale, her
eyes wide and very blue, her lips COM
pressed ever so slightly. You see, this
was rather IN ordeal for the gay Mar
ion. She didn't love Anthony the least
little bit! 1t was one Of those unfor-
tunate affairs where love is sacrificed
on the altar of family protection, and
yet there was a strange twist to it
that seldom enters into the rich-man
poor-girl stories.
Anthony wasn't the sleek, smooth
gentleman that the rich man usually
is. He was just plain, homely man,
with long, lanky legs that moved
trif1e awkwardly, and eyes that re-
minded the exasperated Marion of a
faithful dog she once had. What mat
ter if he did have millions? He wasn't
the type of man she could love-
These were the thoughts that finally
prevailed upon the girl to give up her
dream of love and to place her hand
in Anthonys when he proffered the
ring.
Marion" his voice was husky with
eagerness. Il knew you don't love me,
but, honey, I'm going to try my best
to 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 homework, nor
worry, where every within was salts
fed. every want anticipated, Marion
seemed to relax.
One night, year after they had
been married, sudden illness pre-
vented the dinner guest from coming,
and an evening at home resulted. Sud-
denly, very tired, Marion curled up on
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 trip to California would be
| ulcer
But the prospects of a trip alone
With Anty did not seem TO appeal to
Marion, and she shook her head. No,
Anty, please. 1t is so coy here, and
l couldn't leave mother and dad !"
There was nothing more said, and
turning presently, she found he had
gone. She settled more comfortably
in her cushions 1t 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
week at the big house. An hour after
her arrival she discovered Anty sit
ting alone before his fire.
SIS this the famous Anthony"
Startled, he rose to his feet, stammer-
ing, but she gave him no chance to
speak. SIN Judith Wentworth. and
I'm just as happy as can be to meet
your
Marion, coming in search of her
friend, felt a queer sinking in her
heart when she saw Anty respond to
| Judy's cheerful flattery.
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 wftching
evening gown of blue and silver, she
| traiIed her fingers aimlessly over the
piano keys. longing for peace-with
Anty. She rose, nerv0usly, and wan
dered out into the spacious hall. The
front door opened noisily and admitted
a gust of cold air and snow, and Judy
and Anthony, The Western girls
black eyes were dancing, her cheeks
rosy. They didn't see her-they never
saw her
"Oh, isn't it just too wonderful! /
hated to come in" Anty was very at
tentive Marion turned away, crying
weakly, and then, drawn by an r.
resistible impulse she looked again,
| and found them close together, Judy's
face buried in the mans shoulder.
A log fell, sending a shower of
sparks into the air. Marion stirred,
sat up. There were tears wet on her
eheeksEshe had been asleep, and it
was all horrible dream! There was
no Judy here! She ran out into the
| hall looking for Anty. She hurried up
| the stairs, opened his door. The lamp
| by the table was burning, revealing
Anty asleep in his arm chair, his
| book fallen from nerveless fingers.
She crept to his side and knelt on
| the floor The man stirred and lifted
| his head.
"Marionl What on EARTH He was
thoroughly awake now.
"Oh, Anty, I've had the awfulest
dreamI" She shiyered and nestled
closer to him. Couldn't you possibly
hold me for while? I'm so cold-and
| afraid
The wondering Anty picked her up
and settled her on his knee. Her sleepy
head fell on his shoulder. and for a
moment they were very still. he trying
to fathom this new Marion. she con-
tent TO be near him. Then
"Anty -
| what. DEAR" He had not changed
| at all, and was still as slow as POKE
| "De-you love mel -. Lots 80 &c
| ialifornia, tom0rrow r.