Middletown transcript., 1922-08-19
THE SACRIFICE
BY GRACE o. WEATHERBY

Wnlle, with nngerS tnat SHOOK lrlHe,
Anthony Pyrton slipped a cleaning
diamond on the third finger Of small
white hand that lay coldly 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 an 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 1t
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 a
trfe awkwardly, and eyes that re-
minded the exasperated Marion of
faithful dog she once had. What mat
ter if he did have millions7 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 Anthony's when he proffered the
ring.
Marion" his voice was husky with
eagerness. II know 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 housework, nor
| worry, where every whim was salts
fed, every want anticipated, Marion
seemed to relax.
One night year after they mad
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
the wide couch before the open fire.
place and fell to dreaming. Anty. f1nd,
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
nice2"
But the prospects Of trip alone
with Anty did not seem to appeal tt
Marion, and she shook her head. mo
Anty, please. 1t Is so cozy here, ant
| couldn't leave mother and dad"
There was nothing more said, ant
turning presently. she found he hat
gone. She settled more comfortabl!
In her cushions. 1t was nice to sta!
home once in while.
So 1t went on until Judy came. TIT
+ sudden death of relative brought he
, from her western ranch, and as sh'
and Marion had not seen each othe
for many years, she planned to stay
r week at the big house. An hour afte
her arrival she discovered Anty sit
ting alone before his fire.
as this the famous Anthony?
Startled, he rose to his feet, stammeI
ing, but she gave him no chance I
: speak. I'm Judith Wentworth, an
r I'm lust as happy as 1 can be to NEE
t you"
Marion, coming In search OF he
friend, felt queer sinking In ne
t heart when she saw Anty respond
q Judy's cheerful fiattery.
The week heightened into mont
and threatened to last longer Mario
y saw very little Of her friend. Sh
# walked with Anty-long hikes thf
brought them back rosy and tired OF
riding with Anty In the park, an
Fl Judy was using Marlon's own partic'
lar horse.
{ The climax came one terrible nigl
when the wind howied and the sno
was drifting fast. Inside the big hou
all was CHEEKY CARRIED In witchir
evening gown Of blue and silver. 81
tralled her fingers aimlessly over Il
piano keys, longing for peace-wi
Anty. She rose, nervously, and wa
dered out into the spacious hall. III
= front door opened noisily and admitt'
~ gust of cold air and snow, and Ju'
- and Anthony, The Western glr
:. black eyes were dancing, her chez
" rosy. They didn't see her-they nev
saw her!
- "Oh, isn't 1t just too wonderful !.
- hated to come in" Anty was very
tentive. Marion turned away, cryi
~ weakly, and then, drawn by an
1e resistible impulse she looked aga
~ and found them close together. Jud!
'e face buried in the mans should'
A log fell, sending shower
~ sparks into the air. Marion stirrt
~ sat up. There were tears wet on b
cheeks-she had been asleep, and
a. was all horrible dream! There W
= no Judy here! She ran out into
ei hall looking for Anty. She hurried
VI the stairs, opened his door. The lai
III by the table was burning, reveali
ur Anty asleep in his arm chair,
lle book fallen from nerveless fingers.
~ Sne crept to his side and knelt
the floor. The man stirred and lift
his head.
~ Marion! What on earthW He "
thoroughly awake now.
"Oh, Anty, I've had the awful
dream!" She shivered and nest
20 closer to him. Couldn't you possi
'' hold me for while2 I'm so cold-a
~ afraid"
- The wondering Anty picked her
and settled her on his knee. Her sles
head fell on his shoulder, and fol
moment they were very still, he try
to fathom this new Marion, she c
re tent to be near him. Then
an "Antyw
re- "What, dearT' He had not cham
M at all, and was still as slow as pc
M "Do-you love me? Let's 60