The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-05-02
THE SACRIFICE
BY GRACE 0. WEATHERRY
~ n = = - n = n n n n n a q m n n q y
q. lg22. By Mcclure NeMspaper SyndicAle.

while. with fingers that shook a trhe,
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 unIor-
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-grl 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
trlle awkwardly, and eyes that re-
minded the exaSperated Marion Of
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 Anthony's when he preferred 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 hili 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, a 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
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 set. Don't you
think a trip TO California would be
niceF'
But the prospects of trip alone
with Anty did not seem to appeal TO
Marion. and she shook her head. No,
Anty, please. It is so coy here, and
! 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
Z her arrival she discovered Anty sit
/ ting alone before his fire.
us this the famous Anthony"
Startled. he rose to his feet, stammer-
ing. hut she gave him no chance to
speak. I'm Judith Wentworth, and
I'm just as happy MS l can be to meet
you"
Marion, coming in search Of her
/ friend. felt queer sinking in her
neart when she saw Anly respond to
/ Judy's cheerful lattery.
The week heightened into a 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 Marion's own pardcu.
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
traied her fingers aimleSsly over the
piano keys, longing for peace-with
Anty. She rose, nervously, and wan.
dered out into the spacious hall. The
front door opened noislly and admitted
a gust Of cold air and snow, and Judy
md Anthonyl The Western girls
BLACK ewes We're dancing her checks
rosy They idut seq heis-taey never
ssN her
"Oh. isn't it jus, 100 wonderful!
hated to come inw Anty was very ut.
tentiye. Marion turned away, crying
weakly, and then, drawn by an IT,
rcSlstible impulse she looked agai J,
and found them close together, Judy )
face buried in the mans should, .
A log fell, sending shower {
sparks into the air. Marion Stirre /,
sat up. There were tears wet on her
'heeks- she had been asleep, and 1t
Vas all horrible dreaml There was
no Judy here! She ran out into the
hail looking for Anty. She hurried un
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 knet on
the floor The man stirred and lifted
his head.
"Nlorionl What on earth" lie was
thoroughly awake snow
"Oh, Anty, rye had the awfulest
dreamW She shivered and nestled
/ i.,.... g., him Ugouidn't Nnu nossihlv