Middletown transcript., 1922-05-27
BILLS SECRET
BY DOROTHY LUCE
Usosssoss = = . = - = = = = ~
q, 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

g. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
When Bill and Marjorie became ell
gagged, they agreed. with true lovers
confidence, that they would have no
secrets from each other This was
easy so far as Marjorie was concerned,
but poor, bashful Bill, thinking of his
desk and the discriminating evidence 1t
concealed, felt quite uncomfortable.
However, he was too blissfully happy
to stop at any promise OH such an
occasion as this. He had captured the
one girl-that was all that mhttered.
Bill's mother, justifrably pleased with
her sons choice, invited Marjorie to
spend week In town with them. This
suited his sister Dora. 1t meant u
chance to inspect Marjorie's pretty
dresses at close range and perhaps
copy some of the ideas; besides. there
would be matinees, parties and the
| compauionship of girl of her own
age. Her mother would be especially
lenient, she knew.
How does 1t feel to be engaged?"
! she asked Marjorie when they We're
diohN, lOo llllllluttls VI
their personal affairs, as young girls
have way of doing.
And Marjorie, responding to Dora's
eager questions, confided, among other
| things. "And we're to have no secrets
from each other"
| "Oh, then" exclaimed Dora tOyfully,
"you know what's in Bill's desk, and
he won't let any of us open II"
NO. said Marjorie slowly. just
germ of doubt beginning to trouble
her, but" she continued Frightening
'Tll ask him tonight. know he'll tell
| ne"
But Bill would not tell her. "Darn
that kid" he muttered. "She's for
| ever prying into someone's affairs"
Marjorie coaxed at first, but Bill
was obdurate, with stubbornness that
silenced her. But it hurt, neverthe
less. and the hurt finally grew out Of
! all proportion to the cause. In fact
J Marjorie herself never realized how
near she came to breaking the engage
ment during the days that followed.
Alone together, they both maintained
SulicH uloolHeSS. Dill WIS Ill ueS-
pair.
He had left her for the night and
was about to open the desk that had
caused 50 much trouble in his young
life. when he suddenly thought, "And
she'll he going home after tomorrow"
lie gave the desk vicious kick and,
flinging the key across the room, he
dropped his head into his arms and did
what very little boys do sometimes
when their punishment seems too hard
to bear.
Tears. like laughter must end some
time, however, but it was detected
y"rug man who left Bits room the
next morning.
Perhaps that was why he forgot all
about the key. Dora found 1t when
she went TO make W his bed, and JOY
fully called to Marjorie.
"Shall open it?' she giggled
at Is immaterial to me-" Marjorie
answered with c0olness that made
Dora look up sharply and gave her an
inkllng of the true state of affairs.
1t WAS this, perhaps. that decided
her. for with quick turn she un-
locked the desk and rolled back the
cover, The first thing that caught her
! eye was some pamphlets piled neatly
at the left. She picked one up, looked
1t over with puzzled frown, then
fairly screamed with laughter.
"Oh. dear, oh, dear!" she rocked
back and forth, unable to control her
mirth. "just listen, Marjorie. Let me
read you these titles-'How to Win
Her by John Denton Gray, professor
of psychology at Michigan university
when and How to Propose How to
Hold Your Wife's Affection The Sue
ccssiul Marriage"
"Oh. dear, oh, dear! This is too
funny! Won't l tease himl just
wait"
Marjorie was conscious of a great
relief and also of a surge of tender
ness. almost mother-like in its under.
standing.
You must never tell anyone of this,
she warned Dora firmly as the girl
locked the desk and placed the key
where she had found 1t. And Dora
never did.
Bill wondered at the sudden change
in Marjorie but took his good luck
without questioning. He wondered still
more at the mischievous twinkle iI
her eye when, a little later, he sale
. impulsively, Just the same, Marjie.
think If one has an understanding oi
psychology, he can get anything ht