The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-12-06
A Husband for
Margery
By CLARISSA MACKIE

ty eS-
My dear Margery," she said flally,
you are not bad looking girl"
THANK you, Aunt Violet" respond
ed Margery, flicker of light in her
cool gray eyes. A smile touched her
grave lips and fed.
Il am not paying you a compliment,
my dear; but while you are not Il
bad looking GIRL" she went on, you
will never be a great beauty like your
mother. 1t is essential that you
should marry well, and do hope that
while you would not of course marry
for money, at least you will try to
love where money isl" A faint smile
curled her lips.
Miss Esther darcy nodded APP
proval of her sisters advice and
tapped her knitting needles enthusi-
astically.
"Where is it?" asked Margery.
where is what?" repeated her
Aunt Violet inelegantly.
"Where is moneyT'
How nOnsensical, Margery-you
are too old to ask such a childish
question"
"How can l love where money is
if / do not know where it is?'
Rubbish" muttered Miss Esther,
knitting furiously. II believe the girl
is in love already"
"Margery shrieked Miss Violet.
The girls face had crimsoned from
brow to chin, but her eyes did not
waver. Darcy pride was in her bear
ing, her eyes were mutinously brave.
The silence grew oppressive.
"Margery-who is itT'' demanded
Miss Violet in hollow tone.
Have l met anybody here at Crest
wood?' defied Margery.
The aunts meditated. They could
not remember that they had ever in
troduced an eligible young man to
their orphan niece. OF course they
had invited the rector's daughter and
her anemic brother to play tennis
when Margery first arrived from Eng
land but young Pother had shown
such sentimental interest in her
that acquaintance was not encour-
aged. Then there was Miss D'Arcy's
lawyer, who had motOred down to the
Long Island estate several times to
see about her will, but he was stout
and gray haired and quite impossible.
although he was an excellent lawyer.
The sudden sight of Blake, the new
chauffeur, as he strobe down a path
to the garage, aroused panic in Miss
Violet's breast.
Blake was young, singularly good
looking and seemed bit above his
station in life.
Dear Margery,' murmured Miss
Violet craftily, has any man ever
proposed to you?"
One" answered Margery, losing IA
little of her color.
"Where?" demanded Miss Darcy.
"In London"
Her aunts gasped. The same
thought stupefied them both. Lon
dom and he had followed the child
TO America-for alas, the impeccable
Blake had splendid London references,
one from the duke of KatewOod,
"who proposed to your gasped Miss
\ Violet.
"A duke. / refused him.
replied Margery.
Refused a duke? Ninnyl" bleated
Miss Esther, fuddling over her knit
ting. why did you refuse him?'
"He was poor-too poor to marry
any one, then" sighed Margery.
wait for him-there is plenty of
money here" averred her aunt.
Margery smiled. He is proud
man, aunties-when he found / was
TO be your heiress-it was all in the
papers over there-he told me he was
| glad that had refused him"
Miss Violet sighed.
"A dukes duke, rich or poor. :"
snapped Miss Esther.
That afternoon Miss Darcy sum-
moned Blake, the chauffeur, to her Sit
ting room.
Il am sorry to yet you 20, Blake,
but l must dispense with your. serv-
ices"
He stared blankly at her, and then
smiled engagingly. THAT is a sur
prise, Miss darcy; You know was
rather hoping you would keep me-"
IL, too, am sorry, Blake. We like
your driving very much. You suit us
very well. but l think an older mar
would do better"
Indeed. madam
Yes. And l will be very glad tt
give you letter Of recommendation.
THANK you;" his tone was respect
full, but his eyes were troubled as SHE
pulled out writing materials.
by the duke of Katewood?"
Blake Redeemed.
"I have always worked for him." n,
murmured.
"Then you know him well7"
II do, madam"
''Is he young?'
About my own age"
"Rich7" pursued Miss Violet, evei
though ashamed Of questioning
servant.