The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-03-29

screamed screech which brought the
rest of the family running. They got
Franklin into the sitting room, onto
a sofa and Mrs. MerriWeather and
Mile went to work on him with warm
water, peroxide of hydrogen and court
plaster, while Silas Merriweather tele-
phOned for the doctor and the patient
discOursed disjointedly of wrecked cars
and flying limbs. Franklin was really
sorry when the ministratiOns of his
amateur surgeons were over; so soft
apd pleasing mad been the touch of
Miles fingers, so close her tempting
lips had come to his as she searched
for overlooked abrasiOns.
Franklin had long looked longingly
at Mile Merriweather and had not
been mistaken in thinking that Mile
was not entirely Indifferent to him.
But between Franklin and Millie was
an intervening obstacle in the person
Of Caroline Sigsby, Il sprightly and
comely young lady of the town, with
Well-tO-dO parents and a longing for
the good, the beautiful and the true.
Caroline and Franklin were not for
mally engaged, but it was an under
stood thing that they were to be mar
ried as soon as Franklin got on his
feer, as the saying is. The two young
people had drifted into this position
drift which Franklin had not re-
GREETED until ne had come to know and
appreciate Mile Then he secretly
kicked himself for not having taken to
his oars in time. Now it was too late.
To break with Caroline now, he was
sure, would be to break the poor girls
AleTiweather home after the doctor
had come and gone, recOunting his
nights adventures, the wounded hero
of the hour, as he looked at Miles
sympathetic face, all the more beauti-
full in its sympathy, his heart sank at
the thought of the drifting process of
which he had allowed himself to be
the victim.
BLESS me ~ suddenly cried Franklin,
in whom the presence of Mile had
dulled all sense of the flight Of time
It's after 9 o'clock. 1 must try and
get downtown"
Just then the telephone bell rang,
Mile answered it, and this is what
she heard over the wire: as this you,
Mile? This is Caroline. I've such a
surprise for you. Martin Fairbanks
and l have just been married. Only
the immediate family present. We
made up our minds very suddenly
and decided to have the wedding very
quiet, on account Of-Oh. you know
that sort of understanding between
Franklin Madison and me. am afraid
Franklin will do something desperate
when he hears. Martin and 1 are
leaving for New York on the $50
train. Franklin was to have been
down to meet Martin this evening, but
it stormed so he didn't come and so
AIartin was fortunately spared the
painful duty of telling him what we
were going to do. Oh, Mile, dear,
you are my dearest friend, and it is
to you I intrust the sacred duty of
breaking the sad news to Franklin.
Poor boy, know his heart will be
forever broken. Break it to him
gently won't you, Mile, dear?'
Mile promised, hung up the re
ceiyer and Whirling about in her chair
repeated Caroline's message word for
word, watching FrankIins face in
tently the While. Franklin looked a
little tiustered, perhaps a little piQued
but by no means broken hearted. In
fact after telephoning to Martins
uncle and finding that Martin mad left
with him power of attorney to act
in the matter of the mortgage, the
young man gave evidence of being in
highly satisfied, even gleeful, frame
of mind. He and Mile were married
in June and Franklin is now one of
the largest fruit growers IN New Eng
land. Mr.. and Mrs. Franklin visit the
Madisons every summer. Caroline will
believe to her dying day that Franklin
married Mile in fit of wild despera-
ton and despair at the loss of her
self