Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-10-24

they've only lived there two years.
1t was before ever thought OF marry
ing any one, Harriet was In college,
you were In France-it isn't very easy
to explain 1t to you'll knew 1t wasn't
real love, all the time-and yet /
couldn't end it all, somehow
"Was 1t real-with herr" Ellen
asked, as he hesitated. Joe flushed
deeply.
Il guess so I" he answered, embar-
raised.
"She-she wasn't that sort Of
girl?" Ellen asked.
"Oh, my God, mol She hadn't ever
had another man friend-she wasn't
ever allowed to go to the village
dances, event She-she was good
little girl" Joe sank his head on his
arms again.
"You didn't promise marriage, Joe7"
Ellen, who was thinking hard, asked
anxiously.
what do you think I ami' he an
swered. impatiently. "Of course
asked her to marry me r.
Ellen flushed with shame. She had
no previous knowledge by which to
gauge this affair; she had no idea Of
the rules. Vague memories of situa-
lions in novels drifted through her
mind; they all seemed hideous, remote.
they seemed to have nothing to do
with her good, honest, splendid little
brother.
"And she wouldn't?" he asked. I'M
certainly.
"She-she didn't want to talk about
1t at all. We never talked about 1t.
suppose that sounds odd, but It's true.
She said that she would never drag me
down-or something like thatl The
the thing was that when she learned
that-when l told her that 1t was Har-
riet--then that was the end, for her. l
don't think she ever wanted to see me
again. She-she acted little crazy |"
"Oh, poor childl" Ellen said, wincing
at the thought. "She didn't know
Harriet, thenT
"Well, yes, she did-all along, in a
way. But she seemed to think that we
belonged to each other-in way"
Ellen had dropped into chair, her
eyes were somber
"Joe-she will spoil your lifel"
Has" he amended simply.
For this little village girl" Ellen
summarized bitterly, in whisper, "you
may lose the woman you really love
your whole futurel Joe-Joe-Joe!
How could your"
The man was miserably silent.
After moment Ellen spoke again:
"Who knows about 1t, Joe?"
"Her mother knows. Nobody else!
The mother is a decent sort, the only
decent one In the family. She hasn't
been unkind TO her. Poor girl, nobody
could make her feel any worse!"
ooh. dear-I" Ellen's tone was ut
terly discouraged and despairing.
"She says that she can never
marry now" Joe pursued, gloomily,
says she could never look daugh-
ter of her own in the face and tell
herl My God. don't know what to
do about It'll I've walked the floor,
thinking of 1t. many and many
night"
Ellen looked up with sudden hope.
"But how do you know that she was
good. Joe? Mightn't she be just
telling you So" Her voice lost con-
fidence at his look. "NoT she said,
subsiding.
"She's not that kindi"
"Well," Ellen said, feebly, ST she
doesn't want you to marry her; II
you've offered, and she has refused
/ don't see that you can do anything
more about It'll 1t isn't even as II
you had met Harriet afterward-you
always knew. and always loved,
Harriet. and you-you owe something
to Harriet"
"I owed something to Harriet" Joe
admitted. heavily.
''You mean--that you can't ask
Harriet, now2" Ellen said, with quick
concern and disappointment.
"Well. can IT
mo, suppose mott" she conceded,
unwillIngly. "She would have to
knowl" For a moment she pondered.
Win IHOuButiui lhSc, tuSu Suuueuly
she frightened. "Joei' she said. why
don't you go and tell George the whole
story? He's so broadminded-and he
loves you both-loves us all If he
wanted to take Harriet abroad again,
to have some time elapse. at least he'd
understand why you couldn't ask her
now"
I'll thought of thati" Joe said,
somewhat sharing her confidence.
Perhaps he'd think 1t best never to
tell Harriet at ALL" Ellen unused. half
aloud. There must be thousands Of
men who never tell their wives some
thing like that"
wouldn't you mind thatf" Joe
asked, giving her a shrewd glance.
II? oh. don't know. But. Joe,"
his sister protested quickly. TITS all
wrong, anyway. Whatever we decide,
someone's going to be unhappy" And
Sha Fell IN Thinking hnr mind Still