The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-08-12


enth time in twice as many months
she was about to hear of marvellous
discovery.
Margaret" Dick began, leaning
chunmiy across the table, looking
into her eyes with an expression
which Margaret likened mentally to
that of pet dog gazing at his mas
ter, you're the best pal any fellow
ever had and l want you to be the
first to know. L"
Something within her suddenly re-
volteu. Raising hand protestingly,
she finished the story. Il know, Dick.
You've found the most wonderful girl
In the world, haven't your"
"Why-er-why. yes, but how"
'Oh know the symptoms. There
never was any other like her, was
there? There never is" with scarce
Iy audible laugh. what am to be
flower girl train bearer, or what?"
"Oh, if you'd only be something in
the party!'' Dick enthused. Il don't
think I'd feel properly hitched if you
weren't Margaret"
And SO she promised, although every
fibre Of her being cried out against 1t.
Not that she was in love with Dick
Lindsay-she knew very well she
with exactly the same set of circum-
stances-the seventh occasion in so
short a time-had thrown her pre-
cipitately into state of absolute re-
bellon. She thought just then that
If she ever had to hear that EXPIRES
sion-''the most wonderful girl in the
world'-again, as long as she lived, 1t
would be her complete undong Play
Ing big sister to the men of the world
certainly was not what she chose as
her life work
In a careful resume of the situa-
ton she wondered wherein the fault
might have been hers. She always
had been popular enough. Plenty of
men took her to the theater, motoring,
TO dances and the like, but one by
one in turn they fell off. She always
knew what was coming Before long
she was escorted to some private cor
her at a dance or invited to lunch,
where she listened attentively to a
eulogy upon the subject Of the most
wonderful girl; without exception, a
case of wanting her to be the first to
know
She recalled her customary counsel
yvjfn homo
and kiddieS. It's the best thing that
can happen to a young fellow when
he finds the right girl"
After that the routine was stereo-
typed. The engagement was an
nounced, social circles were plunged
into vortex OF parties and showers,
there was a wonderful church we'd
ding where she was invariably one of
the bridesmaids.
She had served in that capacity so
often during the past few years that
she knew the whole wedding ceremony
by heart She had marched with halt
ing step down that long church aisle
so many times that it now seemed
like the ritualistic work of some secret
order.
Dick Lindsay's appeal was the pro-
verbal last straw. She had been
counselor on the last occasion. The
next time any man invited her into
q coy corner or out to lunch, she
would be otherwise engaged. Let him
pour his tales of the most wonderful
girl into some other ear. Hers was
irrevocably closed to that phrase
More than that, she was not going to
be "the best pal any fellow ever had"
In the future. She would be more
coy-more the clinging vine type. Per-
haps, after all, men liked that type
better than the sturdy oak, Independent
sort of girl. She would fatter Them
appeal to their sense Of protection !;
she would
Dick Lindsay's wedding differed In
no respect from others at which she
had OBLIGATED, except perhaps that
John Wayburn. the usher who was
her side partner in the procession
seemed a little more human than
some of the atrocities who had been
wished upon her in the past He
seemed more serious minded, more
alive to the Importance of the big
things of life than many of her male
acquaintances.
When she learned of his decision to
associate himself with one of the
older lawyers in their city Margaret
was surprised at the little thrill of
pleasure which swept over her. HAY
ing many tastes In common It was
only natural that they should see
much Of each other in the days that
followed Both loved grand opera and
adored Kipling; liked to travel; en-
joyed gardening and the great out-of-
doors.
There was something about this
newcomer which stirred up all sorts
of unfamiliar emotions in Margaret
LamOnt's otherwise sti& interior; an
impression of great strength, both
physical and mental; the dim con-
seriousness that it would not he at all
difficult to assume the role of clinging
vine where he was concerned.
Event followed so closely upon
event that she wouldn't have had time
70 listen to private account of the
most wonderful girl had she been in
yifed TO do So She was a very busy