The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-11-05

softly. She was smiling very bravery
at him. Wont you come in7'
"No--I can't now" he said crudely
Norma, shalt shall see you again
before l CO."
She nodded, and he knew the mean
ing Of her silence. The girl cared fol-
him, and in her unsophisticated way
was incapable of concealment. He
saw her walk back quietly into the
cabin. t
Marion's train was to arrive the fol.
lowing morning. VIII rode down Ia
the depot with a heavy heart. The
Nd and the new were Juggling at It.
a2d he did not know which pulled him
the harder. There .were so many
memories here-yet the thought OF
Marion came to him like q food Of
Sunlight. How he had loved Marion
She had tacitly released him by her
silence, and yet doubtless she would
explain that. He would follow her
soon. He saw the old life wildly,
their marriage, the quiet home In Bos.
ten.
The train was pulling in. He had
stood on the platform In a sort Of
daze. Now he awakened suddenly.
and he felt his heart beating hard In
anticipation. The men about the plat
form were watching him curiously. He
looked into the carriages Of the train
as 1t came to halt. He walked Its
length. Marion was not there. Had
she missed her train?
"Still dreaming, Willr' asked q hard
voice over his shoulder.
He started round, to see Marion,
with party of girl friends, dressed In
the height Of fashion, looking at him
with smile.
Dear me, must be very hard to
find" she said "Well! When are
you coming homer"
The hardness Of her tones struck
him like a blow. Surely he had
changed out Of all recognition If he
had ever thought Marion's voice beau
tiful. The girl whom he had loved
to the point of infatuation stood re-
yealed to him as an artificial, hard
young woman, without the slightest
charm.
II think 1t was very wrong of you
not to write to me for so long" she
continued. But forgive you, VIII.
We can forgive a man with millions
anything. can't we Dora?"
The girl addressed as Dora muir.
INJURED something. The whole party
was taken aback, not to say shocked,
at the sight Of this man in the cowboy
clothes. And he was a millionaire
He was Will Thorpe of Harvard and
Boston!
Perhaps Marion shrewdly OWNED
the change that had occurred in him,
for she drew him aside.
"Will, I know I ought to have been
more serious" she said, "but you
can't think how startling and ridicu-
lous you look, dressed like one Of
these natives. Listen, WIN, and let
me explain. I have always cared for
you just as much, but couldn't be
engaged to a beggar. Yoa see that
for yourself, don't you? And. every
body understood that your father was
going to cut you out Of his will, in
stead Of leaving you the sole heir.
am Just as fond of you, WILL"
Will Thorpe looked at her with slow.
ly rising anger. She did not realise
what she was saying. Had he ever
been like thati Was that the kind Of
man that he had been, that she 80 con.
idently imagined he was still7
$50 when are you coming home,
Will9' she continued. when are you
coming home to met" she added
softly.
The engineer blew the whistle. Will
looked her full in the face. Never I"
he answered roughly.
The party was moving toward the
train. VIII saw the look of amazed
indignation upon Marion's face. He
broke from her. He mounted the
horse that was tethered to post out
side the depot. The train was start
ing. But VIII was riding for the
mountain slopes, and his never" rang
in his ears like the sound Of chanted
chorus.
He flung himself from his horse at
the cabin door which hid at that mo-
ment all that life held most precious
for him.
NORMAL he shouted. hammering
awith his knuckles.
He heard her footsteps; he saw her
stand before him; he caught her in
his arms.
Normal I have come home-to
you" he cried.