Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-08-21
What q Noble
Loser
(Copyright.)
BY MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

- Acknowledgement" Karel left
piped derisively to her friendly enemy,
Lima Ross, whom she had surprised
face down on the sofa, shaken with
angry sobs. Lima sat up instantly,
but turned her head aside, trying to
say with a giggle: "Only private the
atr1cals-charades rather. I'm slated
to play the final in All Forlornl-'"
How quick you are-about every
thing" Karel interrupted.
Lima felt herself choking, sprang
up and ran into the hall, as though
answering a summons. Then she
called back: "Wait, Kay-mother
wants me minute" and rushed up
stairs. Wherefore Miss left sat
comfortably down, smiling and fiutter-
Ing Idly the leaves of new magazine
over which her mental comment
was: bad sign. Nobody around but
John Dane reads this truck. If Lima
has whistled him back" There her
train Of thought was interrupted by
nothing less than John Dane himself.
With a swoOp he had Karel upon her
feet, crying as he swung her by both
hands: Produce the party Of the Sec
ond part-so this burning question
may get itself settled right away"
"What is it?" asked Karel.
"Who's to have me?" from John.
Heard last night, on the very best au-
thority, news so startling it's got to
be authenticated"
Indeed! Now WHAT" Karel in
terrupted.
"Why-that I'd be married In
about seven minutes, If only the IL
liberal law allowed a fellow two
wives
Again Karel interrupted: "You
agreed, Of course"
II did unanimously" emphatically
from John. "That happy solution be-
ing impossible, learned further that
the matter Of matrimony hung 'twixt
Miss Ross and Miss left, so hearing
via telephone that I'd find you both in
the same place, dashed on to learn
my fate"
wretch" AS though you didn't
know it-by heart" Karel scoffed.
"Lina's had you signed, sealed, every
thing but delivered, since you saw her
in that blue dressl"
"Say-d'ye know you two quarreled
over mel" John questioned.
Karel tossed a belligerent head.
"Why, that's so far back I've for
gotten all the Details" she said mus
ingly.
ITO think of being worth that
and never knowing II" John apos-
trophized space. The door to the
hall was slammed viciously-there
was the sound of rapid heels, out
along the piazza, and onto the side
path. Reckon she's been listening to
this instructive DISCOURSE" John
asked huskily.
"Waitl I'll find out and tell you,"
Karel flung over her shoulder, start
ing after the runaway, needless that
John followed three steps behind.
Thus they came to the rose arbor
where Lima stood, tense, white-faced,
fearless, frozen, 1t seemed unstirred
by Karel's cry: "Good Lord, Lima
Don't look like death ITSELF"
II wish 1t was-almost," she said
tonelessly. II heard you two. of
coursel Think Of stopping to listen7
deserve what got. Now-go away,
please! All ask is-silence. Not
to make me a public laughing stock.
Surely In your happiness together
you can grant me that"
Karel had listened, her head going
low and lower. Now she flung it up
with the lift Of deer at bay. II
am the laughing stock-if there is
one" she said with difficulty, land
stand here shamed through and
through. Yet-Tve never been con-
sciously treacherous-even to myself
I denied loving-John-yet wanting
him to love me, more than anything
In the world. In the beginning that
was-after I saw you had won-well
I'm NO angel-person-I did play to
captivate him little bit-just enough
to make you unhappy-it seemed to
me you owed me that much. But as
to really coming between you-I never
had such a thought, such a purpose.
Here's my proof-he is waiting for
me to tell him what you feel about
about things. What he does de-
ponds on what he hears. And that
will be: Here is your true sweet
heart! Ask her to forgive you-for
you must go BACK with me. and
clear all the clouds awayv"
Then tell him! Tell him you love
him even as l do. 1t may make all
the difference in the world"
"If I do-will you forgive meY'
Karel asked very low. Lima breathed
Eyes," then reaching for Karel's hand
went with her from their thorny am
bush. John stood twenty yards from
it-safely out Of earshot.
"You heard" Karel said under her
breath. THAT saves my face-I need
not say-anything-out loud"
"Shut M don't know what you're