The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-01-20
Fate Was in
the Way
(Copyright.)
By DUFORD JENNIE

CLINT of metal at the distant curve,
and the next moment she saw that she
was approaching what was evidently a
wrecked car. Coming nearer, she
pulled her heavy roadster to a stop.
Then her headlights brought into
sharp relief the figure of a man
crumpled just beyond the twisted
frame.
She slipped from her car and to his
side. He was unconscious. Climbing
down to the brook that followed the
road she brought cold water and
bathed his face.
"Oh, l remember-the world turned
over twice." he muttered.
"This is bad curve, and the road
is icy this time of year." she said.
"How do you feel now?" she asked
hopefully.
q" She felt him relax again into
unconsciousness.
There's just one thing to do" She
thought to herself; that is to take
him back homeland that's the last
place l want to go!"
Between them and the little wayside
station to which she had been speed
ing there were twenty miles of coun-
try, and at the station there would be
no possibility of medical aid, while
her father was a physician spending
the precious end of his vacation at his
country home.
She revived the unconscious man,
and, using her sturdy self as crutch,
she managed to get him to her car and
into it.
81 am sorry to make you so much
trouble" he said family.
''Never you mind" she said gently,
wondering just what he would think if
he knew that he had interrupted an
elopement, that even now her lover
was waiting at the wayside station for
her, that the western express would
soon be due
"Why, he's slipped away again." she
thought to herself glancing at him,
and, slipping an arm around him and
under his head, she sent the car hum
ming homeward
The house was as dark as when
she had left She sounded her horn,
smiling bit as she realized the dra-
matte quality of the moment. The
door opened and her father came out.
"What? You? Why-what does
this mean? And who-an injured
man? What does this mean, Marion?
he calculated.
Explanations later, Dad" she said.
"Right, Mischief He started to
lift the hurt man from the car. Great
Scott. It's Norman Bradley-my old
friend Bradley's son. He had written
that he might be out to see us!"
She aided her father, whose swift
skill soon made their patient comfort.
able; and as she glanced at him she
made up her mind that she might
have done worse than rescue him.
But her thoughts were with the lover
who had waited her coming in vain.
The next day brought her two I'M
happy times. In the morning she was
called to the telephone, and over the
with accusation.
But, Beals, I couldn't do other
WISE" she urged.
His swift, prolonged reply left her
cheeks flushed and her will on fire.
AS she hung Up the receiver her father
came near.
marion, is that scamp calling you?'
he demanded. "And it is perfectly
plain that you were planning to join
him last night Now"
dad, let's not argue it! I was I
have tried-tried to forget him, but
I love him." she added weary and I'M
happy.
He looked at her in silence, then
said: 'Remember-I forbid you to
marry him. You are all that is left
that is dear to me-" he said simply as
she fled.
1t was several days later that Nor
man, walking with her through the
autumntinted grounds, said suddenly:
Marion, you and your father forgot
I was lying in the library when you
had your brief conversation about
your-er-delayed elopement 1t was
over before / could warn you I was
there. l am really sorry-if you love
this chap-that I was fate in the way.
l would offer to help you, but I want
you myself
She tingled to the tips Of her fin
gers as his gray, handsome eyes with
the tender light in them, so different
from the shifting, restless hight in
Beals' eyes, bent 10 hers.
"Oh, you dol" she replied But
suppose l love another-and suppose
I have made up my mind to join him
just as soon as you depart, and father
and I can have the scandal all to our
selves"
He stopped suddenly, and pity rose
in her heart as she saw his face pale.
marion, if you love him so much, I
will help you join him. but you don't
know-that moment when I looked up,
saw your face over mine, heard your
voice-was the beginning" He said
no more, his face gray with pain.
She slipped her hand under his arm,
and said gently, SIS it as bad as that?
Then, let me tell you a secret Over
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