The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-07-01
SHORT
SHORT


- HVN Terry, dear, I've
got to have him!"
There was no response from Ter
ry. But her mind was working very
rapidly.
Don't you understand? 1 love
him." Marion broke out. "I love
him, and know he is good and true
to me-"
Pushing the chair from her, Terry
rose and stepped to the other girls
side.
Marion, you are planning your
own ruination. You must not marry
him! You will never be happy with
him-I know"
How do you known"
The question was asked half
fiercely, and the lips that uttered it
were quivering.
'Do not ask me that-never ask
me that!" Terry's voice had be-
come a hoarse whisper. 'Do you
remember, dear, 1 had a sister
Belle-sweet and pretty-do you re-
member how her life was ruined by
a man she thought she loved? 1
often stop to wonder why someone
did not tell her, as I am telling you
now, so that she might have been
spared such sorrow-such painful
establishment"
'Terry-she died, did she not?"
eyes, of a broken heart"
A long, empty silence.
"And-are you afraid that my
heart will be broken if 1 marry
Frank"
81 know it, and because I love
you, and realize the sufferings of
my sister, I want to help you do the
right thing. Earnest is the man for
you, Marion-so strong and good.
He loves you dearly. Why not take
him and forget the other?"
A little cry escaped the lips of
Marion.
Forget" She laughed a bitter
little laugh. Forget! When one has
learned to love so instinctively-as
I have-it is not so easy to forget!"
Hurrying down the long narrow
street which led to the subway sta
tion-her Standardization Jen-
sen became suddenly aware that
two dark figures were approaching
in the distance. A man and woman,
arm in arm. And she was looking
up into his face and speaking to
him. Great heavens, where were
they going at that hour? Terry and
Frank
In the sudden fit of jealous pas
sion which besieged her, Marion
was nearly prompted to run and
confront them, and tell them that
they were false and had been plot
ting together to ruin her happiness.
"You called yourself my friend,
Theresa Hamilton!" she exclaimed
vehemently. "My friendl Oh, you
hypocrite! You loved him and want
ed him for yourself. That is why
you told me to marry Earnest Bar
ton! So this is the reason you knew
so well would never be happy with
Frank-the man you are trying to
win from me. Oh, you false, I'M
worthy creature. l hate you! hate
you'll"
They were coming nearer, slowly,
as if too deeply engrossed in each
other to want to hurry.
Upon second impulse, Marion
clapped her hand to her trembling
lips and, hurriedly looking about her
for place of retreat, caught sight
of a dark, deserted old corner
which had once been the entrance
to what looked like "Tony's pool
room" From the damp, cherries
protection of this hiding place she
waited for the two to pass.
She caught a voice-Frank's.
TERRY, let US stop here a mo-
ment. I'm all in"
Marian's breath came in swift
gasps. They had stopped outside,
and she could hear every word.
Terry was speaking now.
II have decided, Frank, that /
must do it." 4
He grasped her hand.
'"Terry-you mustn't"
"But you have deceived me again.
You promised you would never sink
to the depths again-and, now, to-
night, l found you in a drunken stu
por-a man without a backbone
like an outcast of society-like a
cur. You lied to me! Have l not
a right to lie to your"
'Terryl You promised! You
promised you would never tell herl
love her-I want her-she is my
only reason for living" His voice
broke, as if his strength were spent.
"But if she knew? If / told her
Would she love you then? Frank,
she would hate you for deceiving
her-as you deceived my poor sis
teri"
1T was only because ! loved you
so myself once-before you deserted
me, to seek my sisters love-it was
only because of that faint spark that
still remains-Oh, Frank! that is
why l wanted to save you from
yourself-and to protect another
girls happiness"
When the two had at last parted,
a lone figure stole out into the still
ness of the night. Her heart felt
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