THE BEE: OMAHA', SUNDAY. JUNE 18, 1922.
The
Miriin, 24, and Obscure, Was
Just Freshing Her Day's Work
When a Man Staggered
, Into the Office;
'Tnen-- ::v
MIm Marlaa Ward's obligation to th tew
firm of Uwton A iMrlti ended at I o'clock,
but as it wm raining dlamally ah lingered at
th effloe, typing tha last page of a brief aad
writing personal tetters, Har boarding he-aee
waa 'a tedious trolley Journey from lha offtoe,
sad. aa aha wss due at o'clock at tha law
school where aha atttndad tha night clsases, aha
decided to oat Mr supper la a nearby cafeteria,
which waa only a step rrom tha lactur room.
She Mood by tha rela-aplashed wladow la ona
of tha lunar rooms, watching tha blurred light
aoroaa tho city from har vantaia point on tha
llth- floor of tho Blackford building and won
daring about a numbar of things.
It waa bar Slth birthday, and tha annlvaraary
invltad raflactlona and speculation Onty two
of har frlanda in Seymour, bar horn town, had
"Mmk-mbered har with a girt or card. Thar
had been a decrease In tha numbar of thaaa
remembrances aach yar alnea aha moved to
tha capital, and aba wondarad how soon thay
would caaaa altogether. It might have baan a
mistake, after all. her coming to tha city. Tha
o!d lawyer who had bean har guardian counseled
against It While ha didn't demur whan aha
alactad to apand har patrimony of a few thoa
sand dollars on education.' ha waa not pleased
wntsv having been graduated from tho Male
university, aha declared her purpose to move to
ladlanapolta and support herself while aha
studied law. . :.
Jadgo Bhlpton held to tho ancient doctrine
that a Woman'a place Is In tho home, but. strong .
Itr alven to eomoroml. ha offered to take her '
into his own office If only aha would remain In
Seymour, where, as he aaid, all 'the folks" knew '
her and aha didn't have to explain herself. But,'
being an Independent young women, ah had
clnng to her own plan of campaign.
She perfected herself In atenography during
- her fourth Vear at tha university, and Roger
Searlea, of Lawton dt dearies, who waa formerly
of Seymour and a trustee of tle university, had
promised her a place in hia office long before
her graduation. She had now been with tha
firm two years, and another year' attendance
at tha law school would give her the right of
admission to tha bar.
v la keeping faith with her ambitions she had
made many aaorlficeand aa aha taxed pensively '
across tha town she was speculating aa to
whether It had been worth while. Her social
. contact had been the metre rest. Soma of her
Ctrl friend were ambltlou Ilk hereeir. taking
extension course with a view to fltUng them- '
eivea for better position; but other, and the
majority, troubled little about the future. She
waa the onty girl taking tha law school course,
and she was not unconscious of tho admiration
of har fallow student, most of them earnest
young fellows, obliged to earn their legal educa
tion. They admired her and were proud of her.
She gavo tono and dignity to tha school, and, a
; aha ranked with the moat promising students.
she waa a spur to their ambitions; they wanted
her to think well of them. Frequently when tha
class was dismissed she went somewhere to
dance, usually, with halt a dosen In har train;
and now and then one more daring that tha
rest would invite her to a movie or to the
theater. ...-.,'.
ho found herself speculating aa to Just what .
fc tttAlllJ W. .LI- . JluM...k1.
mi aw. ovHiu w vn in im juirafa u i g i ii.uin
: birthday sha remembered If she . had married
any one of?, the men who had proposed to her
during the , memorable Juno that ended her
happy years at college. Two students, nice fel
lows, had been pathetically In love with her;
and It had f iven her a real pang to be obliged v
to say no to them. And there was tha professor
of economics, a middle-aged widower, whose
ease was even mora desperate; and a young
minister, who wae considered the most eligible
bachelor In the university, town. She had flirted
hero and there with discretion, but as for being
in love she had known nothing that even ap
proximated her Idea of auch an experience.
' Marian waa tall and dark, with meditative .
brown eyea.and a firm mouth that nevertheless
smiled ef fulgbntly. It was quite wonderful, that
mile of here that eeemed to change the aspect
of the whole universe. Tommy, one of the
elevator pilots In the Blackford building, warned .
the bookkeeper of a coal-mining company, who '
had expressed his admiration for Lawton St
Searles1 atennarranhar. that ah waa a flna alrl
, all right, but not to get gay with her sound
advice, baaed.upon a true knowledge of human,
nature. Tommy brought her flowers during the
summer from his mother'a garden; and he was
highly edified if ehe graciously wore one of his
rosea or carnations. The women who cleaned
the lftth floor rooms gave her their complete
, adoration. Finding her often in the office after
hours, they confided their troubles to her sym
pathetic ear.. In their secret oouneels they pro-
nounced her 'the prettiest girl ' In the building
and the nicest and moat aenaible. When one of
them was ill of pneumonia Marian sought her
out In the tenement where aha lived and prompt
ly invoked tha district miratn anHatv tn- mm
for her. Thereafter to the dingy and hard
working sweepers and dusters Marian was
known s The Queen. . ;..'....,
Her long reverie waa Interrupted by a step In
the outer office an uncertain, faltering treed.
It had auited her mood to remain in the dark,
but as the sound came nearer she flashed on
the lights. , ';v : .,, , '-,', '.v. a
"Awful sorry;' saw light in reception room
thought maybe-" - v
Tha tall young man in the raincoat she recog
nised as Paul Fearing, whose office waa at the
opposite end of the corridor. It waa clear
' enough that he waa intoxicated. He took off
, hia hat, stared at it aa though It war an tin-
familiar object and dropped It on a chair.
f Marten eyed him coldly as ho drew from hie -
pmwi telegram, wmcn ne exienaea, mutter
ing something that aha interpreted aa an in
vitation to reaa. sne reany thought for a mo
ment that la hia befuddled atato ha had mis
taken lawton Searlea' offlos tor hia own.
c. iuii mm umvii, uuv hi rejeciea in idea, ex- -
plaining with elaborate patience that every 'one
was gone from hi office and that this was his
- reason for Intruding upon her. Allthlngs con-
J . . ... a. . . . ... .
naroa, i. wa a poor reason out 11 was evi
dent that he was really troubled about some--
-thingand that he was conscious that his wits
; were unequal to the task of dealing with it
She took the telegram but continued to eye him
Inhospitably ar he stood swaying, unbuttoning
hia raincoat r . , ; .
'. "Sorry to bother you: awtu' sorry! Gotta
have HT help. livery body gone from my place.
; Drown, I gueaa; rain enough drown whole
, army." .V s
; He paused abruptly, noUng that ehe had not
yet read tho telegram. .' . -
- "Plea road that thing!" ho blurted. "Poun'
' 't on ray dec; been there hour an' hour.
. Gotta bo answer quick. Tout suite 'e we used
V jmir la army. Head aU nixed up. . Mas- la
portant Somebody gotta ,Ielp me." v
Tne irata oi ana last stavtment waa incontro
vertible., la any mislnsss Vaqulrtng Immediate
attention ha undoubtedly needed saatstaace, and,
aa ho stubbornly stood hid ground, Marlaa road
ua meaaaca, wnioaj waa im auuvi, ua., at '
t o'clock that aftarnooav :
; "Plea wire immediately tho main point of .
opinion l wrote tast. Deoemoar in manor or con
, tract between Xagleaflald Coostnwtloa company
a4 Whitlav. Tea will find It la file with other
raglssileld papers. 'Include all attached memo
randaj Oao uthortM ctptd. Suddaa tun, ot
Haioid
on
thing here make this of utmost importance In
injunction proceedings in Trumbull case. .
f, , ! "JOHN B. FEARING."
"Thaas my father; un'stan't --'Way down
Georgia; gotta get busy rlgh' 'way. Lawsuits
won't wait." . '
Lawsuits, Marten knew, did net wait,' and the
case waa presumably of importance to have
taken John B. Fearing ao far from home. Fear
ing was generally conceded to be . the ablest
lawyer at the local bar, and he waa retained on
one side or the xother of all the "big cases.
Marlaa had several time gone to the federal
court to hear him make an argument He was
not an orator, and In presenting the legal aspects
ot a case he addressed the court In a conversa
tional tone. But his method of laying a broad
foundation of fundamental principles and build
ing upon it fascinated her. Loyal as she was
to her employers, she knew they were not the
equals of John B. Fearing; they had nothing ot
hia genius for selecting the safest line of de
fense or attack, or for, invincibly fortifying a
point - Now and then, when she met him. in -the
elevator or passed him in the corridor, he lifted
his hat absently, as though - not quite sure
whether he , knew her or not. He was still
handsome In middle life, a man to be .noted In
any gathering for his high bred face and erect
figure. Marten visualised him sharply as she
pondered what she should say to his son, . . ,
' Paul was very like his father, though cast In
a larger mold. Marten had first seen him in
uniform, when h came home from the training
camp he left the Harvard law school to enter,
and ah had looked upon him admiringly aa a
fine type of the young American who were
rallying to the call of the colore. H had come
home a major with a citation tor valor. He
had no business to take advantage of his
father's absence to go on a spree; but it was
not her way to refuse aid to any on in need,
and his neceeeity was immediate.' HI fine gray
eyes regarded her Intently aa she gravely pon
dered what t do.
" alamos' importance'," he quoted from .the
telegram.. "When dad wan' anything he he
wants it!" and he grinned at her a though he
had uttered something highly original And
amusing.
"I dare say ho does," she replied, without
emlling. "Please go to your office and I'll f ol-.
low in a moment."
"These bully! Terribly 'shamed my condition
hones X am." - ' -
"I should , think you would be," she said,
tartly, and, as he eeemed unabl to reach his
hat, the picked It up gingerly by th brim and
handed it to him. ' ,
"You won't play any tricks On met Really
goin' help 7" he asked from the door, his voice .
rising to a queer squeak on the last word.
"Don't be ellly; I told you I'd come!" :'
When she reached the Fearing offices she .
found -hint on his knees before th vault with
a card in his hand, from which he was labori
ously trying to solve the riddle ot the combina
tion, she watched him fall several times, then
took the card and soon swung the door open.
It wae evident that ho wae not likely to be of ,
material assistance in finding th document de
scribed in th telegram. After ho had stumbled
about In th vault applying th swinging sleotrio
lamp to the wall of file boxes without result sho
bade him eomo out and in a few minutes pro
duced the box marked "Baglesfield Construction ,
company" and carried it to the desk of one of'
the stenographers. . - ;-
She gave th paper to Fearing, but, after
turning them over helplessly, hs. pushed them
toward her.
"No good. Don seem to b In that bunch.
Mus be mistake."
' Tho opinion asked for was on tho top of tho
pile, she reread the telegram to make eure
ah had found tho right document and offered
It to Fearing, who waved It away.
. 'Mind all gone. You gotta do whole Job, 1
guess."- it".-. '
He lit a cigaret and settled hack in his chair '
aa though rid of a dleagreeeble responsibility
and quit content that he had entrusted It to
capable . hands. Martea read the opinion
through twice. It had to do with tho terms ot
a certain contract, and the points, were suc
cinctly stated and fully within her comprehen
sion. Whan sha marked what struck her a th
nor important paragraphs and asked whether
ther hadn't better H wired jm their entirety -
f sSht y
. ,v:. . J VtSSi z. ii..
- the Shoulderi.
. i a fw : i a. I. aa 1 ii
W I II 11 1
yM r swing aw tht fYfwsr jwesw gwf in tn-arw.1"
Paul stared at them unaeeingly and nodded
' solemnly.
"Thass all right Don' ,needa be stingy with
words. Sen' punshation 'n' everything." . .
She spent an hour preparing the message
. until it seemed to contain every salient feature
of the opinion. , , .
" "Now," She aaid; sharply, Tm not sure about
.t- this; but X think I've put in everything neces
sary." ' ''-' I
"la a right"' n said, Waving away the sheets"
she extended. "Mo' awfu' good 0' you!" v
"If it's not right, it's no gbOd at all! I want
, you to listen while I read It to you." . " o j
"Fine! Jus' right!" he declared as ahe con
eluded. "Keep copy for tile an' sen' on by
mail."
V He moved through the rooms restlesaly while ,
Marian busied herself at the typewriter. Once
, he was gone for several minutes and she heard
tho slamming ot a drawer in one of the private
offices. With the conscientious care She gave to
all her work, she verified figures, dates and
quotations. i-- vv.f-'
"Will you . sign it?" she asked as Paul re-
' appeared..','''-- -,:: ''" ,:': ' -i;--. :.-'X-'r
' Aa he bent over to take the pen the strong
rt'Sk of whisky explained his absence from the'
room . and the, slamming 1 of the drawer.. His
hand shook, and after several attempts to steady
it ho dropped the pen and bade her sign his'
nam." -'.., .
"Paul Fearing. Forgo f introduce myself.
Makln' you lot trouble. Wonnertui hit girl;
; good fellow, and mos intellijent."
'f It waa now after 7, and eh would barely have
time to file the telegram, get her tupper and
: reach the law school tor a lecture by a visiting
Jurist, which waa one of the events ot th term.
Sho owed Paul Fearing nothing; very likely if
they met the next day he would not recognise
her; and yet she pondered whether it wa quit
v fair to leave him there drunk and with a stock
of whisky with which to continue hi spree, as
she hesitated It suddenly occurred to him that
he ought to pay her for her work. She inter
rupted him as he muttered something to this .
effect ' ..
"Mr. Fearing, I cams in here merely to help
you out ot a difficulty, and there's no charge.
But there's one thing I want you to do. X want
you to bring out all the liquor, you've got in
there." ,
"Mos unreasonable; mos unreasonable!" he '
. protested.
"It's perfectly reasonable. Bring it out and .
be quick about it If you don't I'll destroy this
message." - ,
. She met hit gase unflinchingly for a moment
then stepped briskly into the vault to restore
'.the construction company's box to Its piaeo. She -closed
the door and twirled tho knob of ths
combination. 'I'm waiting," she said. "Bring (
out all ths liquor you have or I'll tear ua the
' meessgs and , destroy th copies, Fleas be ,
qulokt" .'.';
, "Quest you got mo there!" he said, with a ;
' sheepish grin, and walked past her In an effort
to effect a dignified exit He emerged in a few
minutes carrying two bottles, which he placed
- on the desk with a clumsy flourish. . : . -'
: - "Cver drop In the placet swear It 1st Cos' .
ms twen' dollars a bottle. Take 'emmy com
.. pllmenta"
v- Sho carried them to the lavatory cabinet in the
. corner and had poured out the remaining con-
tents ot a half empty bottle before he realised
. what she was doing. H lurched toward her
as she lifted the unopened .bottle to knock off .
the neck. f -v-v: ,' . '
,' "Don't com any nearer!" she commanded.
The glass cracked and the liquor gurgled into
s tho basin. . - -, . - "
. "No business doin' that! , Rotten trick; rotten!' .
Awfu waa'e! Thought you was good aeeut,
perfeo lady" He checked himself abruptly
and began searching hia pockets. , For a mo-
; meat the loss of the whisky waa obscured by i
tho remembrance of some matter of greater
Importance. Presently he drew out two theater
tickets, at which ho glared accusingly. ,
- "Promise take girl f concert: expee'la' me; '
moef'time f ga ' Whafm I goin' do about it 7
. Thass what I ask you; what'm I goin' dot" he '
' demanded, solemnly. . .
. That he should fling upon her the responsl
l bllltjr of deciding what he ahonld do about aa '
engagement to take a lady to a concert whea ha :
. wa a obviously .unabl to keep, th' appoint
X
ment struck Marten as unwarranted and pre
sumptions. ,
' "What you'd better do," the said, "is to go .
home. "Y&u're not fit to show yourself any
where." "Tha right! Break girl's heart f see me
this condition." V
"It's not breaking my heart, but it's beginning
to bore me. You'll have to get yourself out ot
that difficulty. Good. night, Mr. Fearing."; .
; An Importunate ring ot the telephone, brought
a new element into the situation.
- -Please answer that!" he pleaded. ' "It It's
Mis Frances Denning tell 'er I was called
away.r Awtu' sorry, but lef tickets with you
to sen' her. Two ticket, tell 'er; an' ten 'er
tell 'er you'll bring 'em right up in a taxi."
' "0, I'm to He tor you, and be your messenger,
too!" She flared. ;
' Her Indignation cooled as she saw the alarm
in hit flushed face. And, having gone so tar in
helping him Out Ot hie difficulties, it seenfed
hardly fair to desert him now, Devoutly hoping
that some other than Miss Denning was calling,
Marian caught tip the receiver. ' v ' . "
Her hope was shattered instantly aa a very
agreeable feminine voice, unmistakably a young
voice, accosted her With formal preliminary in
quiries aa to whether this Was Mr. Fearing'S
office and whether Mr. Paul Fearing was there..
"is this Mis Denning?" asked Marian, re
solved that it she must lie for' Paul Fearing ahe ,
would make a thorough job of it.
Miss Denning having admitted her identity,
Marian. With Fearing gripping a chair close by,
lied plausibly and, it seemed, convincingly,
"I just came Into the Off. o. a tew minutes
ago to finish some extra work and found a U
from Mr. Fearing saying that he had been called
out ot town on business that required immediate
attention. He had barely time to catch the train.
He tried to telephone you, but the house didn't,
answer. He left two tickets for the symphony
concert and asked me to send them up to you,
- It's so late now that I'll call a taxi and bring
them up myself." - ' .
"O!" ".' " ' "' " ;" '''' -"
The exclamation waa susceptible of a variety
'of . interpretations. However, Mi Denning
quickly recovered her composure. :
"Tou mustn't trouble to bring them out -I
can send"
' "Ther wouldn't be time for; that and, it's, no
trouble at alt I'm sorry I didn't find them
earlier, but the rain delayed me in getting here."
"Thank you ever so much! The number is
S800 Harrison boulevard." . " .. -'
"Yet, Mis Denning."
"Well, there' that," she skid, half to herself,
as she clapped th receiver on the hook. The
downtown garage ah called promised to deliver
a taxi at the entrance of the Blackford building
in five minutes, and ones more she prepared
to go. .';-.', ' - -
"I hope," said Marten, with a tinge Of irony,
"I did that Job to your satisfaction. Tou'd bet
ter hide yourself now for a day or two to create
tho impression that you're really out of town."
"I'll go home; hone' I wilt Eternal' grateful.
Eternal" '.-,-'- - -.
She slammed the door upon hie attempts to
thank her. In the lower hall she met the ele
, vator boy whose floral tributes had established
: a friendly tit between them. He was Just going
off duty. She explained that Paul Fearing was
ill in his office, and that it would be a great
favor to her. if ho would go up and look after
him and try to persuade him to go home.
"i understand, Mlsa Ward; I'll take care of
him. I did the same thing one night about a
wee ago." '.',
"Thank you. Tommy Good night!"
Tommy could have delivered the tickets, she
Mfla.taA! atlll hv Mmlnt them aerself. She waa
adding plausibility to her etory.. She stopped
. . . . .. . 11, . . a Jll. - J
at th telegraph office to file the message and
ths taxi driver promised to get her back down
town In 10 minutes, which would still give her
time to hear the lecture.
Sh had expected to hand the tickets to a
servant but her ling at th door of th big
colonial house waa answered quickly by a young
woman who had evidently been waiting tor her.
: "This is awfully good of you! Come In, won't
you?" -:- ' " , - '-'' '
, Th vole was th cheeriest Of voices and th
smtl that accompanied it expressed both grati
tude and frtendllMK. As Marten extended th
nvelopa containing th tickets. Miss Denning
By Meredith
eaegbt her hand Uiblly end swept her Into the
ball. It was done gracefully and graciously, and
the girl' violet eyee, bright with mirth and
aspects nry, met Marian' aerlous gaae com
peillngty. Franees Denning was even younger
than Marian had expected her to be and lovely,
very lovely. Indeed; and her emtio ah flung
the deer shut and stepped away from tb mee
eager was altogether charming.
"1 knew you would be nice. .ever o nlee!
rieese don't be ecared, but while X we waiting
I thought I'd sk the greatest favdr of you
pieaae dont say no."
"Why. ot eourse, Mis Denning M faltered
the bewildered Msrlan.
"It's a dresdful bore to go anywhere alone.
Won't you go to the concert with me? fliaae "
"I'm eotry. Mia Denning, but I have work to
do. I'm really busy tonight"
"Oh. you've boon at work ail day, and they
have no right to lake your evening. Pleas
eomet 'You sea, my father and mother ar
Sway and It wae so late when you telephoned
there waa no one I could fall back on."
Here we an unforeseen predicament whieh
m:sht have been met easily It Mis Denning had
not been o enchanting, to beguiling In the man
ner at her appeal,
"But I'm not properly dressed," sold Marian,
nd
"Oh, musical things are never dressy; halt
the people will wear street elolhea I only put
on thla gown because Paul like it o much,
tou can eomo to my room and brush up If you
like, but youH do perfectly a you are I DO tell
me your name! Thank you.. Now we Mart
even!"
Feeling like a bedraggled Cinderella captured
by a real princess. Marian found herself mount
. Ing the stair beside Miss Denning, who walked
away with the greatest animation. A person
who prided herself upon her Independence and a
well trained faculty for extricating herself from
perplexities, Marian waa allowing a girl she had
haver seen before to fore her Into doing
- something that was wholly against her will, She
we surprised at herself, but surprised quite ss
mubh at her captor. -
"Muslo la aiwayi so restful and you look Just
the least tired, your days must be long enough
without night duty."
The beguiling on was helping her oft with
her coat in a room that waa the tnoet beautiful
Marian had ever teen. "Tell me honestly,''
n.shed th amsaing Mis Denning, "have you
had dinner?" '
Th merry eye teerched her fat with o di
rect a challenge that Marian laughingly ad
mitted that ehe bed misted her supper, and that .
it didn't matter.
' "You're trVlttgiM tried her inquisitor)
dramatically. "There's plenty ot time for you
to have some lunch, end I dont care It we do
ra.ss the' first numbers." '
Whereupon Mlsa Denning pressed buttons,
commanded food and directed that the waiting
taxi be paid for and discharged. By the time
Marian had emoothed her hair and removed
the last tain left upon her hand by her labor
in th Fearing law office, a tray appeared with
cold meat saiad, toast and tea.
"While you eat I'll get myself into a street
dress. Oh. no; not th least bother!"
Marian, now Seated before th tray, realised
that the change of costume was an act ot pur
kindness, prompted by concern for her own
ease and comfort From th dressing room
adjoining Frances flung at her an oceaalOnal
remark or otherwise let It be known that she
waa suit at hand by whistling or -singing. An
imperious young being, used to having her own
way. Marten judged; but no on could complain
when her impulse were to kind and generous.
The most prosperous titlzen of Seymour lived
in no such. hOus the Denning. It Was in
evitable that Sh should contrast the spacioU '
horn of this light-hearted girl, born to
and luxury, with her own shabby room in the
west end boarding house, it was almost as
though she and Frances belonged to different
species; but she made the comparison without
bitternesa Endowned with an alert curiosity
and blessed with a healthy sense of humor, she
was deeply interested in France and her be
longings, and her discomfort yielded to amuse
ment at the whole situation. If Frances was
finding an adventure in the capture of Paul
Fearlng's messenger. Marian, en her side., wa
experiencing new sensation by her contact with
a girl ahe would never have met In the ordi
nary course Of things.
"What do you think ot me now!" demanded
Frances as sh reappeared in a severe tailor
made gown with her fair head surmounted by
a Stnsrt little hat in which ah looked even
younger than before. "I'm mors comfortable
thlt way, anyhow. If you're ready, we'll skip!"
"fielding theater. Frank, and beat it!" ahe
commanded, and they were quickly rolling
toWnward. - .- -v.-.-- - .",:..'' j s -
"Don't you see how much nicer this is for me
than to be going alort! We'll enow Mr. Paul
Fearing what happens when he lets a mere
matter of business lnterefere with his social en
gagement! I hope that work he left for you
u do Is dreadfully important, so he'll see how
independent we are! If he scolds you, send
him to me!" .: ;w
They reached their teats Just as th leader
stepped upon the dais to begin the eymphony.
It was Beethoven's fifth, and Marian found
herself , thrilled and exalted as the theme de-
sloped and laid Its spell upon her. Her child-
.nooa ana youm were visuaiisea in a moving
pageant; she lived over again every happy hour
ot her lite, and hope and ambition ltd her en
thralled from one golden height to another.
Gnce, as she listened with bowed head, feeling
great : tides of mystery and Wonder sweeping
over her, Frances" hand touched hers-and she
turned to meet the gtrl'S eyes that were bright
with tears, . The applause at the end waa. a
relief, breaking a tension that at times had
been all but unbearable.
"It 'was really ' worth while, wasn't It?"
Frances murmured softly, th aW of the great
harmonies still in 'her eyes. But ehe waa quick
ly her radiant self, bowing to her friends as they
moved toward the door, '
"I'm glad it's so far," she said. When Marian
gave her address. "I couldn't think of letting
you go alone. After hearing muslo like that
yov need a little time to think It over, and I'll
be glad to hav the rid. And, besides, it wlU
give us a chance to get better acquainted."
"It was so good of you to take me!" said
Marten. "I never enjoyed anything half so
much.":.'':- ': ' v.
"It waa fine to have you, because" Frances
hesitated, and then as the street lights at the
corner revealed them to eaoh other ahe smiled
happily and added: "Tou know Paull Tou see
him every day, and having you there seemed to
bring htm nearer." j . t i
"Yes, I can -understand," Marian answered,
smitten with a pang of contrition for her de
ception and a fear for the girl's happiness.
The muslo had So lifted her out Of the actual '
world that she had forgotten that Frances Den
ning. had taken her to the concert in the belief
that she was employed in Paul Fearlng's office.
They had ' reached Marian's, boarding house
near the park about which proaperoul cltisens
had established themselves before the civil war. ,
Manv nf th old mansions ramafnad tn
to the. former grandeur of the neighborhood,
V..-. . t Au M M . a ' .
before fashion transferred Its banner to a new
section. As they drew up before the big brick
behind its screen of maples Frances clasped
Marian's hand. . -
"There's something I'm going to tell you.
Remember, It's the greatest secret and only a
very tew people know it yet Paul and I are
engaged!" - .
The chauffeur, had turned on the lights In
th tonneau and Marian could not avoid the
eyes that looked Into hers so confident of un
derstanding and response. -
' "Don't tell him I told you!" laughed the girt.
"But how can. X help tolling you, shea you bavg
Nicholson
been so kind to met Th eympheny rHy tn
t reduced ue to each otheri I feel aa though we'd
. known each other for ogee!"
"I em so gladt I know you will be very
happy!" Marlaa replied, and added guleklyl "X
shall always remember tonight. Thar the
firet symphony I ever heard!"
'"Then It's aa event for both of as, X hope
you won't have to work too hard to make
fcr running away,0
Midway of the walk that ted to th door
Marten paused and watched the car till It
passed from sight In her big, hlgh-oelllnged
room With Its dingy furniture eh poneered
long after (ho had turned out f light nd
gone to bed. The glrr generous impulses, her
' sweetness and Innocence, had Jtouched her deep
ly, and her heart burned with reeentment
again! Fowl Fearing.
Sho did not see Fsut again until the third
day after the coieert. She we clearing up her
deek when he appeared at the door. '
"Pardon met May I eomo InT"
Sho mad n reply, but rose quickly, eying
him Inhospitably a h crossed the reception
room.
"Mia Ward you , I've Shertocked your
name I know what you must think of me, but
. I'd like Just a moment please:"
There' nothing you need eay to me," ehe
replied, coldly. "And I'd rather you didn't
come here after office hours." t ,
"I understand all that But how that I'm in
my right mind I'd tike to repeat whatever
thanks I expressed th other evening." . .
"Very well! We'll consider that .I've been
thanked." aha replied, with discouraging final
ity. "I'll feet tot better If you'll let me mk It
quit plain that I am really very grateful for
everything you did.
"I'll aesum that you are; so w needn't die
cue It"
"But I don't Ilk to leave It Ilk this!" h
died, despairingly. "I know perfectly well that
I made a natty spectacle of myteir, but X oan't
here you thinking I'm not ashamed. X promise
you It sha'tt'l happen again." . . .
Hit manner waa eegtr and he met Mr eye
with a winning frankness. Th sincerity ot his
contrition and hie promts not to repeat his
offense, made it difficult to dismiss him. Hsr
Inclination to get rid ot him yielded under
charm ehe feit in him. H stood before her
new, a a straightforward, manly young fellow
: Who honestly wished to gala her respect She
noted the breadth of his shoulders, th firm
texture of hit clear, dark akin, and hia steady
brown syes with sudden liking. He might hava
Un pointed out in any gathering aa a fin
specimen Of thoroughbred American manhood,
"I'm glad to hear that" ehe said when she
nsd begun to be embarrassed by her own
Sllehct. "But there ar other Much mOr con
earned for your good behavior than X ten pos
sibly be. I need hardly remind you ot that" .
"That Just what I'm coming to!" h exclaim
ed, with a broad smile. "I exhibited myself to
you in the most unfavorable light possible and
I've been hating myself a cordially as you
could possibly hate m. But I'd like you to
know that I'v confessed everything to Miss
Denning."
"That's fine, but It's no more than you should
have done!" . - ' " ...
"Of course! But X Wanted you to know, and
so did France! I told her the whole story last
'night 0d she was plndid about it And, ot
course, X took care of your side ot th ease
explained that you Pretended to bo father's
secretary only to protect me. X know an about
your going to the concert and that ah told you
, of our engagement."
Well, you can imagine how X felt-knowing
all the ttra that X Wa a fraud and accepting
her kindness under fate pretenses. But I
think a lot better ot you for telling her Just
how 1 cam to be your messenger."
"I hoped you would I Won't you sit down?
While you stand I feel that you're terribly
anxious to get rid of me."' --
she sat down in the chair by her typewriter
desk, surprised at her own tolerance ot him. .
r "You got mi out ot a scrape th other oven- '
ing by your generou self-sacrifice," he went on.
"Tom, the elevator boy, told me you attend th
law classes, and I'm sorry you missed the lee
turt fcnd aimMt mmeA y6uf BUpptfi ta6, But
you're a dreadfully efficient person! You got
me in bad with father by just being too tape-
biel" ,'. . '- ,
"Wasn't the telegram satisfactory?" sh de .
manded, with a note. of alarm la her voice that -Caused
him to laugh.' '
"Bless me, yet. But it was too good a jobl
you read your reply to me, but I was too
fuddled to know what It wa about and it
- seem that, in addition to th point ot that .
Obinion and tha authorities it asked for. you .
stuck tn a new eat he didn't know about and .
....kka.al alt a 1. Ia.U la .v ' frg. au. m I
bully, Only It put me In a piokie, I hsdn't
meant to tell father about my wicked conduct
but when h tried to discuss that new ease and; '
your discreet hint- that it might be of service
I-had to tell him X didn't write th telegram ' '
and knew nothing about that decision. And, ,
naturally, he wanted to know who did the Job
for me to there you are!" v
, "Well, it makea no, difference a far a I'm
concerned. It wa a little impudent of me to
put it in. It happened that X had read th
report of the cue in one of the law magasines '
that came that afternoon, , and X tacked It on
because it strongly supported his own position." .
"Well,' pater blew th enemy out of the -
water with itr Incidentally, he gave me a good
raking, Which Wat proper! It was a low-down
irCK xor me to go on o spree wnsn n waa
away from home, That day X had been 0uty5.fr.
wun some 01 tne ooye 4 anew in r ranee wno
were pasting through town and stopped to see
me. No excuet at all I sea that in your eye!
That can go into the record a by agreement of
the parties I admit everythihgl" . .. ...
He was talking to her aa though h were
an old friend, making a confidant ot her, In
deed; and this was not to bo encouraged. But
he had evidently counted to much On her In
terest and sympathy that she hadn't the heart
to repel him. He was older 'than She ther
wa a difference of fiv or lx years, ahe sur-
mlsed, but somehow eh felt vastly older. This
in Itself interested her passingly.. . she won--dered
whether shs reaily eeemed Older than
her yeara ...,.."' . - '
"I supposs a great many people have rw
minded you of your great opportunity to be
Somebody in particular," eh said, soberly, "and
it's not my buiine to go into that X can ua
derstand how your father would feel If you
threw your chance away."
"Yes," he said, frowning, '1 went all over '
that with Francee last night FOr her sake, I'v -simply
got to make good!" ;'
iwnt iuvi yourself wiin wi iu i..fc 71111
can do it 'for her sake.' If your own sense ot
honor and self -respect doesn't prompt you to
behave yourself, you'll never do It tor any on
else." .. '
"Well, I know I can't fool with drink at alt
The other night wasn't the first time. I won't
deceive you about that And that' what mad
father so hard on me." , ... .
"You've eald that it would be th last time.
ana ox course man u min uunr, hi bk
Aaalw a! taVl trAl'tlah AP A 4 AMSklA
only your father you've got to eonelder.'
"No." he said, gently. "But France believes
in. me. and that doe help a lot I'd b a
scoundrel to disappoint her."
"Seeing that clearly," said Marian, steadily,
"it's your business to make good, - You can't
trifle with the heart of a girl like that And
the confidence ot a father ilk your and hi
hopes for you are another big obligation. X
Imagine it's 'a pretty bitter thing for a suc
cessful man to have a son who won't at -least
live straight and try to get somewhere."
Sho spoks rapidly and crisply, bendlag
.(Caattaaed a Tfm Tar)
