Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1920 — A MATTER OF PRECAUTION [ARTICLE]

A MATTER OF PRECAUTION

By M. M. WILLIAMS

ItH. by McClar* Ntwapaper Syndicate.) “It’s your manner, Marjorie—so distant and stand-offish- A man needs encouragement if he —well, if you expect him to get anywhere," the very new Mrs. Gordon said to her maid of honor, with the accent of supreme wisdom possible only to supreme ignorance. Marjorie’s answer was a soft chuckle. Alicia's role of experienced matron (livened her amazingly. Stepsisters, close friends notwithstanding, when Frank Gordon had come mooning after her. she had engineered the transfer of his facile affections to her housemate so deftly, so subtly, neither of the newlyweds suspected her agency. She had foreseen how it would be —Alicla'with her liquid nature, taking form from what it fell into, would try' to live up to the Gordon dignity, partly in loving obedience to her Frank, but more through her own aspirations. As a first fruit, she must marry off Marjorie—she would miss her, of course—but a solitude of two was enticing. In the honeymoon year even the best-beloved terium quid crowds a dovecote, no matter how roomy. “You are really pretty,” Alicia went on patron 1 tingly. “Prettier than I am” —this without conviction. "But then you are older- —twenty-three almost — besides—” stopping there embarrassed, and looking away. “Besides, I'm almost a pauper with a fine feeling for the fine things money buys,” Marjorie supplemented, not bitterly, but with darkening eyes. “Maybe you are right. Maybe I ought to be advertising myself in the ‘object matrimony' class. But, somehow. JL just can’t see it. Lazy as I am, work looks better to me.” “Marjorie:” Alicia exploded. “You know that’s out of the question. Frank will never allow it. People will say, oh, dreadful things. We must consider our position. But you are joking—you must be. There Is nothing you can ' do.” \

“I am a mighty competent cook,” Marjorie said, slowly, pulling herself together after the explosion, which had hardened her nebulous consciousness of need into something imperative. Until the moment of speaking, she had never thought of her cooking as an asset. Now, by a lightning calculation, she reckoned it. plus a bond or two, a few sticks of furniture, and a right good will, as a provision, wholly adequate for independence. The house was Alicia’s —work there was Impossible. Further the countryaide already was suffering a plague of tea rooms, wayside inns and booths of home-made dainties, aimed at motorists beginning to be booth-shy. But somewhere there was a place for her—she must find it—the sooner the better. Next morning Alicia read tearfully a scrawl which ran : "Don’t fret, honey—gone to seek my fate —-not sure yet whether it will turn out a fortune or a husband. Tell folks what you please — you can make them believe anything, you lie so deliciously. You'll hear from me through Judy—she knows everything—and won’t tell. Be good to yourself and keep Frank in his place until I comeback. Love and all the rest of it, from the Wicked Marjorie." Judy knew everything, through having been the door of hope. “Dem Warrens people ober to Pine Hill done come yere tu leern what we L all doin', and wus ragarin' an' chargin' case dee couldn't git no cook ter stay wid um —not since Jincy. Judy’s sister had been wrested from their kitchen by sudden matrimony. Oh. yessum, dee paid fit right—’most anything wms asked um. But de ole lady she wus cranky as a ram's horn, even befoh she fell and broke so many bones. Den de two trained nurses and dat dar ram-rod-legged man. her son. even wusser. Dey wus sho’ly too much fer any plain wukin’ ooman. Maybe er lady mought stand um. Miss Mahje better run ’long ober dar, light an’ make begagement. ’pendin’ on Judy ter send on her suitcase—and keep her mouf shet ter everybody.’’ - Marjorie nodded —she was beyond speech. But she hugged Judy tight, and ran away trying haj-d to whistle. Six hours later, on the edge of sundown. she was In the Warren kitchen, saying to herself as she glanced around: “Tuesday of creation week couldn’t have been a patch on this." The ramrod-legged son had fetched her to the door, waved a helpless hand at the spectacle within, then vanished murmuring he« would make it worth her while to stay. Faith my move mountains, but virgin ignorance can give it three in the game. If Marjorie had known half the week following taught her she would never have adventured into the H arren household. One nurse was a kindly incapable—so was the remnant elderly maid. But the head nurse. Miss Snickers, made Up for both by abuse of the permission even head purses have to be hateful. Small wonder when she had marked down the ram-rod-legged one as her special prey and saw in Marjorie a potential rival. Especially after order came out of chaos and meals were no longer penances but full-fed delights. The tongue-tied Mr. Warren had no need to,praise them orally—the smacking of his lips was sufflciently convincing. Also and further he began almost to thrive to an extent which moved Jim Leslie, his Imported scientific farmer, to say, grinding at Marjorie: “If you keep this up

you’ll be able to get blood out of that turnip.” Casual contacts with this person, who did for himself and came into the kitchen only to bring fruit and vegetables, were Marjorie’s main alleviations. She knew she to him- —also" of It fascinating. Audaciously she had no fear that he would recognize in Joy, the Warren cook, the Marjorie Joyce Millbum he had danced with casually at the senior prom five years back. Then he had l»een slight—now he was tanned, mgscled, almost burly. Yet she fancied she would have known him without hearing his name; —His manner towards her was friendly—kind yet touched with a line respectful chivalrous reserve infinitely refreshing. Upon a sweltering lute August twilight the scent of ripe grapes enticed' Marjorie to the long arbor which ran down the main garden walk. She was very* tired —but hajq>y —hadn't she a hundred dollars to show for her month's toil? Crabbed old Mme. Warren had mouthed angrily as she paid it —John wtts a fool —no good girl could be so heartlessly extortionate —with sickness in the house—ami so little*to do. John~hmr checked her peremptorily then* —later, in the hall, he had apologized almost timidly for his mother—she was so old. so ill —she would never be better—he knew, if she did not. what a godsend Joy had beerr-to them. He had looked even mon* -Marjorie smiled wryly, remembering his eyes. Possibly the helped to send her out of doors recklessly conscious that in the-arbor she risked encounter with Ix*slie —he had a theory that grapes should be cut while sunwarm. -

“Fil let you help if you are very good.” he called gayly as she came within range of his lantern light. Hanging directly overhead it hung revealing white illumination upon her lifted brow, her round throat, the small quizzical curl of her lips. Instantly he knew her —as instantly 7 he dropped grape-shears and basket, leaped from the ladder and caught her hands, saying: "Want a prize idiot? Here he stands.” “Any proofs?" Marjorie asked saucily. "A whole month of it —I ought to Imve k n °wn you at the very first." he said hushedly, falling back a pace. Miss Snickers was advancing majestically upon them, leading a reluctant captive —Mr. Warren—and brandishing a letter as though it were a dagger. As she came close she thrust the letter upon Marjorie, hissing: “By spe l cial messenger—he's waitingr for the answer." “He is—judicious,” Marjorie answered, taking the missive, which was addressed : Mis mArjoßy Joy-Milbun. at Pinehill warrens. Saying ceremoniously: “Excuse me,” Marjorie broke the seal and read. “You come back HomE. uNc Dan is done Found he-self. Say es 1 Dont find you quick, he’LL Kill me. I’m in dEe Kyar down At de big Gait—you come wid de sHofEr —make him Tote you Close.” “You are going, of course?” Leslie said. He had read shamelessly over her shoulder. She nodded. Miss Snickers interposed. “Not until your bags are searched. I insist upon that—for my own protection. A person sailing under false colors is capable of almost anything. I do not propose to jeopardize my good name —” t “She IM not going If I cah help it.” Warren mmost shouted, clutching Marjorie's arm. “Stay—as my wifk I loved you the minute you chme.” \ Mijs Snickers screamed and promptly fainted. Marjorie brushed her, saving’ to Mr. Warren : “Thank Wod—but it’s no." Then ran toward door. Leslie reached it held It shut and said in a shaken voice: “Marjorie. I’ve loved you five years without knowing it. I know all about you. Uncle Dan's finding himself will make you an heiress. So I—l—it seems I had better tell you. I’ve got a million in my own right—tations —” ... “Why tell me?" Marjorie asked primly, but with dancing eyes. “Just as a matter of precaution so I won't be set down as a fortune hunter,” Leslie answered, possessing himself of her hand. *