Show Between Maid and Widow fI l f I think Frank is coming at last said Marlon Marion Grant to her father then then they both walked out onto the piazza and she pointed out a light road wagon approaching the house from the distant railway station We will hardly know him he has been so long away Two To T o years in the Transvaal will make some difference some remarked MiGrant Mi Mr Grant I am glad he remembers us so the rhe soon for returning volunteers ha have e only just arrived at Halifax I hear Marion l one of the fairest maidens in the valley py blushed and smiled as if she too were happy at the thought of seeing her er cousin Frank Frank Wood Wood- Woodworth worth again They had been playmates and ana sc schoolmates years before and though she had seen but little of him for several years Before his departure as asa asa asa a Canadian volunteer at tile tHe breal breaking out of the Boer war the memory of their childish intimacy had always been a pleasure Nor had other and later masculine masculine masculine line admirers at all weakened this Juveline recollection But when she beheld the tall bronzed mustached soldier still in his undress undress undress un un- un- un dress khaki uniform leap from the vehicle and gr grasp sp her fathers father's hand she felt strangely though pleasantly embarrassed And this is Marion he exclaimed holding both her hands in m his as if undecided whether to add to his cousinly greeting by kissing her hei but apparently apparently apparently thinking better of It At the sudden sight of her now a young woman grown s something of re restraint restraint restraint re- re seemed to seize them both and both felt that their old childish IntImacy intimacy IntI- IntI macy was merged in something deeper more coy perhaps yet even more enjoyable enjoyable enjoyable en en- though In a different way After that the hours passed swiftly Frank now a Lieutenant related his South African adventures and as young girls are aie apt to 10 admire anything military mih- mih tary It Is safe to say that the re recital did not nol lessen the hold he already had had upon Marions Marion's fancy After that he became a frequent visitor at his uncles uncle's farmhouse and many mapy were the bright afternoons and moonlit evenings that he and his fall fair cousin sat on the long piazza chatting cosily together with green fields and the apple orchards of the valley soothing th the tho soldiers soldier's eye eyel l hg wearied by the dun barrenness of the African veldt or the monotonous monotonous monotonous' I gray of the ocean I One day Marion Marlo came out to meet him with an ope open letter in her hand I Cordelia Cordella is coming she said We are to have a summer ummer boarder at Willow Willow Wil Wil- low Bank farm farm And who Is Cordelia he asked Indifferently I hope she won Wont Won't t keep you away awal awa from me ne J. J 1 Cordelia Dupre Is an pid old friend who married wept went pt to Colorado and came carne back not long ago go a widow Her husband died in t the e gold fields l j believe but she seems to to have money and I is said to be quite gay gay gayY gayA A widow he exclaimed Fair fat and 40 I suppose W Why tt hy n no She is only two Iwo two years older ohler than I. I I Marlon confessed to 19 years ears You had better be pe on your guard sir she added archly No fear fear replied Frank Jfrank with so ardent a look of open admiration that Marion Marlon blushed delightfully as she suggested Yell Well you must be polite to her at all events j And Frank was polite p perfunctorily at first but hut soon with Interest for the young widow proved to be not only gay but fascinating After Arter a time Marlon Marion found that her her- lover was slipping away from her Loth to believe belleve this she was wal one day along a shrubberY border shrubbery bordered d lane near the creek crEele bluffs not far from h her r fathers father's s farmhouse when a murmur of well-known well v startled her I 1 She turned modestly unconscious and came caine upon the two suddenly Frank knee widows widow's His back on one was placing a ring on the engagement finger was wa's was toward Marlon Marion as he exclaimed t l t I Mine at 1 r and i clasped laspe her In his ls arms with a passionate abandon that hat went vent through l Marion arion n Grant like a knife Summoning all ali het r resolution s lut n she turned and retreated feeling faint and w weak k At the same Instant Cord Cordelia Cordella lIa saw her rival exclaimed her her surprise and pinching Frank caused him to turn just in time to catch a view of his cousins cousin's s vanishing draperies I After that there fell a state of mutual restraint upon the young young people that grew so burdensome to the lovely young Widow Dupre that she soon took tool her departure for a summer watering place under tinder the plea that life at the Grant Giant farmhouse was growing too dull But to Marion It was evident that she carried with her young Woodworth's pledge to marry the widow the following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing Christmas Frank too returned to Halifax where he had secured a abu bu business position and Marlon Marion bore het er silent bravely thanking her stars stai-s that beyond the silent nt language of the eyes no word had been spoken that would have betrayed her hei real feeling for her cousin Autumn lapsed into winter Christmas came caine and at the widows widow's city home preparations were already ady complete for the wedding and 2nd the prospective bridegroom bridegroom bridegroom bride bride- groom was at ha hand haid d. d Did he think of or his cousin in the valley alley as he listened to the widows widow's vivacious and trivial prattie If so he gave no outward outward outward out out- ward sign beyond an unusually sober sobel dem demeanor anor that caused him hint to be jokingly rallied b by the guests When the time arrived for the ceremony and the minister Inquired in itt the cOUrse couise of It if any man knew any reason why these two should not be Joined together a a. pate be bearded man entered In haste called out I 1 do It was Mr Mi Dupre not dead as was supposed but very much alive and Just in from the West Vest where for several months his life had really hung by bya a thread in a remote mining camp he being delirious most of the time Th report of his death had even deceived d his wife who ho now resigned Frank with apparently the same ease with which she took him up He lie himself himself him him- self after the first shock was as over was surprised s at his own sense of or relief and anti he began to understand the state of his own heart better when he found his lila thoughts reverting to tol Marion Marlon A f few w weeks later he found himself at the the Acadian farmhouse again actu actually ac- ac tu illy though a little shamefacedly begging to be taken taleen back again Ills His cousin who had at first blushed at sight of him felt her resentment melt into pity he was so contrite and even humble But Dut when he announced that he loved lo her still a sudden pallor overspread her fair fall features if I suppose I ought to be scornful and cynical Frank she replied d. d But what Is the use use You say you cannot help loving me Do you you mean you mean mean it It His eager penitent earnest tone and nd manner were very convincing even evena a greater grealer skeptic than Marion Macion was be would have found them soShe so She placed her hand In his I cannot say no no no she whispered even If I would Wo WoUld ld you If It Itou you jou ou could dearest he persisted A month after their marriage she answered him i always loved you Frank FI-ank from the day when you you a lad laa of 15 rescued me n-ic a girl of 12 from drowning when I fell feU into the river F How could I ever say no when you wanted me to say yes yes yes' l I It |