Lightnin Part 32

"Oh yes, she's waiting for you. She's afraid you're not going to forgive her."

"Well, I think I can convince her of my forgiveness," said Marvin.

Delving into his pocket Bill brought forth the ring.

"When you see her just give her this," he said.

Marvin smiled. "Now I know why you borrowed that two dollars this afternoon!"

"Sure! You can find her. She's around some place. After you give it to her come in to the party."

"What party?"

Bill nodded toward the dining-room door. "Lem and his wife are giving a party and we want you to come. But you can't come until you get Millie,"

said Bill.

Marvin turned and walked toward the stairs, wondering where Millie was.

His thought brought his wish, for she parted the curtains and came slowly down. She stopped when she saw him, but there was a look in his eyes that she could not mistake and her heart was beating as it had not done for many months, ever since she and Marvin had walked on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Tahoe many months ago.

"Daddy has told you what I should say to you, hasn't he?" she asked, coming slowly down the stairs. Marvin went half-way up.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Well, I have made a fool of myself and I am ashamed of myself and I beg you to forgive me!"

Pausing on the stairs, she lowered her eyes, coloring deeply. Marvin could not help laughing, and there was a dimple of amus.e.m.e.nt in Millie's cheek. He put an arm around her and led her down into the lobby.

"I could tell you something better than that to say," he stated, seeing that her eyes were at last answering his, "you might say, for example, 'John, dearest, I know that you love me always,' because that is something a woman must know!"

They both laughed delightedly at this repet.i.tion of the words he had used in the court-room.

"And I suppose I should say"--but here Millie turned her head away--"please marry me!"

"Exactly!" Marvin cried. "And my answer is, Yes, Millie--if you will have me!"

Suddenly he remembered the horrible ring Bill had bought. He took it from his pocket, saying, with mock tenderness, "Millie, I want to show you something, and--"

[Ill.u.s.tration: ... HE TOOK IT FROM HIS POCKET, SAYING, "MILLIE, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING"]

"I have seen it!" she interrupted, laughing softly, glancing down at the object in its gaudy setting.

"Well, we mustn't disappoint Lightnin'," said Marvin. "Put it on your finger, dear, for the old fellow's sake and let him see it. It will show him that his efforts were not in vain--no ring could be more beautiful in thought than this one!"

"You're right, John!" she said, with shining eyes, as she slipped the thing on her finger and raised her face for a kiss.

At that psychological moment Bill stuck his head in the door. He withdrew, of course, but only to return in an instant with the whole party at his heels.

Bill was leading his wife by the hand. Gesturing toward Marvin and Millie, his shrewd old eyes fairly snapping with whimsical happiness, Lightnin' exclaimed:

"Mother--look! I fixed that!"

THE END

BOOTH TARKINGTON'S NOVELS

_SEVENTEEN._ Ill.u.s.trated by Arthur William Brown.

No one but the creator of Penrod could have portrayed the immortal young people of this story. Its humor is irresistible and reminiscent of the time when the reader was Seventeen.

_PENROD._ Ill.u.s.trated by Gordon Grant.

This is a picture of a boy's heart, full of the lovable, humorous, tragic things which are locked secrets to most older folks. It is a finished, exquisite work.

_PENROD AND SAM._ Ill.u.s.trated by Worth Brehm.

Like "Penrod" and "Seventeen," this book contains some remarkable phases of real boyhood and some of the best stories of juvenile prankishness that have ever been written.

_THE TURMOIL._ Ill.u.s.trated by C. E. Chambers.

Bibbs Sheridan is a dreamy, imaginative youth, who revolts against his father's plans for him to be a servitor of big business. The love of a fine girl turns Bibbs' life from failure to success.

_THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA._ Frontispiece.

A story of love and politics,--more especially a picture of a country editor's life in Indiana, but the charm of the book lies in the love interest.

_THE FLIRT._ Ill.u.s.trated by Clarence F. Underwood.

The "Flirt," the younger of two sisters, breaks one girl's engagement, drives one man to suicide, causes the murder of another, leads another to lose his fortune, and in the end marries a stupid and unpromising suitor, leaving the really worthy one to marry her sister.

THE NOVELS OF MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

_DANGEROUS DAYS._

A brilliant story of married life. A romance of fine purpose and stirring appeal.

_THE AMAZING INTERLUDE._ Ill.u.s.trations by The Kinneys.

The story of a great love which cannot be pictured--an interlude--amazing, romantic.