The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-09-05
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AN AWKWARD MISTAKE.
story of a misunderstanding.

enough into the maven Wnere tney
would be.
This is the story Of misunderstood
ing.
The very first time he saw her, he
said to himself, CHOW, there is the cir
| should like to marry"
She was just his sort but it was
the old story of the attraction of op'
posites-a story as old as the hills,
BE was big, she was small ; he was
dark, she was fair /; he was quiet, she
was lively ; and SO on, ad infnitum
She certainly was very taking little
girl, and she had a pensive way Of
contemplating one with her great blue
eyes that was altogether fascinating.
Bob Hemsleigh went down before that
look like leaf in the wind.
Bob was not particularly clever OF
amusing, nor, indeed, particularly any
thing but honest. Honest he was
from the crown of his close-cropped
head to the soles of his military
boots, and as simple-minded as g
child. Hitherto he had never been in
earnest about woman but he was
in earnest now, and it was sober
solemn, downright earnest. Hence
forth there would be but one woman
in the world for him.
BE would have liked to take her in
those great strong arms of his and tel
her so ; but such course of actor
was out of the question, for she was
engaged to his old chum, Phil Mars,
den.
Now, Phil Marsden was the sort Of q
man that lady novelists described a.
zone Of Fortunes favorites." Ii
plain English, he was good-looking
well-off, thorough sportsman, good
hapd at all games, and popular with
men and women alike. A lucky NOR
tai all around but it never occur:
red to Bob to envy his friend
until he saw Gwen Warrington
Then new, strange feeling stirred in
Bob's honest heart. It was not ex
actly jealousy; but rathera wistful
patient wonder why one fellow should
have all the luck and everything else
while other fellows were left out in the
cold.
Well, one summer the officers Of
Bob s regiment took it into their heads
to give ball. It was final fare-uI
before the -th moved in fresh quar-
ters, and they spared neither trouble
nor expense to make it success. Al
this ball Bob was introduced to the
future Mrs. Phil Marsden, and they
danced good deal together. Bob had
a splendid swing, and Gwen was the
lightest waltzer in the room, so they
went like clock-work.
Gwen gave Bob more waltzes than
she gave Phil; but the latter did not
seem 10 mind. and, THAT Of course.
was rather q queer state of things.
Bob noticed, which was remarkable
for in an ordinary way his percep'
tiohs were just as blunt as are most
mems.
"I say, Miss Warrington" he oh.
served, tentatively, as he and Gwen
went out together yet once again, "it's s
awfully good of old Phil to let you
give me so many dances. Shows he
isn't selfish, anyway, doesn't it2"
Gwen shrugged her shoulders, and
a change came over her expressive
face; change that Bob did not quite
like te see.
"Selish p she echoed. "Oh, Phil
is never selfish where am concerned,
I can assure Mr.. Hemsleigh. He has
no desire to keep me all to himself. .
4 There was no obvious answer to this
speech, and SO Bob said nothing. As
a matter of fact, the situation was q
little beyond him. He thought of
Owens words afterward, though, and
Of the family bitter tone in which they
were uttered but he did not venture
to broach the subject again. 1t was
ticklish ground.
He saw nothing more of either Phil
or Gwen until the autumn, and then
he ran into them at the house Of a
common friend, where he had gone for a
weeks shooting. This time the idea
that all was not right between the
lovers struck him more forcibly than
before. They were apparently on
good terms with one another, and they
never disagreed F; but Phil had lost his
old genial spirit, and was discomfort
ed. He was always in the clouds or
swearing at his luck Gwen had
changed, too. Her man .er had grown
tired and listless, nd;sthere was. a
wistful, wondering looksin her eyes
that it hurt Bob to see.
Poor old Bob He could tell that
something was wrong;;sbut hecould
not make out what it was, though he
puzzled that honest head Of his until
he thought be, was going to have brain
fever. The new look insGwen' 8 eyes
haunted. limit was always in his
thoughts in the daytime, and it kept
him awake at night. He felt impell-
ed to do something-but what That
was the question. .
At last, one day he found Gwen all
by herself in the library, crying over
the fire, and that was the climax. He
never could bear to see a woman in
tears, and when it came to the woman
he loved, Why
''Miss Warrington" he said, hur-
riedly, ''Miss Warrington, you are in
trouble of some sort. Will you tell
me what it is ?" Then, as she did
not answer at once, his hand fell
heavily on her shoulder, and he add
ed, "For Gods sake don t cry y
Gwen checked her sobs with an eff
fort, and raised her tear-dimmed eyes
to his face.
'sOh /! Mr.. Hemsleigh," she ex-
claimed, ri am in great trouble, and
and you are so good and kind. If only
you could help me"
"Give me chance" Bob returned
shortly. "I'm stupid sort of a chap,
I know; no good at all to talk. But if
there's anything Ia the world I can do
for you, I'll do it. Do you believe
me p
"Oh, yes," answered Gwen putting
out her hand to him with an impul.
sive gesture, while the tears brimmed
over afresh.
Bob took the trembling little hand
md hold n IN a stronp close clasn. q