The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-30

"Last Wednesday. She said she'd asked
you'
Eyes, but didn't know she had asked
you," said bluntly
Be blushed a little; he is a fairly in
genuous youth and has not outgrown the
trick.
''Well, you see," he said, "she didn't
exactly ask me, but heard she was going
and happened to be there That's how it
was"
sob, you happened to hear and be thereG
That's very curious said I, looking at
ever, tried to speak, failed and Left me in
a hurry.
wondered what had Lsen the result of
the party, and that afternoon I went to
find out. The maid left me in the hall,
saying she would see If her mistress would
see me. am SO used to making myself
at home in Joan's house that the girls
formality annoyed me, and, to assert my
old footing, I pushed open the dining
room door, meaning to wait there.
The room was dim, but saw two fig
ures very close together, which olsen
tangled themselves when they saw me, and
one gave little shrek.
"Miss Machin," l cried, "I beg your
pardonl' And in confusion retired to
the hall. I had seen that the second figure
was Simmons "Does Joan know" I
wondered. Before could satisfy myself I
heard the drawing room door slammed,
and man rushed down stairs. It was
Stamford, looking very cross. He did not
see me till ventured to speak to him /;
then he glared, muttered something, seized
his hat and left the house.
I went slowly up stairs and into the
drawing room. Joan was standing by the
mantelpiece with her handkerchief in her
hand. She was crying and gave little
jump when she heard me.
ooh, is it you, Jim? Why did you come
up? can't see any one"
"I'm no one,' said I. "What's the
matter?''
Nothing" she said.
"Nonsense," l said, with severity.
"Come, tell me all about it, as you used
TO do when your dolls were broken" I
pushed chair toward her, and she sank
into it with sob.
'I'ye been such fool!" she said. ST
can never respect myself againp'
is it as bad as thatp'' said 1.
"Worse. You were right when you said
matchmaking was dangerous. 1t Is, hor-
riblyl'
"Ahl You've burnt your fngersp
"And for no purpose. Biddy and Ralph
Simmons
81 know" said. "They are in the
drawing room. disturbed them. But
surely Stamford does not blame your"
"Of course he does''- She dabbed her
eyes. He thought-he didn't understand
The imagined-men are SO vain." She
stopped short.
"What did be imagine?'' asked.
THAT 1t was for my own sake" she
faltered
GOOD graoiousp' I cried. "And you
have just undeceived him?''
1T was dreadful, jim He thought I
cared for him, as he did for me, and when
he found out it was mistake he was aw-
fully upset. He said I'd made a fool of
him and that he would leave England and
go away" And the poor little woman
broke down.
let her sob few minutes, then said:
"Was it a mistake? Do you want him to
stay in England?''
sobbed
AAhso 40 hOu WAau AuOhu, 6dlu. LIZ
you love him after ALP"
She hesitated. 'Thats horrid thing
to ask, F" she said.
Never mind" I said sternly. eff you
don't love him.
"But I dol That's the awful part Of it, "
she cried GIVE only just found it out,
and how could 1 tell him did when he
took it for granted I'd been running after
himP 1 had to let him think 1t was mis-
take or despise myself all my life.''
You're in a mess, JOAN" said I.
"Shall tell him?'
'Not a wordl' she cried.
just then caught sight of pair of
mems gloves on chair. care those his
gloves?" said, pointing to them.
ooh, yesl" she cried, catching them up.
They are good pair. He will be sorry
to lose them," said. "Suppose you write
and tell him they are here and suggest he
should call for them?''
Jim, your an ANGELO she cried.
Mrs. Stamford has abandoned match.
making.-St. Pauls.