Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-20
The Wrong Note.

1 couldn't let him know he was second
fiddle"
We had stopped walking, and she
stood facing me in the light of win
dow. Her glance was one of deep
reproach. 'We are always glad to
have you, as you know, but this time
it is just little embarrassing.
F., "But 1 accepted" maintained,
stoutly.
"Your note said plainly, I regret
| that another engagement prevents
MY"
'Jove!" broke into laugh.
what are you swearing about?
don't see anything particularly anus
ing"
How stupid I had been from the
first.
''Why, Maria," I said, sit was my
fault, and until this minute it never
occurred to me. got your mothers
note on Thursday. I had an engage
ment to meet lawyer late this after
noon to try and settle case am con-
cerned in. AS L couldn't attend to
the business and catch the last train
out l determined to try and postpone
the matter. So wrote two notes
one accepting, the other declining the
invitation. 1 took them both down
town next day, and as the attorney
consented to my postponing the meet
ing mailed the acceptance.
''You mean you got them mixed and
sent the wrong one," she said. A half
smile lighted her face for an instant,
to give place to settled look of dis
pleasure. 'And I wired to Dick
Brooks"
laughed quietly.
"What are you laughing at?" she
asked
Brooks must be puzzled over you
having us down here together"
She resented this inference as to
our mutual relations by turning
sharply and, carrying herself with ex-
aggerated erectness, entered the
house, with me following crestfallen
at her heels.
Brooks was puzzled; so extremely
puzzled that he hardly said a word at
breakfast, but was quiet and thought
see that he had an important piece of
engineering on hand and tried to block
his schemes, but despite my subtle
moves he succeeded in inducing Maria
to take him out to the pond and show
him the trout. For a time 1 chafed
in the library under Mrs. Torrington' S
verbose recital of the difficulties of Sc
curing funds for certain deserving
hospital, and at length, unable to bear
the restraint longer, rather abruptly
excused IN self to take stroll about
the place. My steps carried me in the
direction of the pond, down the drive,
over q stretch of lawn, through a
grove, till was halted at the sight OF
two hats protruding over the top OF q
bush few yards away.
maria, heard Brooks say in q
more earnest tone than 1 had deemed
him capable of assuming, Il have
waited now for year for an answer.
Sometimes my hopes have been raised
raised only to see You shower kind
ness on that fellow"
l whistled to the collie that ha(
been bounding along near by, and
when Maria Torrington and her com
panion stepped hurriedly into view
cried "Hellor
Brooks looked foolish and replied
"Hello!'' Then he began stirring the
dead leaves with his stick.
For moment all of us must have
looked foolish, as Maria, her face Grim
son. stared blanhly at distant tree
top, while I leaned over and fell te
patting the shaggy dog.
The silence was broken by the girl
She had completely recovered hel
composure, and, fixing her eyes oil
me, said: Harry, as you have doubt
less heard, Dick-Mr. Brooks-has
just asked me to marry him."
"Asked for the thousandth time,
muttered Brooks. His clean-shaver
face was turning red from the tip OF
his chin to where the hair divided. A
man seldom objects to having it knowr
that he is attentive to a woman, but tt
| have her blazon it forth to all the
world, and to his worst rival in partic
ular, and in his presence, is not SC
agreeable if he occupies the position
of one rejected.
"And you have also asked me, ;
Maria Torrington went on, with cool
ness that would have astounded me
had not known her,
eyes, said, stupidity, asked you
frequently"
81 like you both very much," she
said, fixing her eyes on Brooks, who
was still fumbiing his stick among the
leaves.
1t hardly seemed fair that she should
look so kindly on my rival, SO called
her eyes back to me by asking, "Can't
you choose between us?'
"No," she replied, after moment
of thoughtful silence, "I've tried very
hard to, but can't. A plan of choos
ing was suggested to me by your un.
expected coming"
"We are both to go away and stay
away?" growled Brooks.
Zone may come back. y
/ sI?" Brooks started eagerly tow.