Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-02-11
The Wrong Note.

brother, the father and the shining
rival.
81 think we had cause to be sur
prised," she said, coldly.
"Cause" | cried. 'I received q
note from your mother on Thursday
asking me down for Sunday. ac-
copied"
"You declined" she said, in tone
that brooked no contradiction, land 40
telegraphed to Dick to come down.
See what position You placed me in.
/ couldn't let him know he was second
fiddle"
We had stopped walking, aud she
stood facing me in the light of win
dow. Her glance was one Of deep
reproach. 1--WE are always glad to
have you, as you know, but this time
it is just little embarrassing.
''But 1 accepted" maintained,
stoutly.
"Your note said plainly, Il regret
that another engagement prevents
my"
'Jovel" / 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" | said, sit was my
fault, and until this minute it never
occurred to me. got your mothers
note on Thursday. had an engage
ment to meet lawyer late this after
noon to try and settle case am con-
cerned in. As | couldn't attend to
the business and catch the last train
out determined to try and postpone
the matter. So wrote two notes
one accepting, the other declining the
invitation. 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 a settled look of dis
pleasure. "And | wired to Dick
Brooks"
iuuSutu VultNN'
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 word at
breakfast, but was quiet and thought.
full, an unusual mood for him. / could
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 ont to the pond and show
him the trout. For time / 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 myself TO take stroll about
the place. My steps carried me in the
direction of the pond, down the drive,
over stretch of lawn, through
grove, till l was halted Mt the sight of
two hats protruding over the top of
bush II few yards away,
Maria" heard Brooks say in q
more earnest tone than l 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"
Iwhistled to the collie that had
been bounding along near by, and
when Maria Torrington and her COM
panion stepped hurriedly into view l
cried "Hello"
Brooks looked foolish and replied
'Hello!" Then he began stirring the
dead leaves with his stick.
For moment oil Of us must have
looked foolish, a. Maria, her face Grim
son. stared blankly at distant tree
top, while leaned over and fell to
patting the shaggy dog.
The silence was broken by the girl.
She had completely recovered her
composure, and, fixing her eyes on
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 cleans haven
face was turning red from the tip of
his chin TO where the hair divided. A
man seldom objects to having it known
that he is attentive to q woman, but to
have her blazon il forth To all the
world, and TO his worst rival in partic-