Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-05
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SHORT STORY
OF THE DAY.
THE WRONG CARD.
From an Exchange.

The attorney was i'll q reflective MOOD,
as he walked from the Office to his nome.
The afternoon had developed business OF
great Importance, which would take him
1900 miles away during the next six
months. The lawyer, however, was in love,
and dreaded to leave the field free TO his
many rivals.
As he walked along, he pictured himself
in a certain pretty home uptown, laying
his love and lucre at the feet of a charm
ing woman. VINO, long, long ago, hdd coiAe
10 be an essential part oil MS existence.
Whist he was thinking over the sltua-
lion and hurrylng nomeward, ne was naueo
Win u busInessIlKe no, tarr, l want 10
speak to you d moment.
Turning about ne faced the speaker, a
frienc Oh his Junior psrtner; anu IN d lew
minutes they were deeply engaged IN q
discussion OF some absuruse question:, con-
corning a case which was then interesting
q great many lawyers.
When the Two parted, the one VINO had
hailed Farr handed the latter a card with
a request that he would give IL TO Sonier-
ton, the junior partner OF the frm OF farr
q Somerton. In the hurry OF parting tarr
took the card without looking at II, and
only after he had reached his residence, his
mind stiil tull OF the matter they had dis
cussed, did he think 10 glance at the bit
of pasteboard. 1t should have borne certain
memoranda which Somerton desired; but
was. however, quite blank, save for the en-
graved name of the owner. With a slight
smile at the others carelessness he tucked
the card In his pocket.
Supper over, he betook himself TO pipe
and slippers. Then, lounging comfortably
in a big armchair before the study hre lie
gave himself up to the interrupted reiiec-
lions of the afternoon. As a result OF las
cogitations, before he retired a letter hau
been written, addressed to Miss Margaret
Lamore." In it Miss Lahore was informed
that he would call the following evening on
an urgent matter. The letter, perhaps, Was
a trihe stiff and businesslike but surely
could not help being clear 10 a woman.
So. at least, thought Farr, and he went to
sleep that night to dream of a gracious
woman and a successful suit.
The business OF the next day put an END
to any further air castles for the time be-
ing, but when evening came he lost no time
in hurrying whittier the letter had gone
Arriving there. a ring brought the maid to
the door-a new maid-Farr noticed. Win
his thoughts on the coming interview, 1t
her his card and asked to see Miss Lamore:
A few moments waiting, and then the girl
returned to say, in a Well bred voice, that
Miss Lahore had an immediate engage
ment n begged 10 be excused.
Somewhat dazed by what he considered a
rebuff, Farr left the house. Once more
In his own room. he contrived, within an
hour or two, by the aid Of his pipe, to put
himself in a mood which played havoc
with sentiment
rapidly away from his home and the WON.
an who. 4 few hours earlier, had been an
in all to him. Now. however, he Thought
he had convinced himself that she was no.
worth the wooing. Yet every single day of
the next half year had its full measure of
bitterness, souring even the great success.
found him YEARLY praying for sleep. TO
drive away the vision of a proud. sweet
woman who SO persistently haunted him
Sometimes he wearied of both himself and
the world. but he was obliged to live and
meet his fellow men. even If a woman had
scorned his love.
mission allowed him to return home. But
little more than six months from the day
when Margaret Lahore had made life seem
SO gloomy to him, he was once again In MS
native town. On the day of his return
Somerton insisted that he should dine with
him at the earliest. possible opportunity;
and. of course. tired though he was. and
DESTROYS OF nothing beyond peace and mel
ancholy quiet, he was compelled to accept
the invitation so warmly pressed upon aim:
Accordingly that evening found aim on the
way to the Somerton home.
He must have forgotten that Mrs. SOM
erton and Miss Lahore were the most IN,
innate friends, or. perhaps. II was natural
to start when he found himself face to race
with the latter in the Somerton .parlor.
That he did start was a fact quickly de-
which naturally increased her embarrass-
ment.
Judging from your appearance. Mr..
Farr." said she. your health has not
been much benefited by the Western trip
II am afraid not" was his answer, the
work was hard. and 1 did not go to It in
s sIsne eei inte on n sPit to- be full hh, Of i meaning Magn d
She saw the look. and, wondering at it.
colored.
You look so worn and ill.," she con-
tinued, that I have not the heart fo
scold as you deserve: yet you must have
known how much I should regret not see,
ing you before you took the trip"
The seeming effrontery of this took the
power of speech from Farr, and the as
constituent depicted on his countenance
brought a flush once more to the face
was not disposed to speak. she resumed:
You promised to call and then left
without a word. I certainly did not ex'
pect 1t of you"
Recovering. himself a little at this. Far
told her. with as much dignity as possible
that she must have been deeply engrosset
that summer day to have forgotten th'
card he had sent up TO her. and the fac
that she had pleaded an immediate en-
gagement as an excuse for not seeing him
gentle contradiction. Miss Lahore firm
~ insisted that he had not sent up hi
card. and Farr as obstfnately persisted
in saying that he had. When. for severa
accused each other of forgetfuiness. Far
tool matters into his own hands by break
ing out vehemently with:
do you know why l wanted SO mucl
to see you that day? Do you imagine tha
] could be. for a moment, forgetfui Of tn
most trihing incident that happened then
when / thought you had treated me witt
such crushing Indifference"
They were now seated on a couch, an
he, with a bitterness born of the unhappi
ness he had experienced, told her his Who'll
-, story from that day to this present tim
when she saw him so Ill and worn-worr
not with toll. but with the hopelesSnes
of his life. He had no new phrases i
which TO frame his thoughts; but the ole