Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-15
THE WRONG CARD.

portance, which would take him q
thousand 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 him
self In a certain pretty home uptown,
laying his love and lucre at the feet of
q charming woman, who, long ago. had
come to be an essential part of his ex
lstence.
While he was thinking over the stu
alton and hurrying hOmeward. he was
hailed with a business-like: "HO. Farr;
l want to speak to you a moment!
Turning about he faced the speaker,
q friend Of his junior partner; and In q
few minutes they were deeply engaged
In a discussion of some abstruse Ques-
don, concerning a case which was then
Interesting a great many lawyers.
When the two parted, the one who
had hailed Farr handed the latter a
card with a request that he would give
1t to Somerton, the Junior partner of
the firm of "Farr & Somerton." In the
hurry Of parting Farr took the card
without looking at 1t, and only after
he had reached his residence his mind
still full of the matter they had dis
cussed, did he think to glance at the
bit Of pasteboard. 1t should have borne
desired; but was, however, quite
blank. save for the engraved 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 COM
fortably In a big armchair before the
study fire, he gave himself up to the in
terrupted reflections of the afternoon.
As result of his cogitations, before be
retired a letter had been written. ad.
dressed to Miss Margaret Lamore."
In 1t Miss Lamore was informed that
he would call the following evening on
an urgent matter. The letter, perhaps,
was q trifie stiff and business-like, but
surely could not help being clear to
woman. So, at least, thought Farr.
and he went to sleep that night tc
dream of a gracious woman and a sue
cessful suit.
The business of the next day put an
snd to any further air castles for the
time being, 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. With his thoughts
On the coming interview, 1t was only in
4 mechanical way that he gave 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 Lamore had an imme-
date engagement and begged to be ex-
oused.
Somewhat dazed by what he consid-
cred a rebuff, Farr left the house.
Once more,yiorhis own roc ne con-
trived. within an hour or two. by the
aid Of his pipe, to put himself in 9
mood which played havoc with senti-
ment.
An early train the next day carried
him rapidly away from his home and
the woman who, a few hours earlier,
had been all in all to him. Now, how
ever, he thought he had convinced him
self that she was not worth the WOO
Ing. Yet every single day Of the next
half year had its full measure of bit
terness, souring even the great sue
resses he met with. Not q single night
but found him wearily praying for
sleep, to drive away the vision Of q
proud. sweet woman who so persist
entity haunted him. Sometimes he wear
led Of both himself and the world, but
be was obliged to live and meet his fel-
low men, even II a woman had scorned
bis love.
Time passed, and the conclusion of
his mission allowed him to return
home. But little more than six months
from the day when Margaret Lamore
had made life seem SO gloomy to him,
he was once again in his native town.
On the day of his return Somerton in
sisted that he should dine with him at
the earliest possible opportunity, and,
Of course, tired though he was. and de-
sirous Of nothing beyond peace and
melancholy quiet, he was compelled
to accept the invitation so warmly
evening found him on the way to the
Somerton home.
He must have forgotten that Mrs.
Somerton and Miss Lamore were the
most intimate friends, or, perhaps, it
was natural to start when he found
himself face to face with the latter in
the Somerton parlor. That he did start
was a fact quickly detected by Miss
Lamore-a fact also which naturally
Increased her embarrassment.
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 l did not sc
to it In the best of spirits" This last
with a glance intended to be full OF
meaning.
She saw the look. and. wondering ri
it, colored.
"You loCI- So worm n'' NJ sh" "n''
IInueu. --Inat 1 nave not the nearr 10
scold as you deserve; yet you must
have known how much l should re-
gret not seeing you before you took the
trip"
The seeming effrontery Of this took
the power Of speech from Farr, and
the astonishment depicted on his coun-
tenance brought a flush once more to
the face Of his fair companion. Seeing
that he was not disposed to speak, she
resumed:
You promised to call and then left
without a word. certainly did not ex-
pect 1t Of you"
Recovering himself a little at this.
Farr told her, with as much dignitT
as possible, that she must have been
deeply engrossed that summer day to
have forgotten the card he had sent up
10 her. and the fact that she had plead
ed an immediate engagement as an ex-
cuse for not seeing him.
Then followed a period of polite and