The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-02-03
THE WRONG CARD.

mood, as lie walAeu from the oi-
Il fee to his home. The afternoon
had developed business Of great Inn
portance, which would take him
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
a charming woman, who, long ago, had
come to be an essential part of his ex-
istence.
While he was thinking over the stu
alton and hurrying homeward, he was
hailed with n business-like: "Ho, Farr;
/ want to speak to you momentF
Turning about he faced the speaker,
n friend Of his junior partner; and in
few minutes they were deeply engaged
in discussion of some abstruse ques-
ton. concerning case which was then
interesting a great many lawyers.
When the two parted, the one who
card with request that he would give
1t to Somerton, the junior partner of
the firm of "Farr q 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 pasteb0ard. 1t should have borne
certain memoranda which Somerton
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 big armchair before the
study fire, he gave himself up to the in
terrupted reflections Of the afternoon.
AS a result of his cogitations, before he
retired letter had been written, adj
dressed to Miss Margaret Lamore."
In ii Miss Lahore was Informed that
he would call the following evening on
an urgent matter The letter, perhaps,
was trihe stiff and business-like, but
surely could not help being clear to a
woman. SO, at least, thought Farr,
and he went to sleep that night to
dream Of gracious woman and sue
cessful suit.
The business of the next day put an
end 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, ring
brought the maid to the doOr-a new
mald-Farr noticed. With his thoughts
on the coming interview, 1t was only in
a 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 well-bred
voice, that Miss Lam0re had an imme-
diate engagement and begged to be ex-
cused.
Somewhat dazed by what he consid
cred rebuff, Farr left the house
Once more in his own rooms he con
trlved, within an hour or two, by the
aid of his pipe, to put himself in q
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 mex
half year had It's full measure of bit
terness, souring even the great sue
cesses he met with. Not a single nigh
but found him wearily praying fol
Sleep to drive away the vision of ;
proud, sweet woman who so persist
emily haunted him. Sometimes he wear
led of both himself and the world, bu
he was obliged to live and meet his fel
low-men, even If woman had scorneC
his love.s
Time passed, and the conclusion o
his mission allowed him to return
home. But little more than six months
from the day when Margaret Lamor,
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 a
the earliest possible opportunity, and
of course, tired though he was, and de
sirous of nothing beyond peace ant
melancholy quiet. he was compelle,
to accept the invitation so warml,
pressed upon him. Accordingly tina
evening found him on the way to tn
Somerton home.
He must have forgotten that Mrs
Somerton and Miss Lamore were tn
most intimate friends, or, perhaps,
was natural to start when he foun
himself face to face with the latter i
the Somerton parlor. That he did star
was a fact quickly detected by Mis-
Lamore-a fact also which naturall
increased her embarrassment.
Judging from your appearance, MI
Farr," said she, ''your health has nc
been much benefited by the Wester
trip"
81 am afraid not" was his answer
'the work was hard, and did not G
to It in the best of spirits" This las
with a glance intended to be full Q
meaning.
She saw the look, and, wondering q
1t, colored.
"You look so worn and ILL.," she Sol