Morris tribune., 1900-01-20


to the Somerton home.
He must have forgotten that Mrs
Somerton and Miss Lamore were the
most intimate friends, or perhaps il
was natural to start when he found
himself face to face with the latter in
the Somerton parlor. That he did
start was fact quickly detected by
Miss Lamore-a fact. also, which nat
urally 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 I did not go
! to it in the best of spirits" This last
with glance intended to be full of
meaning.
She saw the look, and, wondering at
! it, colored.
''You look so worn and ill.," she con-
tinued. "that 1 have not the heart to
scold as you deserve; yet you must
have known how much should regret
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 flush once more to
the face Of his fair companion. See
ing that he was not disposed to speak.
she resumed:
"You promised to CALL and tho~l left
without word. certainly did not
expect it of you.'
Recovering himself a little at this,
Farr told her, with as much dignity as
possible, that she must nave been deep
ly engrossed that summer day to have
forgotten the card he had sent up to
her, and the fact that she had pleaded
an immediate engagement as an ex-
cuse for not seeing him.
Then followed a series Of polite ana
gentle contradictf' ns.~ Miss Lamore
firmly insisted that he had not sent up
his card. and Farr as obstinately per-
sisted in saying that he had. When
for several minute they had accused
and counter-accused each other of for
getfulness. Farr took matters into his
own hands by breaking out vehement
ly with:
''Do you know why I wanted SO
much to see you that day? Do you
imagine that could be for moment
forgetful of the most trifling incident
that happened then. when I thought
you had treated me with such crush
ing indifference"
They were now seated on a couch,
and he, with a bitterness born of the
he had experienced, told
her his whole story from that day to
this present time when she saw him so
i'll and worn-worn, not with toll. but
with the hopelessness of his life. He
had no new phrases in which to frame
his thoughts, but the old, old words
seemed to satisfy her, for when dinner
was announced there were at least two
people supremely happy among those
who went arm in arm to the dining
room.
Somerton's =. friend, Barton, with
whom Farr had held such profound
discussion on the day when the story
JpCIS, al ilfCu LII LllAC " JUN IAN
party at dinner When the meal was
we'll under way Barton, suddenly rec
ollecting, desired to know why and
Farr had so carelessly ne
elected to give his partner the card
which had been intrusted to his care. ;
Tarr, in his new found happiness, had |
title memory for such trifles, and |
orthwith Barton rehearsed the affair.
Then, recalling the incident, Farr
aid:
"You are the one guilty Of careless
ess in giving me the wrong card. The
me did receive from you bore no
memoranda whatever; when discov-
red that fact l put the card in my
ocket and have not seen it since"
81 have" interposed Miss Lamore.
The idea of you calling on me and
ending up Mr.. Barton's card!"
A CLEAN Of intelligence came to
Tarr's eyes and quick smile passed
etweep him and the charming girl
eside him.
Then, with almost unseemly haste,
hey turned the conversation into safer
Herald.