Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-02-21
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Result Of an Investigation
BY Alice Louise Lee.

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eff this isn't case! Congratula-
tions on my engagement! Now, shall
I go or shall not? This hardly reads
like Chris. It's too gushing. She is
more reserved. Perhaps her own en-
gagement has changed her. I've heard
of such things. I'll go.
''Wish knew the man she is engaged
to. Wouldn't meet him cordially!
I'd grip his hand until it would be use
less for month";
Worth Brice set his hat savagely on
his head, tore small note into dozen
pieces, threw them into an open CRATE
and went out, locking his door with
such force that the key was bent.
Ten minutes later Christabel Love
was extending her hand to him in
rather constrained manner. There
was an additional warmth in Worth's
greetings because he had determined
to carry the matter off without finch
ing.
'I've answered your congratulations
in person, Chris" he began, in jovia]
way, sinking into his favorite arm
chair. "Your note broke in upon the
most doleful reverie confirmed old
bachelor ever INDUCED in.''
Chris, sitting opposite in her low
rocker, raised her eyebrows in sur
prise.
elbows on my knees and my head in my
hands, groaning over the prospect of
dull evenings soon to come, when you
would be so deeply engaged in dress
making and letter writing and what
not, that you wouldn't have time to see
a fellow
''Dressmaking and letter writing
Chris. interrupted, in wondering tone.
Her eyes had become large and round
and quicker appeared between her
brows.
Worth laughed rather loudly, and
slapped his knee, a thing Chris had
never seen him do before.
''I'd just given up lamenting alone
and decided to come and condole with
myself in your presence when your
note came"
Worth INDUCED in another mirth-
less laugh. Chris leaned forward and
looked at him intently. The pucker
had extended half way up her fore
head
snow, Chris, it's bad enough for you
to go and get engaged, without putting
up such a big bluff on me in that way"
"Putting-up - - bluff" puzzled
Chris, but the pucker began to smooth
itself out. $50 far you are an enigma
to me-"
Worth sighed.
swell, Chris. suppose the Christian
way to do would be to offer you both
hands and wish you all the happiness
you'll be sure not only to get, but to
give, that lucky fellow, whoever he is"
Worth's voice was perilously near be-
ing shaky.
Happiness I'll get and give" Chris
was still following helplessly.
"When we meet" Worth went on, in
his gayest tone, a trifle forced, "don't
be surprised if I give him the fiat of my
hand for depriving me of my best
chum."
Chris leaned back and spoke reso-
lutely.
"Worth, if you will be kind enough to
explain yourself, I'll be convinced, per-
haps, of your sanity. Whom are you
talking about, or don't you know your
self?"
Worth became suddenly sober, as
sober as he really felt.
"No, Chris, I don't know whom I'm
discussing-that's the trouble-but it's
that mysterious some one that you're
engaged to-"
II engaged? That's news to me.
Worth, your own engagement has at
fected your head as well as your
heart
But Worth did not wait for her to
finish. He broke in eagerly. bringing
himself forward in his chair with an
impetuous jerk.
''Say, now, aren't you, really, honor
bright? I'm not, of course. How'd you
hear? It's all fake with me"
"a fake with you? Why, it came
straight from Miss Maltby this morn
ing. She said she knew it,
''Miss Maltby go to-that is, mean
she knows too much. I'd like to know
where she got her precious informa-
ton. I'm sure should know of my
own engagement as soon as anyone"
Chris laugh would have fallen on
unprejudiced ears as a hysterical gig
gle.
"What mix up this is. Who ever
told you that I-how did you get it into
your head?"
'Why, through that man Truax. I'll
interview him later on. But I have q
curiosity to know the name of the in
dividual Miss Maltby has bestowed my
heart upon -
Worth was talking fast merely to
conceal his delighted agitation over the
discovery of Chris freedom. He did
not notice that she was so,agitated her
self as to p1e:lude notice of any agita-
ton OH his part.