Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-07-25

GORDON HAYNE had hardly taken
IT his old seat at the club when
George Hammond came up smiling.
Congratulate you, old mani" he
said.
Thanks! On what?" responded
Hayne from behind his paper. But
next moment two other men repeated
the felicitation.
Upon this Hayne looked up. whats
it all about?" he said. Perhaps you'll
explain?"
perhaps this will explain" Knocked |
Hammond. And he read aloud para
graph from society journal
eft is intimated, on the best authority.
| that the engagement of Miss Doris Ath-
| erton and Mr.. Gordon Hayne will shortly
| be announced"
HAYNES teeth set hard, but his face
did not change. That's a stupid busi-
ness" he said. Somebody's blunder,
which l shall have to contradict"
Contradict" exclaimed Hammond.
"Why, everyone expected it a month
ago. Then it's not true?
mot word of truth in it," an
swered Hayne. And he walked away,
leaving three puzzled faces behind.
Hayne went straight to the editor
of the Social Calendar, with whom he
had some acquaintance. The latter
looked up from his writing with
smile.
"Ah, Mr. Hayne! Allow me to con-
graduate you'll"
"That is precisely what l have come
about" replied Hayne. 81 want that
notice of my engagement contradict
ed. It's a mistake"
"a mistake!" Deering stared at
him. Glow can that be? I had 1t
from"
"From whom?" Hayne leaned over
the desk where Deering was pulling
out some papers.
"From the lady herself. Yes, here it
is. Written in the third person, but
that's her monogram, you see?"
Hayne glanced at the dainty note,
with it's familiar breath of heliOtrope.
Her monogram, but not her writing"
he said. "This could not possibly have
come from Miss Atherton. There is
some strange mistake, and can speak
for both in requesting an immediate
contradiction"
"Oh. certainly" answered Deering.
ST am very sorry for the contretemps,
hut the utmost care is not an absolute
safeguard, you know"
"Wen," said Hayne, "there is moth
ing to be done now except to contra
+. dict it next week"
When his visitor had gone, Deering
wasted a whole busy minute in trying
to put together this curious puzzle.
One month before, just such an an
nouncement had seemed imminent.
Then came Haynes sudden departure,
= followed by much speculation as to
whether the match had been broken
!. off. or simply deferred. Next, his
il return, with the logical sequence of
7, this notice in the Calendar. And last,
the denial, which scattered the pieces
again into hopeless confusion.
T Meanwhile Hayne was thinking only
IS that he was going to see Doris Ather-
AZ ton again. With every step his heart
beat quickly against that bit of per-
- fumed paper in his breast pocket.
', How it brought back their last meet
is ing and their parting quarrel, his mad
J. jealousy and his VOW never to seek
o. her again until she herself sent for
- him! And now Well, she certainly
~, had not sent for him; of course, she
d. had known nothing of that mysterious
al announcement, but he owed it to him
self to tell her that he was equally ig
~ norant. And he felt an unacknowl
re edged thrill of pleasure in the neces
ne sitv of the meeting, painful and EN-
- barrassing as it must be.
AS he sat waiting while his card wal
-
saken up, he looked eagerly around
.e- the room, so filed with reminders o
le- bygone happiness. There was thu
piano, where they had sung together
- The window box over whose blossom
W. their hands had met, the coy corne
~, Ut where the first words of love had Deel
EN- spoken. But with her entrance,
they stood together again, face T.
- lace, yet so far apart, all the bitter
", ness of the present swept back upo
at aim.
in There was no touch of hands,
lingering of eyes. Haynes bowed Ink
. stranger. Miss Atherton glanced
CHI him and then at the cars she hell
ion "You wished to see me on an urge1
errand?" she said, repeating the pei
- ciled words.
ell. eyes," he answered, distantly. "Th
an- must be my excuse for troubling you
'r"S holding out the open paper and tn
monogramed note.
Her first blank wonder was followe
r. by flash of comprehension, and-wi
it amusement? Hayne bit his lip
- anger, but as she raised her head !
Nv hastily banished all expression fro
lid his face.