Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-05-16

"Oh," said the girl, idly tracing with
one finger the name on the polished
old brass doorplate, "the point Of q
Joke l heard last week has just occur
red to me. Do you know" and she re-
garded him critically, you are most
remarkable person? One moment you
remind me Of plate glass window,
and the next you're like-armor plate.
Did anybody ever tell you that about
Yourself before"
NO." said Seymour, land | don't
know the least bit what you meas."
Priscilla was studying the doorplate
with interest.
"What funny old letters" she said
"'John A. SeymOur'-your name and
your fathers and your grandfathers.
He was my Observation-Disclosures.
wasn't he? 1t doesn't make us really
kin at ALL What does the a stand
for?"
"Ainsworth," answered Seymour.
"Ohr' said Priscilla. Il thought
And she hesitated, faint flush warm
ing the magnolia pallor Of her face.
"What did you think it stood forT
he asked.
Something besides mischief shone In
the girls eyes.
81 thought" she said slowly-"I
thought possibly it might stand for
Alden"
ooh, no. said Seymour. TT stands
for Ainsworth."
1t was Tuesday evening. Seymour
stood on the platform of the railway
station watching the lights Of the
northbound train fade into the dusk.
The air seemed to echo with goodbys.
He could almost hear Priscilla say
Ing
"We'll cable you as soon as we land.
I'll send the code from New York.
I'm-I'm so glad know what that ~
In your name stands for"
Seymour seemed still to hear the
laugh with which she flung the speech
at him. What on earth did she mean?
That "a" in his name-she had spoken
Of it once before-said 1t might be
"Alden"-when he was talking about
Bob What did
"Priscilaw he shouted, suddenly ell
lightened. by all that's wonderful!
That a ought to stand for Ass"
He would have preferred to tele-
graph, to follow her on the next train,
but reflection convinced him of the UNI
wisdom of such course. a letter
could not reach her before she left
New York. He must send it to her In
Paris.
Three interminable weeks dragged
by. Then one morning all the world
seemed suddenly darkened with her
reply. 1t was brief.
"Afianced, st. Louis"
I'm back again." Gilmore was say
ing, "but you don't look overjoyed to
see me-"
Il thought you were In Paris with
Priscilla and her mother" said Sey
m0ur. i congratulate you.
"On not being in PARISH" asked Eli
more.
ION your engagement"
I'm not engaged" said Fillmore.
you were awfully good about IT, old
fellow, but she wouldn't have me. She
cares for somebody else. Have you
heard from her? She told me to give
you this cable codex, but well, |
wasn't thinking of you just then, and
forgot to send it."
"She cabled she was engaged to
YOU" protested Seymour. Il don't
know why you want to deny it. Here's
her message. You couldn't expect her
to write your name, could you? She
says st. Louis and you're the only
st. Louis man she knows"
Fillmore read the message. Then he
compared it with column in the cable
code.
"Jack," he said, you're the best fell
low on earth, but you're no end of
fool. It's you Priscilla cares for, you
blockhead, and 'Affianced' means-here
it is in the steamer company's code
Have started for home and will sail
on the st. Louis. If you have luck,
you can just about get to New York in
time to meet her"
priscilla" said Seymour more than
a week later, what made you say
reminded you of armor platter"
Priscilla laughed happily.
"Did 1 say that?" she asked. "Well,
l take it back. 1t wasn't good smile.
There are denser things than even
armor plate. Now, see how you've
tousled my hair!'