The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-06
:" AFFIANCED, ST. LOUIS
By RUTH HIr1BALL GARDINER.

You're fond of Mr.. Gilmore, aren't you?"
she asked.
He's the best friend have. should be
very sorry indeed to have--well, to have
anything happen that would make him un-
happy"
Il really believe you've mistaken your yo-
cation, Cousin Jack. Such abilities yours
are wasted on a plantation. You ought to
have been diplomatst [ wonder you ever
consented to bury yourself here.
20, like it here. l born here. I'm
too big and overgrown to be comfortable in
city. need room I like the country.
| It's what I'm fitted for. But I suppose it does
! seem like being buried to YOU Most norta-
ern people feel that way. l know Bob does.
! hes too clever for my kind of life. What
| makes you laugh, Priscila?"
on said the girl, idly tracing with one
| niger the name on the polished old brass
doorplate, 1.-THE point of a Joke I heard last
week has just! occurred to me. Do YOU
KNOW, and she regarded him critically, you
are a most remarkable person? One moment
you remind me of a plate glass window. and
the next you're like-armor plate Did any,
Dody ever tell you that about yourself be-
fore?''
! NO. said Seymour, "and don't know
| the least bit what you mean
| Priscilla was studying the doorplate with
interest. -
! What funny old letters" she said" John
A. Seymour'-your name and your fathers
and your grandfather'E. He was my step
grandfather wasn't he? It doesn't make US
| really kin at ALL What does the "a stand
| for?'
/ 'Answorth,'' answered Seymour.
'Oh'' said Priscilla. Il thought And
she hestated, faint flush warming the
| magnolia pallor of her face
| What did you think it stood for?' he
| asked.
Something besides mischief shone in the
girls eyes.
Il thought she said sowly-'I thought
possibly it might stand for Alden"
"Oh, no!' said Seymour. st stands for
! Ainsworth''
1t was Tuesday evening Seymour stood
| on the platform of the railway station watch
! ing 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-Tm so
glad l know what that "A 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 it might be ''Alden''-when he was talk
| ing about Bob. What did
| PrlscIia.' he shouted, suddenly enlight-
| ened. by all that's wonderful! That AZ
| ought to stand for ASST %
| He would have preferred to telegraph, to
| follow her the next train, but reflection
convinced him Of the unwisdom of such a
course. letter, could not reach her before
she left New York. He must send it to her
| in Paris. .e
Three interminable weeks dragged by Then
| one morning all the world seemed suddenly
darkened with her reply. 1t was brief.
n naH f.
I'm back again." Fillmore was saying,
"but you don't look overjoyed to see me-
Il thought you were in Paris with-Pris-
ella and her MOTHER said Seymour. q
| congratulate you
| "On not being in Paris?" asked Fillmore.
! 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 some
} body else. Have you heard from her? She
) told me to give you this cable codex. but L
WELL l wasn't thinking of you just then and
forgot to send it, -
t'She cabled she was engaged to you"
protested Seymour. II 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. Luuts man she Knows" s
Fillmore read the message. Then he COM
pared it with a column in the cable code. s
Jack he said, you're the best fellow
on earth, but you're no end Of a fool. It's
you Priscilla cares fer, you. blockhead, and
'Af1anced' 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 just about get to New York in time
to meet her"
"Priscila,'' said Seymour more than 4
week later, what made you say I reminded
you of armor plate?'
Priscilla laughed happily. y
did I say that?" she asked. .Wel take
it back. 1t wasn't a good smile. There are
denser things than even armor plate. Now,
see how you've tousled my hair!'