Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-09-25

'"'o' o'' ~ 81 Anss 4
not the poor woman have been des-
perate. and willing to go to great
lengths for a name and an honest
mans love-"
"Ah. on these subjects | am not in
formed
Would it not be well to be informed
thoroughly before repeating a story
like this she asked gently. Il mean,
would 1t no be simple justice to the
woman, for whom things must be hard
enough at the BEST"
Perhaps so-no doubt, indeed
had not gone into it seriously" Jim
ME was conscious OF being rather UNI
comfortable.
ut Is Il serious story-for her. There
should be an ending of some kind"
"Well, | hope it may be IA good one"
said Jimmie, icrvently.
The lady smiled and spoke of some
thing else.
4 diversion was created by the little
fair-haired woman on Jimmie's left
dropping a rose which lii" young man
picked up and restored to her. This
led to a little conversation between the
two, lasting for, perhaps, three or four
minutes, during which the lark lady
talked with George Nesbitt, who sat
on her right.
a servant brought a note to Mrs.
Nanderyecr. She opened and read it,
then glanced anNiously down the table
in Jimmie's direction. She then gave,
somewhat prccipitately, the signal for
rising.
AS Mrs. Nandcryeer passed down the
room she paused long enough to muir
muir to Jimmie: Make an excuse to
come to the drawing room in ten min
utes. | wish to see you particularly"
When the ladies' had gone George
Nesbitt asked, AS he lit a cigarette by
the candle flame: "Well, Garretson,
what do you think of Mrs. lie Claire.
Il don't know which is she. | was
just going to ask You"
"To ask m"-what do you mean?
evening"
"Nesbitt-yOu cant mcan--' jim
mic felt himself turning green.
certainly / do. a pretty young
woman, don't you think? OF course,
it was an ordeal, but everybody is very
considerable. Mrs. Vandrryeor's Il
trump
'Ncsbitt. for Heavens sake don't
say another word You don't know
what I've donc-wha, I've said TO
her."
why. you seemed To be chatting
m los %amicably when | looked around"
Jimmie sat mOtiOnlcsS for "A few min
utcs while he went Over in his mind
the story hc had told the dark lady.
His cheeks burned as he remembered
it. How dense he had been, Mrs.
Nandcrveer had, Of course, returned
) to her original idea regarding whom
he was to take out, and he had never
considered even the possibility of his
companion being Mrs. lie Clair,
He sprang M and fled to the draw
ing room. lie looked in vain among
the ladies for Mrs. Nandcrveer. She
was no there, but near the piano, at
which the second Miss Nesbitt was
playing softly, stood the dark lady
with the diamond in her hair. She
r smiled brightly AT Jimmie.
5 The young man walked straight NJ
. to her. before he coald speak she
! said: "The ending is al hand-arcn't
? you Wild to know what 1t iS?"
II know my own ending" he re
piled; that is, my finish is apparent,
am ovcry hclmed with shame at hay
e. ing spoken as | did. My only excuse
Is | did not know"
| Make no apologies she said, still
B. smiling, tor did | not listen all
. thrOush?"
e you did, indeed-you might have
stopped me a, once said Jimmie
s feeling real resentment.
I '"Thcreforc am as bad as yOu?'
she asked, gaily. "Wcll, | admit II
g for | profess openly to hate gossip
while you, perhaps, do o In that
% case | am worse. My excuse Is That
the story was Interesting"
o Jimmie could not make her ont. 81
cannot believe you found it other than
n revolving. II Is most delicate Of you
s to spare me"
But the onding-yOu do not know Il
h YETI"
NO; may it be for the best happi'
8 ness oil so noble and beautiful "A WON
d an-an ending only of the chapter ri
e her sorrows, the beginning of thu
@ book of joys"
g THAT was very well said. You arr
quite forgiven for being "A colportcul
g de mcdisances. You will think M
, horribly straight-laced. All, here !!
Mrs. Eandcryeer."
u Tho hostess drew Jimmie aside. I"