Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1904-12-27

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Jocelyn glanced at the tiny clock on
| her dresser.
Seven ten.'' she said. 'Ill have
time to answer that letter after l get
the dishes washed" =
Her task was accomplished with
brisk dexterity. To be sure, there were
not many dishes to be .washed-oAe
cup. one saucer, one spoon, one plate,
one knife, one fork.
"Quite an old maids outfitr' she said,
with little grimace as she rinsed out
the diminutiye teapot and set it on the
shelf with the china. sNow to tell
Ned, dear old Ned, that-that-oh, how
would a girl in story refuse to marry
man that was quite the best fellow
she knew. only-only"
She read Edward Fords letter
through again, as though. seeking some
suggestion as to the most delicate and
decisive manner in which she could de-
cline his proposal.
1t was charming letter simple,
manly and straightforward. He loved
her-he had always loved her. She
must know that. There never had been
another girl for him. There never could
or would be while life lasted, whether
she made him happy or babe him
wait or-or even should she answer
no. He had wanted to speak when she
came up to work in the city, but had
not felt free to do SO, having others de-
pendent upon him. But now that his
dear mothers sufferings were ended
and that his sister had married and
possessed a home of her own he was
able to follow the dictates of bis heart
The old place needed mistress. 1t
was very beautiful just then, he added.
The syringa hedge was white with
blossom. You couldn't see the road
for the cleinatis and seven sisters rose
across the porch.
The GIRL sitting at the window of
the lodging house, looked out at the
dirty Nottingham lace curtains of the
lodging house across the street and
then afar over a wilderness OF frregu-
lar brick walls and smoking chimneys
with eyes grown suddenly wistfal.
How she hated it all! Even if she
could keep this fresh and dainty this
tiny room She called her own
Maplewild. The big, comfortable
country house, set back in rich orchard
lands She used to laugh at the quaint,
prim. low ceiled rooms, with their air
Of rigid order, of sedateness. Now
she faneied them as sweet, cool
refuge. If there were only some fresh
swisses and silkolne draperles around,
and magazines and a lot of light, ere
tonne pillows, what an ideal home it
would be- She would do the dining
room in yellow, as it was on the north
side of the house, and
The changing gong Of a fire engine
passing In the street below startled
her from her dream. She Strengthened
up with a little jerk and glanced
around the shabby little room, with
the crude paper, the aggressive carpet,
the cheap pine furniture, and her
trunk in the corner. 1t was here she
was going to remain-here. She had
no intention of marrying Ned Ford.
So she hastily dipped her pen in the
ink bottle on the window sill. steadied
her portfolio on her knee and began
to write:
Dear Ned--I have your letter, and I'm
sorry, sorry. SO sorry you wrote it! Not
that / don't want you to be fond Of me.
/ do. It seems sometimes as IL I'm mill
lions Of miles away from every one who
ever cared pin for me. But it isn't any
use your loving me-that way. Don't
think there's any one else. There isn't.
Two men have asked me the same ques-
ton since I've been earning my living in
town. But / couldn't care for either the
tiniest bit. And | do care for you-only,
not In the way ought to if
She shot a look at the little clock
jumped to her feet.
Seven ten, stiilH'
She grabbed her hat, hastily put it
on, adjusted her veil with a glance at
the pretty. pale face that looked back
at her from the glass with quite a
frightened expression, and caught up
her gloves.
Mercy, | must have forgotten to
wind the clock | was SO tired last
night. I'll be late as sure as fate.'
The cars We're crowded, and she had
to stand all the way to the store. She
was late and was not only locked, but
received a reprimand from the head Of
the department There was q conyen-
ton Of some sort In town, and the great
establishment was thronged with sight
seers and shoppers. The heat of the
day increased. and what with the close,
sultry warmth, the worry over the
episode of the morning and the inces-
SAINT demands upon her attention q
splitting headache began to torture the
girl. she found It hard to retain her
usual calm courtesy of manner when
a fashionably dressed woman upon
whom she had been waiting announc-
ed loudly and with a suspicious glance
In her direction that she had missed
her pocketbook.
Il had it a moment ag0. / just laid
it down hereiD she explained to the
fioorwalker who had hurried up. This
young lady was waiting on me.7
1T may have been taken to the lost
and found department IL you viii
come with me. madam
She reluctantly accompanied him.
And when d few minutes later she re-
passed the counter carrying her re-
claimed property the look she sent
Jocelyn Duane was as vindictive as
though she still harbored doubt Of her
innocence.
pheasant life, this the girl muir
INJURED Being Independent was not all
1t was cracked Up to be she was de-