The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-09-23


ing"
For the fourth time Smithers read the
telegram through. He felt that his posi-
ton was critical. 1t was already past
five o'clock. At seven he ought to be
entering the dining-rcom at Dulwicn
with-he hcped it would no, be with
Airs. Rogers, though he regarded her
With the tender interest due to the
.aother of Miss Emily. For the past
week he had dared to dream that per-
haps Emily's arm might be allowed to
rest within his own. He had gone fur
Their. Ee had even hoped that during
the evening he might feel emboldened
10 ask for more than the lady's arm
Tor something far more intimate and
tender-in fact, for Emily's heart. Now
all these enhancing visions were help
lessly dashed to the ground. Why had
he been such credulous fool as to believe
In a tailor's promises? How he cursed
the day when he had been attracted by
the advertisement, why wear old
clothes, when they can be made as good
rs new by William the Conquering Tai
keep pace with his waist and the one
time silk-rolled collar had begun to re-
veal secrets that even the skilled appli-
cation Of ink could not hide. Still, un-
der the Kindly gaslight 1t might have
done duty once more.
Smiihers stared gloomily out Of the
window There was nothing to see but
| l,,f V1xrf r.~>v
that opposite house came an idea.
Johnson had gone to Margate for
weeks holiday. He was not likely to
have taken his dress clothes with him.
and he and Johnson were more or less
of a size. 1t would not take long to
run across to Johnson's rooms. He
could easily smuggle the clothes OFT
without the landlady's notice, and II
he took them back early the next morn
Ing who would be the wiser?
Ten minutes later Smithers, rather
pale and little out of breath, was back
In his rooms disgorging the dress suit
from under his overcoat After ALL"
he reflected, as he shook the clothes
carefully out. Fate has not served me
badly. hardly dared hope to get it
out unseen He surveyed himself In
the glass anxiously. They're a bit
large. bot they might be worse" he said
as he took flower from off his sponge
and placed it in his buttonhole.
Such was his anxiety not to be late
that he was at Rosa villa fully half an
hour too soon.
Perhaps it would hardly be good
manners to arrive quite SO early" he
observed. as he looked at his watch.
I'D better walk up an down few times. /"
Precisely at three and one-half min
utes to seven he unobtrusively pulled
the bell 1t occurred to him after some
minutes of patient waiting that perhaps
after all he had not made himself
heard. This surmise was probably
correct, for the second time his hand
was still on the bell when the door
sprang open.
Mrs. Rogers was delighted that Mr..
Smithers had been able to come. The
Misses Rogers were equally delighted.
And Smithers. catching sight OF his
clothes In mirror, felt that he. too
had every reason to be glad that he was
there.
The clock had already struck the
quarter and a general air of expectancy
pervaded the room. Mrs Rogers. cvi-
, GENTLY getting fidgety. rose and held a
whispered consultation with her daugh-
tiers Conversation. which had been
jerky. Jagged and finally stopped alto
) gether. when Mr.. Rogers appetite. get
ting the upper hand of etiquette, ex.
} claimed:
MY dear. don't think it's any good
, waiting any longer for Johnson"
Johnson! But surely he's at Mar
gate stammered Smithers. thinking
he could not possibly have heard Alright
SO he was, but he's due back thi.
/ Afternoon, and he promised he wouldn'
: Tail to turn up to dinner. Ell. Ethel?"
The younger Miss Rogers blushet
. ard looked coy.
AS they went into dinner Smithers
dream was realized and Miss Emily fei
. to his lot. hut the haunting thought tina
. perhaps at this very moment johnson
/, might be searching for his clothes com
plet.ly robbed him of his anticipated
! pleasure
: On reentering the drawing-room tn
gentlemen found Miss Emily engaged u