Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-09-21
Where EndicOtt Fitted

| udACIHS was SlOSe DSI"SVH " IA al
walk and an awkward skip; be sat
on horse with as much grace as he
would have straddled an elephant.
Moreover, his lack of conversational
powers had gwen HIM reputation
tor tacIturnity that was tar from fiat
tenug.
why on earth Mrs. Saunders
should ask him down for the month l
cant see, one Of the young women
conGded to a bronzed young fellow as
they sat together in a vlne-made nook
of the broad veranda one evening,
"Oh, INA .s the easiest part of the
equation" he returned. "What
sticks me Is WY tie deuce he accept
ed the invitation. Wnereat they
both laughed.
He's the DEATH head at the feast,
said she.
"Oh, he's harmless enough" her
companion said easily. He doesn't t
attempt to do things unless some one
sets him up to it. He'd never have
gone into the water this morning If
Vandecken hadn't kept at him for an
hour to come along with us. He's
game in way, though We didn't
know he'd got beyond his depth un-
til he was halt. drowned. Thoug t
he was splashing about'for the fun Of
it. Not a yip did he make. "
ut makes ycu awtulIy uncomforta-
bic to have such an Incompetent per-
son about" said she. I'm always
imagining things when he's late at
luncheon or dinner" "
providence has a watchful eye for
a certain class OF individuals, said
he; and they both ushed once more
Meanwhile at the other end Of the
veranda, Endicott sat on the steps
with Mis8 Wilmot. If Endicott had
been a different sort of chap he
would doubtless have made desperate
love to the lady. But EndicOtt knew
his limitations, and therefore, instead
of telling her all that was in his heart,
he sat beside her on the top step,
twirling his hat, watching covertlY
the changing expressions come and
go on her pretty face, and wished
most devoutly that he were less Of a
dufer.
He was big, heavily buils young
fellow, boyish face and a laugh that
was very attractive in its genuineness,
if you ever managed to get well
enough acquainted with him to hear
it. Miss Wilmot had heard it many
times when she was alone with him.
and it told her how much of the real
man that lay beneath the awkward
reticent exterior.
Just now Endlcotts troubled gaze
was fixed on some ragged bits of red
cloud, the aftermath Of gorgeous
sunset.
Il think l shall leave in the morn
ing" he said uneasily.
But you haven't been here week
yet, she said in surprise.
q know" said he, "but somehow
I don't seem to fit. If fellows 60
ing to be a success at a house party
he should DO many things we'll. Now,
I do everything bvdiy. I simply
slow up everything enter into and
spoil all the fun Tor. the rest. "
"Nonsence, she declared.
Its So" he maintained. I'm
just a dufer, pure and simple, and
there's an end to it. So long as I
stay, Of course, out of courtesy to me
they'll drag me into all these things,
even if it does spoil their fun"
"You shan't talk SO, she said.
Come, it's time we we've getting
ready for that moonlight sail."
"If there's so much as ripple on
the water I'm sure to be sick," be OBJ
served gloomily. THAT makes it
very cheerful for the rest.
"You have an attack OfpessimiFm, ="
she laughed as she arose. "saIt wa
ter is the best cure in the world for
that maladY."
They went down the veranda to-
gether. At the door they found Mrs.
Saunders talking excitedly to her
guests, who we're grouped about her.
"It's dreadful" she was saying.
call the servants have left, even to
the stable boy and they're strictly
quarantinsd Poor Mrs. Bovine is