The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-11-26

s,xth street. Il would take him to the
door OF the bank and give him time to
read the letter over again.
He did not know how long he had
stood on the corner. her letter crushed
in one hand. his eyes staring at the
passing vehicles and people. The let
ter had been delayed. She had mailed
it over two weeks before in Brittany.
and less than a week ago he had read
Of her marriage to Halliday merely a
brief four or i've lines in the cable dis
patches concerning noted Americans
abroad But she had written him that
letter week before the marriage.
The bus stopped in front Of him to
let a passenger alight. Half uncon-
scIousIy he accepted the invitation of
its open swinging door and slipped in
to the corner seat as it swung on
leIsurely up the avenue There were
! three other occupants of the bus. all
women He did not look at them Just
at that particular moment he did not
I feel kindly toward the sex.
Smoothing out the double sheet of
pale gray note paper. he reread the let
ter from Penelope Graham
You dear old boy. aren't you ashamed
to be so selfish? We sail on the GOTH Is
not that y enough2 You have be
Erudged me every day OF this last chance
Of mine to take fling at the world as
lone old maid. In every letter you Deg
me to take the next boat back And.
really, Jack. 1 know IL VIII make you
! feel worse. but we are having splendid
time! Uncle Rex and the girls met US
| In Paris and will go up to Holland win
Aunt Nan as soon as Bess and start
for home. It has been a glorious trip.
| and when I think that next year II VIII
IFIf Ing
all these dear little old world corners
seeing the things both love, why DO
you know. have even kept a notebook
that will serve our guide. so as not
| to miss one single place or picture thoG
| ( want you to see! Next year jack
Won't we be old married people then.
| though! Uncle Rex says I don't act a
| bit like a young person about to be mar
-ied in three weeks. but Il doesn't seem
| IKE coming shock at adjust part of
| the drifting and glorious happiness OF
| life these days.
Bess and I are to sail on the 10Th VIM
| you meet us? know you VIII, OF course.
but can hardly wait to catch the nrSt
glimpse of you. Oh, dear boy, sometimes
[ am half afraid Of my own Joy ana the
Bess says and uncertain and full OF
waivers and quavers and troubles ana
has never been in love. SO she cannoc
know Three weeks! Mamma thinks
| white chrysanthemun1s will make the
prettiest decoration for the chapel ana
Terms instead OF palms
o'Donnen read no further. Some
thing blinded his sight; something
seemed to grip his throat and choke
him. She had written that letter to
him and then married Halliday
week later.
The bus halted and one of the women
stepped by him. He held the door open
mechanically She was old and dress
ed in a white embroidered Elton suit,
With a fine white mesh veil. spotted
daintIly in black, drawn over her
wrinkles. To O'DonneH she looked
like the Incarnation of feminine ncOn-
sistency.
had mentioned him In her steamer let
ter when they had crossed in June,
merely mentioned that he was on
board also and that her uncle was glad
I to see him. He must be about thirty.
seven. a mighty decent sort of fell
low, of course, but not for Pen. his
Pen, with her sensitive ways and dear.
precious, unspOiled illusions and ideals
Of life in general and men in particu-
lar
Yesterday had been the goth, when
he was to have met her. He had seen
by the papers that the Sirius was in
and among the list of passengers were
Mr., and Mrs. stephen Halliday. They
must have caught the first boat out OF
Cherbourg.
O'DonneiI opened the door second
time to let another woman out at For
ty-second street. He did not notice
what she was like His hend whirled
dizzily, as though he were on the end
of long rope cIrclInE through space.
It was foolish to lose his grip just be
cause n girl had thrown him over
idiotic He would get through with
the bunk and take a run out OF town
to freshen up. to forget.
At the next corner the last woman
alighted. She wore a white chiffon
veil and appeared to be in u hurry.
O'Donnell sighed In relief to know he
was alone and looked about him. And
then he started, every nerve tense and
taut, for on the floor of the bus, al
most at his feet, lay the little gold
mesh coin purse that he had given
Penelope before she left for Europe
Before he had lifted 1t in his hand
he was positive, even before he saw
her initials on the top band. 1t had n
curious little ring on the chain to slip
| over the finger, dull gold circle set in
diamonds. For a moment he held the
purse stupidity, staring at 1t with hum
cry, eager eyes. 1t was hers; she had
held It In her hand a moment ago.
Suddenly reason began to Tighten ans
he remembered the woman with the
.hifFon veil 1t was she. OF course He
had not noticed. She had been in a
hurry, naturally. Probably she had
recognized him and dreaded their
r,aattp0 SUTthOYt sIOnaIinzy for the