The Somerset reporter., 1906-11-08
Canpden's
Shave
81 BY FRANK POWNALL 81

Surely you are not going to break
our engagement just because I shaved
off my mustache?" pleaded Campden.
THAT isn't just fair, you know. l can
grow one again in a few weeks. Don't
spoil lifetime
IT'S not so much the loss Of the
mustache," said Mabel Devant. You
should know what | mean, though of
course you will pretend to be ignorant.
l hate duplicity"
"'Oh, what a tangled web we
weave" he quoted. You don't mind
telling me what particular sin you have
found out in me, do you? l admit that
l did buy some candy for Miss Travers,
if that's what you are making all this
talk about. | might add in self de-
Tense that it's the littlest Miss Ira
yers; she's five, believe"
"If you are going to indulge in such
brutal joking | shall say nothing fur
ther," said Miss Devant haughtily. Il
have been singularly patient. If you
only had confessed | should have had
no more to say. AS it is, l can see
nothing In your conduct for which
can find the slightest excuse"
But see here, Nab" he explained,
81 haven't been doing anything. l
haven't murdered a man for at least
a week, and my last bank robbery Is
two months back. feel that have a
clean slate so far as this last unhappy
week is concerned, and yet you come
back from town and want me to CON
fess to a calendar of crimes on the
argument that good husband should
tell his wife everything. l don't admit
that argument, but all the same If
you'll give me a clew to the sort of
crime you want me to confess to I'll
try to think up something"
Mabel turned on her heel and walked
off. 1t was not very straight nor
steady tread, but she held her head
high and tried to keep back the tears
until she reached her room. She sue
ceeded until the elevator let her at
her floor; then she ran down the corri-
dor, the picture of woe.
When she finally recovered her COM
posure and went down to dinner there
was no Harry Campden waiting for
her in the hall. Instead she ran into
Nettle Braden, who appeared to have
been waiting for her and who led her
out on the almost deserted piazza.
IL think it's shame!' began Miss
Braden. THAT awful man packed up
his things and went to town on the
afternoon train"
Harry" asked Miss Devant com
prehendingly.
Miss Braden nodded.
without even a goodby," she admit
ted. 81 think it's just too terrible,
Come in and have dinner and forget
that such horrid man ever lived"
81 don't feel hungry" declared Ma
bel. blinking back the tears and seek
ing her room for the second time.
The next few days were as miser
able for her as they were for Campden
up in town. He and Mabel were to
have been married in October, and
PLANTATION of the mystery she took ref
uge in a woman's comfort and went
about the beach with an ever ready
handkerchief.
The Harrises were giving a house
party through September, and Mabel
accepted their invitation because she
knew that they were not acquainted
with Harry and that there she would
be safe. For the first time since the
break she felt happy as she came
down the stairs the morning after her
arrival
The boat had been becalmed and
she had arrived late, but the fresh
morning air was a temptation, and
she ran down the stairs just as the
servants were opening the house.
Out on the piazza she paused mo
ment to observe a blue coated back;
then she advanced with an air of care.
lessness and made for the opposite end
Of the porch.
At the sound of the steps the man
sprang up and she gave scream as
she recognized Campden.
81 did not know that you were to
come" he began, as he approached her
81 Just met the Harrises, and was not
aware that they knew you
"They are very old friends she said
coldly. II used to go to college with
Mrs. Harris"
That's nice," he observed conven
tionally "But see here, Nab, II we are
going to be fellow guests for a few
days, won't you please tell me what all
the row was aboutW
"You should know" she said Sc
yerely.
II should" he confessed, "but don't
All know is that you ran up to town
for a week. When you came back to
the beach you asked me to confess my
sins, and when said had nothing tc
confess except the self evident fact
that had shaved Off my mustache you
made that the excuse for breaking the
enQappment"