The Lambertville record., 1906-10-31
Canpden's
Shave
.< BY FIR ANK POwNALL -s

"Surely you are not going to break
pnr engagement iu because l shaved
off MY mustaeheT pleaded Campden.
THAT isn't just fair, you know. l can
grow one again in IL few weeks Don't
spoil lifetime"
It's not 50 much the loss of the
mustache," said Mabel Devant. You
should know what l mean though Of
course You will pretend TO be ignorant.
l hate duplicity."
oh, what tangled web we
weave, he quoted. You don't mind
telling me what particular sin you have
! did buy some candy for Miss Travers,
il that's what you are making all this
tall, about might add in self de
fenSc that its the littIest Miss Ira
Ners: she's five, | believe"
"lf you are going TO indulge IN such
brutal Joking | shall say nothing fur
Their" said Miss Devant haughtily II
have been singularly patient. II YOU
only had confessed | should have had
no more to say. As 1t is. can see
nothing in your conduct for which |
can find the slightest excuse"
But see here, Nab" he explained
Il haven't been doing anything.
haven't murdered man for at least
II week, and my last bank robbery is
two months back. | feel that | have u
clean slate SO far as this last unhappy
week Is concerned, and yet you come
back from town and want me to con
fess II a calendar of crimes on the
argument that n good husband should
tell his Wife everything. | don't admit
that argument. but all the same IL
you'll give me II Clew TO the sort of
crime you Want me To confess to Ill
try to think up something"
Mabel turned on her heel and walked
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 left 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 tie hall. Instead she ran into
Nettie Braden. who appeared to have
been waiting for her and who led her
out on the almost deserted piazza.
Il think it's Il shamer' began Miss
Braden. That awful man packed up
his things and went to town ON the
afternoon train"
Harry asked Miss Deyant com
prehcndingly.
Miss Braden nodded.
Without even goodby." she admit
ted Il think it's Just too terrible
Come in and have dinner and forget
that such horrid man ever lived
II 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 mlser-
able for her as they were for Campden
up in town. He aud Mabel We're to
have been married In October, and
while he puzzled his brain for some ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery She took ref
uge In Il woman's comfort and went
about the beach with an ever ready
handkerchief
The HAIRLESS were giving house
party throulh September, and Mabel
accepted Their invitation because she
knew that they we're not acquainted
with Harry and that there she would
be safe. For the first time since the
break she felt happy as she came
arrival
The boat had been becalmed, and
she had arrived late, but the fresh
morning air was temptation. and
she ran down the stairs just az the
servants were opening the house,
Out on the piazza she paused mo
ment to observe blue coated back;
then she advanced with an air OF care
lessncss 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.
Il just met the Harrises, and was not
aware that they knew you"
'They are very old friends" she said
coldly. 81 used to 90 TO college with
Mrs. Harris"
That's nice" he observed conven-
tionally but see here. Nab. If we are
going to be fellow guests for few
days, won't you please tell me what all
the row was about?'
you should know she said Sc
verely.
IL 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 to
confess except the self evident fact
that had shaved off my mustache you
made that the excuse for breaking the
engagement"
For moment Mabel paused, then
desire for the truth oyercame her re
serve. 81 wanted TO see If you would
tell me the truth" she explained.
''When | went away you promised to
tell me If you had misbehaved. You
got into some lovemaking scrape and
never told me word about It."
$50 that's it, is it, he asked. "You
want to know why | kissed Beth Con
nors ON the piazza"
II see you realize at last what thg
offense was
Il did not know until just this mo
ment that you knew Nettie BradeE
She and Mrs. Harris were schoolmates
So were you. You must all have known
each other. Miss Braden was west.
ern girl. and never supposed you had
met her"
II don't see where Miss Braden fig
ures in this story" she said severely.
II believe it concerns Miss Connors."
"Nettie Braden Is the heroine" he ex.
planned. '"The COnnors person is just
the villainess. Promise never to tellf"
mo, | shall make no promise"
"Very well,' he said. IF you don't