The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-09-20

70 herself as she gathered the gar
ments into her arms and carried them
to the basement, where she bestowed
theaH NJ N.,1n the new laundres;s. That
wopcs@.l e.. u hurry hafoye her
,ai,g q su.. VAS Cone. fearing that
Beth v'o;...l chaare her MAD.
Two t,ays .ater Edward started up
20 Besh's in lis car to take her out for
long drive. as arranged with her
over the phone. What was his amaze
ment, therefore. as he drove slowly
through the downtown streets to see
Beth In her gray wal'''ng suit and
toque just disappearing around a cor
ner. He called to her, but she did not
hear, and the young fellow stopped the
machine. With set chin and frightened
lips and hurt eyes he drove slowly on
up the hill and past the house. where
Beth in blue dress waited In the hall.
When She saw Howard whiz by,
never once glanein. at the house. she
was first indignant and then angry.
And after an hour of deliberation, dur.
ing which her wrath Increased she
rang for messenger and put into bis
hanGs a nete and little sealed packet
which contained her ring. T.
She came down to dinner pale and
wan. Her uncle looked at her sharply,
seeiag traces of tears, and decided that
he w0sld act.
"I'm sorry TO speak about this
aSaln." he said. clearing his throat.
"hut II y0a must SO Summing insist
that Won take some escort with you.
I'll so If Howard will not was
amazed 10 see You down there among
the secondhand stores In that part OF
town after what tod You the last
time. don't care why you 60: II Ia
not safe nor respectable. either"
Beth was staring Mt him open eyed.
~ was not down there this afternoon"
she said Indignantly.
The doorhell rang, Howard was
ushe-ed into the dining room by the
maid. He came up TO the table and
PIT little packet down on the cloth.
Beth" he said. won don't mean Il,
do You? can't let you break our en-
gasement Ike this without telling me
what is the matter. What have
done?"
Beth stood mp. looking Ike a fawn
at hay. Her eyes were dilated with
fear. her hands clinched. she looked
from Howard 10 her uncle. hut did not
speak. Finally her uncle went over TO
her AID put his arm around her
"What Is 1t. little girl?' he said as
one would speak 10 n child.
Beth Eegan TO sob and then 10 laugh.
It's all SO funny" she sobbed. M
guess It's mostly my FAINT. gave that
gray suit away. and the hat too" The
men glanced at each other aud then
laughed. Howard made a step for
ward. but Beth ran behind her chair.
"And was at home" she said 10
him. was NJ home. aud you did not
stop-when you had asked me to 20.
And I was all ready and waiting for
ycu.'
"But, Beth. | met that gray suit
downtown. I was sure II was you.
and didn't know what TO do. didn't
know until afterward that had gone
by your house. Don't you see. dear
But this time he came around behind
the chair. too. and Uncle John sat
down and pretended TO eat his cold
dinner.
When Uncle John reached home the
next night he found the old smoking
jacket and slippers laid out for him.
He smelled the sulphur with which
they had been fumigated and asked no
questions. though he didn't really need
TO he told where they had come from.
He had seen Beth and Howard in the
big green car steering toward the Sec
onthand district in the morning. and
he had had bis hopes aroused
Not lnEg afge@ward. while Beth was
bus with her trousseau. Der uncle
came tn as Fly and heard her saying 10
call,r; IT.: there's nothing 80 un-
wise ~ IndIscgiuinate giving. had n
lesson. AMI I hu~yv."