Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-11-01
j JACKS
ENGAGEMENT
By FLORENCE HALLOwELL roYT

50 you're going to marry bim?'

Stars voice. She was standing before
the bureau in her own room, brushing
out her long. thick hair, and she con
tinued the slow. regular motion with
out pause.
Him." Miss Sarah Dyer looked
keenly at her niece. interrogation in
her handsome middle-aged face. She
had returned the day before from
Florida, where she had spent the win
ter, and had been met with the news
OF Edith's engagement to Jack Dor
man. This was the first opportunity
she had found to speak to her niece
on the subject
For many reasons the engagement
had been a surprise and something OF
a disappointment to Miss Dyer. Edith
had been brought up under her care,
and she understood her thoroughly.
She also knew Jack DOrman-knew
him very well indeed.
We've been engaged only a week,
said Edith, still calmly brushing and
of course it hasn't been announced
yet"
NO: you waited for my return, l
suppose. Well, the world will call it
a good match, and will be profuse with
congratulations Jack is young, hand
some, well-born, well off, and des-
perately in love with you; while you
are ditto in all except one
Which one, Aunt Sarah?"
You are not at all in love with
him"
Edith started slightly and the brush
paused for an instant, but her flowing
hair hid the sudden rush of color to
her face.
AS the door closed behind the old
lady, Edith let the brush fall with
sudden, impatient movement and
threw herself into the low chair by
the open fire which her aunt had just
vacated.
At half-past seven Jack Dorman ap-
peared as usual He had made it
point since his engagement to call
every evening He brought Edith big
bouquet of La France roses, and
kissed her as he presented it.
Jack Dorman had hosts of friends.
He was a big, tender-hearted, strong
fellow, who had taken any number OF
prizes for athletic feats during his col
lege days, and who was amiable to a
fault But he wasn't clever He was in
capable OF mean action, innately
pure-minded and chivalrous. But he
had no taste for science and had
never read Browning.
Jack simply adored her, thought her
absolutely perfection; was miserable
if she frowned, and raised to the high
est pinnacle of bliss If she smiled. He
had never made any secret Of his
alteration: in fact, he was rather
proud Of it. he had suffered in silence
and despair her many snubs, had tax
en- as only Just her occasional criti-
cisms, and had steadily refused to be-
lieve that she could be Indifferent to
him. His utter happiness and triumph
when at length she accepted him were
almost ridiculous.
4 suppose you've told your aunt?"
he said, when, after she had expressed !
her admiration for the roses, they sat
down in the luxurious parlor.
Before Edith had time to reply, /
there was a ring at the front door bell, /
and Jacks face clCUded as he heard /
a mans voice inquiring for Miss Starr /
That's Eyerley," he said. Con I
found him, Why can't he call some /
where else occasionally? This makes /
the second time he's called here in
the last i've days
Ediths greeting of the newcomer
betrayed no annoyance. Indeed. it
struck Jack that she was altogether
too cordial, under the circumstances.
Charles Everley was a lawyer, and
though only 80 years Of age, had al
ready achieved prominence in his pro
fession He was a tall, hne-looking,
broad shouldered fellow. with a dig
nifed presence and most attractive
manners.
Jack always experienced feeiine
OF chagrin and impotence when in the
presence of the lawyer. and now
after a few words of greeting. he
picked up 4 pile OF photographs which
Miss Dyer had brought from Florida,
and resigned himself TO dun even
ing.
What in the mischief were they talk
ing about? Jack wondered He heard
Edith say she had Joined the Society
for Psychical Research the previous
day. and he wondered why she had
not mentioned it the evening before,
when they had long talk Perhaps
she thought him not at ali interested
in such matters. Well, she was right
He thought it all confounded rot, and
that women could find enough to in
terest and amuse them without join
ing crank" clubs. OF course Edith
would give up that sort Of thing when
she was married He would soon talk
her out Of her ridiculous notions.
Il fear you We're dreadfully bored.
Jack Edith said, when Mr. Everley
iad departed.
Bored wasn't the name for it, an
iwered Jack, frankly. Il believe
1verley Grams for days before coming
lere."