Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-17

He picked up the letter and opened ~
This is what he read:
my Dear Denzil-Enid and l have
agreed to break off our engagement.
We both feel that the whole thing was
arranged by disinterested people, with
out any consideration Of what we hold
to be really important, that is, our own
personal feelings in the matter. We
are sorry these should not accord with
everybody else's-and particularly
yours. To be quite candid with you,
l have considerable hopes in another
direction. This makes it a little rough
on Enid, I know. But don't drop the
case just because 1 have fallen out.
She quite expects you will see her
through another stage. Who else have
you got on your books for her? Yours
ever, ALFRED"
Vance folded the note cogitative1y
and directed his gaze towards the girl,
whose beautiful face was turned slight
ly away from him.
"It's very humiliating," she said.
"What will everybody say? After all
our preparations. Mamma so counted
on my being married this year. She
has taken such lot of trouble about
my clothes, and told everybody what
what a splendid matchmaker you are.
1t will simply ruin your reputation"
Couldn't 1 see Alfredo suggested
Vance, enthusiastically. perhaps, after
all, If 1 put it to him how devotedly
you were attached to him"
"But I'm not" protested Enid.
what, you, too, feel that-that-"
"I'was never deeply, really deeply in
love with him. OF course, he's nice"
ENID, if / had only known this be-
FORE" said Denzil, coming closer and
speaking with a quite surprising degree
of emotion.
"You-you might have seen It, Other
people did. 1 thought you knew, too,
but that your professional pride pre-
vented you recognizing any feelings
that might endanger the carrying out
Of your idea. Because, of course, mann
mas confidence in you will now be ut
terly shattered"
II don't mind that" said Vance, hero
ically.
That's all very well, but think of
me-" said Enid in injured tones. "I'm
stranded, you know. You promised
mamma you would marry mel mean
to somebody"
The little culver Of the lip was not
lost upon Vance. He was so near he
could hardly help seeing it. The morn
ing sun broke out, shedding a soft
golden light across the room and on
to the sofa, bathing the girls brown
head in warm radiance.
"What are you going to do?" asked
Enid timidly. Remember your repu-
tation as a matchmaker is at stake.
Mamma-and-and 1 shall expect some
thing from you"
Vance's tones were more assured than
they had been all the morning. what
will you say, Enid" he said, tenderly,
when tell you that Alfred's was Gb-
solutely the last name / had on my
books"
ooh, DEAR" with a little touch Of
cnagrln.
"But 1 see what a dreadful predica-
ment it places you in. You ought to be
married"
Eyes, if-only to- save your reputa-
tion."
''Then 1 see no other course open to
me-"
"Why, what do you mean to do?"
Marry you myself"
She laughed as she looked up into
Denzil's face and gave him to under
stand that under the circumstances she
would consent to sacrifice herself-to
save his reputation. and he made sol
emn promise to give up matchmaking.
II think you had better, DEAR" said
Enid, eff it would mean having to mar
ry all your failures. BLACK and White.