The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-01


decision.
Vance bent over the arm of the sofa.
and spoke with great fervor:
1T would be madness
Enid answered with an air of stoical
resignation
We've were thrown together. You
ought to be the last person in the world
TO try and upset our plans 1t was
your idea from the first"
"Yes," admitted he, lamely. "But l
thought Alfred"
''If he slips through our fingers it
may be years before we can find an
eligible substitute And-and-Im
aging very rapidly"
Vance leaned forward and gazed
into the fresh, glowing face.
Enid, you are not serious
ooh, l don't know; but | am deter.
mined
what to do?'
ITO carry out our plans to the let
ter"
I'm the face Of your-what you have
found out about Alfred's real feelings
towards your
an the face Of everything"
Denzil, bewlldered by the girls deter
mination, walked in reflective way
towards the writing table. where his
eye caught sight Of Alfred's note which
he had laid down In order to administer
to the roses. He regarded it with mixed
feelings. Was 1t q sarcastic diatribe
against matchmakers? No, Alfred's re-
sentiment would take the form of a
mild, chidlike invective against Fate
| custom and Vance; a helpless sort of
appeal, the timid censorious cries, and
| man. He would not actually blame
Vance, but he would hit all round It.
And already Vance felt the singing
| little reprOaches Of man who is per-
petually squaring himself menacingly,
but never actually delivering a blow
He picked up the letter and opened It,
This is what he read:
MY Dear Denzil-Enid and | 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,
| | have considerable hopes In another
direction. This makes 1t little rough
on Enid, I know. But don't drop the
case just because l 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 cogitatiye.y
and directed his gaze towards the girl,
whose beautiful face was turned slight
~ away from him.
Its 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 | see Alfredw suggested
Vance, enthusiastically. perhaps, after
all, If / put 1t to him how devotedly
you were attached to him"
"But I'm not" protested Enid.
"What, you, too, feel that-that--
Il was never deeply, really deeply in
love with him. or course, he's nice"
| ENID, If / had only known this be-
FORE" said Denzil. coming closer and
speaking with quite surprising degree
| OF emotion.
"You-you might have seen 1t. Other
people did. I 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, man.
mas confidence In you will now be ut
terly shattered"
81 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 a warm radiance.
what you going to dor asked
Enid timidly. Remember your repu-
tation as a matchmaker is at stake.
Mamma-and-and shall expect some
thing from you
yance's tones were more assured than
they had been all the morning Mat
will you say. Enid" he said tenderly,
when tell you that Alfred's was b.
solMely the last name | had on my
books"
"Oh, DEAR" with a little touch Of
chagrin.
"But l see what a dreadful pretIca-
ment 1t places you in. You ought to be
| married"
"Yes, if-only to save your reputa-
ton"
"Then 1 see no other course open to
me-"
"Why, what do you mean to do?'
marry you myself"
She laughed as she looked ID into
Denzil's face and gave him to lnder
stand that under the circumstances shs
would consent to sacrifice Ierself--t