The Cairo bulletin., 1908-03-01
His
Broken
Engagement
[Original. ]

shoulders. After the moment IN
which he had enjoyed the novel SEN
fation he shrugged them again, DIT
terly. He did more he bit on the
erd of a cigar and muttered harsh
words.
Amid 1t all he felt very we'll salts
fed with himself. He realized that
he had taken the situation with al
the composure OF one TO whom being
rejected by ones best girl was an Old
story and not at all as novice would
have taken il.
Callie was the first girl whom he
had honored by devoted attentions
For three months he had looked up
on life with the tolerance or the
wording. Was he not engagedY
Were not he and Callie to get mar
riei some day when he was more
firmly established financially?
At 20 a man regards an income as
a mere incidental annoying because
of its simness He and Callie
had vaguely cheerful idea
that with years come Increased
salary as a matter OF course.
lie had called her little girl
as he planned out their future
and he hat grown several inches by
realizing that she depended on his
superior wisdom and ability
And after foolish little quarrel
she had decided that he did not love
him as she had thought. Young
McNatt read 1t again as he chewed
the end OF his cigar sayageiy.
MY dear Charles" 1t ran, after
last evenings exhibition OF temper
on your part It is better that we
should not let our dream go on. All
Is over between us. Our lives are
sundered henceforth. Forget me. as
| have no doubt you will. II has
been mistake. Do not call, as l
am going with Mr.. Lester to the
theatre
Tried to make me Jealous! Fool
ish girl" muttered young MeNatt,
abiding TO the last sentence, "Wo-
men are SO transparent" Callie
was not quite is. Threw me over
as calmly as If were an empty
candy box-and with no more heart!
1t cuts fellow up!"
He walked to the window and
stared hard at the pavement. He
was searching vigorously for the en-
otion he ought to have, crushing PACK
the insistent knowledge that all he
felt was complacency at having ar
rived at the point where he could get
engaged ard then have his heart
broken by frivolous girl.
II am well rid of her. he told
a banana cart that was being pushed
by. Then he scowled as he had
seen villain on the stage do
short time before. But to a man
with a heart an ideal Is slow to die.
She will go gayly on--with that
Lester idiot, suppose-because she
Is shallow. While -ah, perhaps IN
years to come, Callie, can blot you
from my memory"
Young McNatt almost caught him
self beaming at his ready grasp OF
the obligations Of the occasion. He
remembered that when his older
brother had gone through similar
experience he had trampled his best
necktie under foot and slammed
things. That. young McNatt felt,
had been crude and sign OF mex
perience. He had better grasp on
the possibilities. There was a real
ache on his left side, not far enough
over really to be his heart, but then
his heart might be misplaced for
all he knew.
"A blow just at the opening OF
mans career" he told himself, with
gentle bitterness. But the world
shall not know. shall not pity me.
Naturally things never can look the
same to me again, but l shall laugh
AMI go on and pretend to have an
interest In life and no one will know
that carry disillusioned spirit, an
empty heart, beneath the smiling ex-
terror. | have loved and lost. Well,
SO be it. / am not one to scatter
my affection about. l shall never
love again--neyer!" '
Entranced with the thought OF
this horrible fate. young MeNatt sur
veyed himse If In the mirror.
Pale" he murmured. Il am SEN
sitive and show when | am moved.
Little Callie, Foolish girl Spelling
her life for a within. Some day she
will know 81 when it is too late. l
am done With women. They have
no interest for me now. They are
merely an incident and must not be
allowed to interfere with a mans
career shall
Hello. Elrney." he broke of. as
another youth about his own age en-
tered attirel In the latest agony.
Say" remarked Birney. breath
lessly, with no respect for the TRACE
dy in which his friend was involved
come along with me and call on
that Larkins girl we met last week.
She asked me to call and she said
to bring you "
Not tina. stunner-with the blue
eyes and
The same" returned young Nc
Natt's visitor, nodding his head to
give greater emphasis to his reply. I