Smyrna times., 1908-02-19
Revor0 r0lnS o
Decision.
By EDITH MELEO.
Copyrighted. 1907, by c. H. Sutcliffe.
By EDITH MELEO.


ing pat ON the head. Men who came
downtown on business should not be /
patted on the head even if their moth
ers do possess foolish ideas that curls /
are cute. Men on business bent always |
act Importantly and should he treated /
with Difference.
The pat had the effect of Stjffening /
Thomas Henderson HOwie's small +!
backbone to an unusual degree of ram
rod stiffness. and it was a very POM
pous six-year-old who entered Dorring-
tons office.
Tim Dorrington looked up from a
pile of papers with a genial smile.
Welcome to our city Mr. Thomas
Henderson Howie." he cried. "And
what good fortune brings you to the
Office? SUrely you are not about to be
sued for breach of promise? l am
afraid of that little Houston girl. or
perhaps it is the embezzlement of pre-
serves again.
ITS a letter" explained Tommy
| stiffiy, as he delivered the square
white envelope into Tins trembling
hands. Il will be going now" he add
ed as he turned away. Tim raised his
hand
wait Il moment, please" he asked.
There may be an answer"
Tommy climbed into the biggest
chair and settled himself with quaint.
| old fashioned gravity. while Dorring-
ton opened and read the note. Twice
the man read it. though the first time
the words had scared themselves into
his brain.
1t was Il cold. almost curt note in
which Jessie Howie acknowledged the
honor he had done her in offering to
make her his wife, an honor she de-
clined. regretting that there had been
anything in their friendship to lead
him to believe that the friendship
might grow to greater intimacy.
DorrinGton smiled bitterly ass he read
tie last few lines. Surely he had had
every reason to hope for favorable
answer 70 his letter. Jessie had been
tenderness itself. With a sigh he
thrust the letter into his pocket and
turned to his small visitor.
Il regret. Thomas Henderson Howie,"
he said in the playful banter that had
been suggested by the chid's quaint
dig&it.-"I regret that my pleasurable
anticip&ti0n3 of Il wild dissipation in
soda vNIter and candy in celebration
Of an important event have been dash
ed to earth. But man turns to drink
both to express his joys and drown his
SORROWS. Therefore l pray you to de
scend with me to the drug store on the
ground floor and assist me III the lat
ter ceremony. They have hot chocO-
late with whipped cream"
NO, thank YOU" said Tommy polite
ly. Il don't want any soda
Perhaps you prefer the stronger
tipple Of beef tea?" suggested Dorring-
ton. 1T is cup that cheers without
inebriety and can be rendered quite
palatable if you use enough celery salt
| to disguise the flavor of the beef eX-
| tract. Shall we go?'
| Il don't want to go with YOU" said
| Tommy stolidly. Il don't like you
| any more. You make Jessie cry"
| That" said Tom, lis what they cal
| an inversion Of facts. Your sister has
| made me cry
| I'm glad Of it." said Tommy cruelty
| You made her cry lots"
| You are sure?" asked Dorringto1
| quickly she was crying over m!
letter.
! Lots declared Tommy with ;
sweeping gesture that suggested
very food Of tears. Il went to he
room to get her to sew the tail on m,
dog again. She was crying awfully
and she was kissing your letter ant
saying things"
! DorringtOn moved closer to the boy
You don't remember what she saiC
do your he pleaded gently. "See i
you can't think. Tommy, boy. Try hare
laddie."
Thomas Henderson Howie knitte
= his brOws thoughtfully and assiste
the mental process by solemnly wris
Cling his right foot.
1T was something about a mea
sacrifice" he said at last Sacrifices.
he added informatively. lis where til
Indians kill people and burn 'em up"
The operation is blOodless ana I'll
fires are internal nowadays said Do
ringtOn softly. What else did 81
say:"
''She said How can l do it, IN
then she cried some more continue
Tommy. Then there was somethir
about for fathers sake, and motht
came in and said something abo1
duty and then something about NJ
Bowen. and Jessie cried lots more, al
then she wrote the letter, and 81
gave me a penny for myself al
kissed me"
For q moment DorringtOn sat stu
ned. He had invested heavily in su
urban real estate, and much of his ca
ital was tied up in land, but Dorrin
ton had not guessed that Mr.. HOwiC
l need was so great that he had be
compelled to go to Bowen.
cry For nearly a year Cyrus Bowen h
of sought TO make Jessie the fourth MI