The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-06-13
tas he Thought, with numerous fa1s


The acquaintance developed rapidly
from friendship to intimacy, from III
timacy to the inevitable In montb
the jig was up with young Hilson
F'ool-like, he told himself, he had gone
to work and toppled head-f1rst in love
with a girl whom he could never hope
to make his wife. He was only an OBJ
scure lawyer, struggling for foothold.
while she was already a woman IA
nous in more than one continent
There had been times when he almost
believed she half responded to his
feelings; but at others, realizing her
folly, had swiftly drawn back, aloof
and cold as the north star
One day he paid desperate visit to
his friend, Mrs. Martin Bradbury. He
looked white and haggard when she
entered the parlor and she could not
repress a little cry of establishment.
Heavens, Bobbiei Whatever has
come over your"
Since 1 came here for the express
purpose of taking you into my conf
dence," he said vehemently, III tell
you. First, why did you ever intro
duce her to me?" He had dropped into
the chair she indicated and was
staring gloomily at the wall.
"Her?"
Certainly. If I'd never known her.
of course 1 shouldn't have loved her.
Now I've got to get out before 1 make
a fool of myself"
why don't you marry herr" sug-
gested Mrs. Bradbury calmly, whose
matchmaking eye had been wide open
for the past four weeks.
Marry her! Good Lord, you don't
suppose woman like that would
would look at me, do your
Mrs. Bradbury was not so sure but
that she had seen her look at him.
MY dear boy she was about to be-
gin, when a fresh, girlish voice inter
polated from the hallway: Where are
you, Mrs. Bradbury? Shall I come
right in?"
Bobbie Hilson cast an appealing
glance into the other woman's face.
Il can't meet her now; get me some
where, quick!" he seemed to say.
Mrs. Bradbury pushed him summar-
lily into a closet piled up with books
and magazines, and he sank down
breathlessly on a box in the dark.
Kitty laid her parasol on one chair
and threw herself dejectedly into an
other I've come to tell you good-by,
Mrs. Bradbury she said, I'm leaving
for Seattle tonight"
Mrs. Bradbury permitted her care
fully penciled brows to express only
casual surprise
why so suddenly" she asked.
well, you see, Mrs. Bradbury, ]
don't mind telling you, because know
you can respect a confidence. But the
fact is l was never cut out for a
scribbler and I've realized it in time.
l am just an everyday simp1ston who
has been ridiculous enough to go and
lose her senses"
'And so-you are going to be mar
ried?'' the other queried sagely.
mo; I am not. The mamie really
cares for me, believe-has been hor-
ribly deceived. For some fateful rea-
son he has gotten the idea that 1 am
a celebrated parsonage like himself
masquerading under nom de plume.
Of course if he knew that I was only
poor little would-be he'd never even
glance my way. That's the hard part
of it,
who are you talking about, Kitty ?''
Who? Who should I be talking
about Robbie Hilson? In letters, Ter.
rell Brakeman
At this juncture young Hilson per-
mitted his restraint to snap asunder,
and the closet door creaked ominous-
ly. Il could not find the magazine"
he apologized quickly, hopping his
wet face with handkerchief in either
hand.
Kitty had risen with a little startled
cry and was hiding her blood-scorched
cheeks with her hands. Mrs Brad
bury had vanished into thin air. Bob
bic HilsOn looked at the girl suddenly
with the look that no woman ever mis-
understands, and few ever resist.
In moment he came quite up to
her and stood looking down upon her
with glowing eyes; then he stopped
abruptly and took her hands in his.
Il never was anybody in my life"
he said, "but just a poor, plodding
lawyer. But I'll make up in devotion
what | lack in genius, if you will only
let met
Il thought all along that you were
Terrell Brakeman" she replied, trem-
ulOusly.
And II thought you were-Feli-
cia Belknap," he answered
Good gracious. Bobbie Hilson! Fe-
licia Belknap is hideous old maid"
Thank Heaven for that" cried
Bobbie. And he took her in his arms.
Came to Collect Fortune.
81 less driffad in from Arkansas