Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-26
The Dillingham; Denial
Copyright, by Bobbs-Merrlll Coz
BY Zella Armstrong

was unwarranted to a formal denial
from Mr.. and Mrs. Heath.
None of these pleased the colonel.
He sat in small rocking chair,
which creaked remonstrantly, and at
each suggestion shook his head and
pulled harder at the white mustache
that dropped over his stern mouth.
Miss Grady was in despair. She felt
that something was due the abused
parties, though her memory of Marian
Heath had taken on vixenish edge
that grew keener each moment. 1t
was time for her to keep a dinner en-.
gagement, and still Col. Dillingham;
refused to be appeased and go away.
He was sitting very still and practical
ly saying nothing.
Since you and Miss Heath are not
engaged" suggested Miss Grady
sweetly, I'VE can refer to the matter
as an unconfirmed rumor or say that
it has been denied by the family"
This had already met with the
colonels disapprobation, but she tried
it again hopefully. There was only
another mournful shake of the head
in response. What few words the
colonel commanded in everyday life
had deserted him. He seated himself
with much ease and quiet, as if some
thing might break. He was still very,
very angry. Miss Grady was des-
perate.
Miss Grady looked her desperation.
The foreman of the composing room
came calling for copy and hovered
around the door in the hope that she
would hand some out. How was it
possible to write or even to think
when the spurious fiancee sat near
her elbow?
Time fed, and the foreman appeared
now with an agonized look upon his
grease-stained face. Miss Grady had a
sudden inspiration.
Sweeping an accumulation of clip
pings, letters, paste and paper knives
from corner of the desk, she drew
out the sliding shelf that formed an
occasional temporary writing table.
Suppose, colonel" she murmured in
her most honeyed accents, calculated
to tempt saint to sweetness after
any thunderstorm, Suppose you write
just what you would like me to say.
| You must know best what would
please Miss Heath and yourself. 1t
will be great pleasure to us to print
whatever you choose to say"
This was a master stroke, she
thought, and relieved her, should the
colonel accept her proposition, both of
his morbid stare, which had grown
unbearable, and the responsibility for
the forthcoming apology.
The colonel did accept. To her Sc
cret delight he took the chubby black
pencil she almost forced into his un-
willing fingers. Then he transferred
his gaze to the sheets of soft white
copy paper that she placed ready for
| his hand.
She turned to her piled-up matter,
unopened mail, proofs" uncorrected,
wrote hurried words about the going
and coming of people whom she knew,
much more about certain others whom
she did not know, clipped neat little
notices from the exchanges heaped In
front of her, and satisfied the foreman
with batch of copy. Then she dis
appeared into the telephone booth
and talked an age. Through the glass
| sides she could see him still hard at
! work, and she smiled, amused at his
] diligence. When she returned the
pile of paper had visibly dwindled and
a corresponding heap Of crushed and
torn bits showed in the waste basket,
though the colonel seemed no nearer
the end of his appointed task.
AT last, after many brave attempts,
the document was completed. The
colonel rose with sigh and gave the
sheet to Miss Grady. He thanked her
with careful, old-fashioned politeness
and regretted that the occasion should
have caused them both so much anx
iety.
When the sound of his footsteps had
died away and the click of the eleva
tor door told of his safe departure
Miss Grady cast wary eye over the
statement she had agreed to publish
the formal denial of the Dillingham;
engagement.
And this was what she read in the
coloneps cramped and grabbed but
perfectly clear handwriting:
Announcement of the engagement
and approaching marriage of Miss
Alice Heath and Col. d. w, Dilling
ham, which will take place at st
Paurs on December 8, was made with
out any authority whatsoever from the
contracting parties"
And Miss Grady laughed until the
oity editor came in to see what hat
| given her hHstericg