The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-10-14


dart. With shaking hand he clumsily
showed shining object into his coat
pocket as he turned away from the
long mirror and faced the scornful,,
girlish glance directed at him from
the doorway.
"Elinor," he - STANDARDIZATION
threw himself into a chair. beside the
table and buried his face in his arms.
The girls breath came in quick
gasps as she swayed toward the side
of the door. Five minutes earlier she
had been seated before her cheerful
little fire, comfortably reading. 1t
was gloomy afternoon, and, after
seeing her mother settled on her
couch in the adjoining room to sleep
away slight headache, Elinor had
promised herself on afternoon of un-
interrupted enjoyment with her
books. Suddenly her temples began
to throb violently and voice close
to her ear seemed to whisper: ~Ned
Ned Bryant! He needs you. Go to
him at once"
Blindly she obeyed, and flying up
the narrow stairs to the room above,
she was only just in time
For the past two years Elinor Kent
had lived with her widowed mother In
a cosey little apartment just below a
struggling young author, and during
the last few months many of his even
ings had been passed at their fireside.
They sympathized with his hopes and
fears and watched his gradual rise
from newspaper work to successful
magazine articles, and now they were
looking forward to his first book. al
most completed. Its ultimate sue
cess would mean his marriage to the
girl who had promised to wait for
him. A wealthy parent. who objected
to the young aspirant for fame as a
suitor for his daughter, interdicted
their marriage until Ned could show
an adequate income and had harshly
forbidden their correspondence. AL
though this seemed a cruel decree to
the lovers, Ned's faith in the girl had
kept him happy and contented. What
could have happened since Elinor last
saw him?
Falteringly the girl approached the
bowed figure. She loved this man
who was engaged to another. For one
awful moment she struggled with a
desire to turn and fee. How could
she bear the shame of giving her
heart unasked? Then something
whispered: Comfort him! BY the
divine right of an unselfish love YOU
can help him. He will mover know.
He thinks Of you only as a dear
friend"
"Ned!" she exclaimed firmly, "teil
me your trouble! We have been such
good chums, boy, surely you won't
mind my knowing" Then, shaking
him gently, she added in matter of
fact tones: "This room is as cold as
ice; come down to our fire and will
make you cup of coffee. The world
won't look so dark If someone shares
your trouble. Mother is lying down
with one of her headaches, so we shall
not be interrupted.
You must think me an awful fool.
Elinor, and a coward to boot. You
are right; am only a weakling to
let thing like this bowl me over.
He snatched a letter from the table
and followed Elinor down the stairs.
Seating himself in the chair that
Elinor pushed toward him, he ex-
tended the letter to her.
Read that" he said. God knows
you are the best friend l have in the
world, and you were my guardian
angel this time"
The lines danced before Elincr's
gaze as she read. 1t was the old
story; out of sight, out of mind. It
read:
Dear Ned hope you did not
take our boy and girl affair too seri-
ously. l am to be married the last
OF this month. The count is devoted
and papa is we'll pleased. Do not try
to see me; it will be useless, as have
fully made up my mind that this is
best for us both. DAISY"
"Oh, how could she?" protested
Elinor, wrathfully.
"She probably thought / would
make scene at the church door" re-
piled Ned bitterly. "She needn't have
feared. l always have wanted a home
since mother died" His lip quivered
boyishly. "And I've looked forward
to this So" his voice broke.
"Don't!" exclaimed the girl. sharn-
ly. she isn't worth 1t, and you were
all unstrung working so hard on your
book: Now drink this" This" was
a cup of "ambrosial nectar" as Ned
dubbed Elinor's coffee
Presently Ned handed Elinor the
cup with a contented sigh. al really
believe / was in love with love, only.
must have been obsessed to have
thought of this. / always despised a
man who killed"
"Oh, Ned. If you had!" With a
moan of anguish the. girl swayed diz-
zily and fell in a crumpled heap at
his feet.
MY God, what selfish brute II
am" cried the young man remorse-
fully. as he picked up the unconscious
form and placed It on the couch. An
electric thrill ran through him as the
slrl'c hair brushed hts cheek tso