The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-07-23
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did you get in?"
1 ran right in," exclaimed the new
conner, sinking into chair, "becausa
| was sure l smelled something burn
ing. l supposed the house was on
| ire. The maid was scrubbing the
front steps and she must have thought
me crazy. What on earth are you
building fire for on a hot day like
this?"
The girl at the fireplace threw a
handful of letters on the little fame
which she had kindled. "Oh, this isn't
fire." she said "It's funeral
So that's it," laughed Isabel. We'll,
VINO Is the man? And, Edith, why
couldn't you have told me of your en-
sagement in some other manner than
tnls-iett1ng me run into the house
as though I were a thief or maniac,
Just because you are having one of
those bonfres which we always have
On such occasions?"
You're wrong on the first guess"
said Edith as she threw the last letter
On the fire and turned to face her
caller. I've half a mind to tell you
about il" she unused, "for it is an in
teresting story. If you'll promise
never to tell"
Il promise"
We'll, then, Isabel, do you remem-
Der anything about Jack Wheeler and
me?"
What kind of memory do you think
[ have?" laughed Isabel. do remem-
Der! Have | recovered yet from the
nervous strain of trying to console
Jack when you finally made him I'M
derstand that you wouldn't marry him?
And didn't I absolutely refuse to be-
tieve that he was engaged to some
one else, until the wedding cards were
out? It's two years ago, of course,
but he was so madly in love with you
that"
1T happened yesterday afternoon"
said Edith, interrupttng the remarks
of her friend. 4 dropped in at Amy's
and who should be there but Jacks
wife! 1t was positively her first ap-
pearance in Chicago. It seems that
her mother and Amy's mother were
little girls together, or something like
that Anyway, there she was. Amy
acted as if she wanted to laugh, or as
it she were waiting for something
very dramatic to happen. Jacks wife,
however, seemed unconscious that /
was anybody in particular"
What is she ike?" asked Isabel.
She's nice little thing, said
Edith with the manner Of one de
termined to be just. But she isn't
the kind of girl you would think Jack
would admire
- ssa-sss sI5aI5eI. as She bent
down, ostensibly to fasten her shoe,
but really to hide smile.
No. she isn't the kind of girl you
would think Jack would like. But
she is very well bred and rather pref
y in quiet, demure way. We talked
about the things that every one al.
ways talks about. Then in some way
he conversation turned to names.
made my stock remark about the con-
1eniences of having a name as odd
Is mine. Jacks wife then made her
ongest speech.
You know my name was Smith,
he said, and for that reason any
lame of more than two sy11ables al
ways seems strange to me- And you
NOW your name is enough to surprise
early any one on the first hearing
agreed with her. Then she said:
I'VE had lurking fear that I didn't
pell it right on the announcement
ards. You see, Jack didn't write his
Ist out for me, but simply told ME
be names
She seemed so earnest about it
hat I assured her the name was
PEELED correctly. AS a matter of
act, it was. Then I laughed and said
was my first name, which certainly
) common enough, that had been her
ndoing-she had changed my name
} Edna
We'll, what do you suppose she
eplied? That is joke on jack she ]
lid, for I asked him what your first }
anne was and he said it was either
dna or Edith. he couldn't remember
hich Then he thought minute and
lid it was Edna"
She must be a little cat" declared
abel.
81 wonder" said Edith. "still, she 7
'emed so unconscious and so demure
lat can hardly believe it. The Q
lances are that Jack really did say d
at to her"
well. where do the letters come
?" demanded Isabel. 6
"ob," said Edith, they haven't t.
UGH to do with it. You see, the way b
10 said it was so perfect that l
me away telling myself that it must d
be a mistake about Jacks having Il
en- fond of me; that time had exag- u
rated to me the Importance Of that a
,air. So this morning went down a.
the storeroom and hunted around p
r a box Of old letters that I knew a.
IS there | hadn't thought about fc
EN- for months and why l didn't de- tt