Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-12-03
The Real Townsend
A Complication That Was Born
Of q Blunder.
By MOlLF X. NtIhtRIll.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.



house for call on some old friends
OF mine. The elevator boy handed my
card to the telephone boy. who an
nounced to the Elinghams that Mr..
Townsend had called.
"All right" said the latter after re-
ceivIng reply You're TO go up"
| stepped on the elevator and was
soon ushcred by maid in black
dress and a white ruilied apron into
the drawing room Of an apartment on
the sixth floor. There was no one in
the room. which surprised me, for
was very intimate with the Efinghams
and supposed that ut the announce
meDt Of my name the whole family
would be waiting TO greet me.
IL was fully ten minutes that l sat
waiting when | noticed that the light
shining through a kcyhole in n door
opening into an adjoining room sud
denly gave place to darkness.
zone of the girls" said to myself.
sis spying on me. That's game two
can play at"
got up from my seat, strolled
about the room, looking at the pic
lures on the wall as II to kill time
while waiting. and when reached the
door in question quickly turned the
knob and threw the door open.
There, knceling so as 10 bring an eye
opposite the keyhole, was young lady
| had never seen. Her face was GRIM
son. and after looking at me for a mo-
ment she covered her face with her
hands.
I saw at glance that not only one
There might be fifty families In the
building. and there were probably
more than one named Eflingham.
had doubtless got into the wrong fat.
But why was the girl peering at me
through the keyhole? Perhaps there
had been double coincidence Of
names. she knowing some one by the
name of Townsend. or she did not
know any one by that name and was
anxious TO :econnoiter the visitor be-
fore appearing. My curiosity being
aroused, resolved not to spoil my
chance OF enlightenment by giving
anything away. / proposed to listen.
not TO talk
The girl arose and. still blushing to
the roots of her hair. came forward.
II am mortified beyond measure"
she said. Eat being caught In such n
position. but you must admit that be
fore receiving n call from the man l
am to marry would naturally desire
10 see him unobserved myself"
"rhe most natural thing In the
world" replied. REFRESHING a start on
learning that / was TO be the girls
husband.
II received your note" she contin-
ued. Saying you would call yesterday.
and later your telegram that you had
suddenly been called away Then
when you were announced just now
was taken quite by surprise. having
expected that our meeting would not
take place for some time yet"
Il decided not to go"
"Aiy act Is certainly not calculated TO
give you favorable impression Of
me, | admit Just think OF a man call
ing FOR the first time on girl he Is 10
marry. whom he has never seen, and
finding her Keeping through keyhole,
It's simply dreadful"
But becoming To my taste. girl
never looks so we'll as when blushing."
"But there Is no necessity for us to
stand. Be seated" She sank on n sofa.
/ on an easy chair. II have fought
against such marriage. but my guard
ian. who has certain Views for my
property. has finally worn me out Be
sides, he tells me that you are as much
interested from that point OF view as
!. Nevertheless | have told him that
after seeing you II you were repulsivc
TO me the matter should not 20 any
further. And that is the reason why
was endeavoring 10 get peep at you
before meeting you. | intended II you
were disagreeable 10 me even in APP
pearance that would after all decline
to receive you"
KNOWING this. I'm sorry didn't
leave you free to make a decision"
II should have decided 10 meet you"
she replied TO this. casting down her
eyes.
Thank heaven"
"You mean that you are pleased that
these schemes for the development OF
our properties are to be carried out, "
she said archly.
II assure YOU" replied. with an
injured look, that these property
schemes have nothing to do with my
satisfaction at finding you in every
way so much more attractive than
had hoped for"
There was a blush at this. not OF
modification. but OF pleasure.
"Now. beg OF you" continued,
mot TO speak further Of this matter OF
property interest that has brought us
together. Let us consider our pro-
jected union one OF inclination alone,
Yet before doing so ! would Ike TO
get one matter out Of the way so that
II may not influence us. Please write