Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1910-11-25
! The Real townsend
. Complication That Was Born
of a BIunder.
b. MOlIH x. KEIHfRfll.
cartwright. 1910. by American Press
Association
= - a. - =.
B MOilH x. MfIHfRflL.


a.xs,or boy as l handed him my
card.
was In a New York apartment
,,nss for a call on some old friends
!, mine. The elevator boy handed my
~.rs to the telephone boy. who an-
.oupeed 10 the EfIlnghans that Mr.
Taxusend had called
All tight" said the latter after re-
eeiylug a reply. You're TO go up
stepped ON the elevator and was
soop ushared by "a maid Ia black
are~. aud white ruftied apron Into
she draw ing room of an apartment on
the sixth floor. There was no one Tn
,he room. which surprised me. for
was very Intimate with the Efiinghams
and supposed that at the announce
ment of my name the whole family
wonld be waiting to greet me.
II was fully ten minutes that | sat
waiting when | noticed that the light
shining through a keyhole in a door
opening into an adjoining room sud
denly gave place TO darkness.
"One Of the girls 1 said TO myself.
IS sneing on me That's a game two
can play at.
got up from my seat, strolled
about the room. looking at the pic
lures on the wall as if to kill time
while waiting. and when reached the
door IN question quickly turned the
knob and threw the door open.
There, kneeling so as 10 bring an eye
opposite the keyhoie was young lady
had never seen. Her face was GRIM
son and after looking at me for mo-
ment she covered her face with her
hands
saw at glance that not only one
mistake had been made. but several
There might be fifty families in the
building. and there were probably
more than one named bingham. |
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 reconnoiter the visitor be-
fore appearing. My curiosity being
aroused, / resolved not TO spoil my
chance of enlightenment by giving
anything away. i proposed to listen.
not to talk.
The girl arose and. still biushing to
the roots of her hair. came forward.
Il am mortified beyond measure
she said. lat being caught In such a
position. but You must admit that be
fore receiving a call from the man
am to marry I would naturally desire
to see him unobserved myself"
The most natural thing Ia the
world" Il replied. depressing a start on
learning that was TO be the girls
husband
Il received your note" she eentin-
ued. saying you would call Yesterday.
and later your Telegram that you Mad
suddenly been called away. Then
when you were announced Just nssw
was taken quite by surprise. having
expected that our meeting would not
take place for some time yet''
Il decided not to go"
MY act is certainly mot calculated 80
give you favorable impression 81
me. admit just think of man call
ing for the first time on a girl he Is to !.
marry. when he has never seen. and /
finding her peeping through keyhoie.
It's simply Dreadful"
But becoming To my taste. girl
never looks - well as when bushing."
But there Is no necessity for US "a,
stand Be seated" She sank on a sofa. |
] on an easy chair. 81 have fought
against such marriage. butrmy guard
ian, who has certain views for my
property. has finally worn me out. Be
Interested from that point Of view as
J.. Nevertheless | have told him that
after seeing you IL You were repulsive
10 me RE matter should not go any
further And that is the reason why
] VAS ensieavoring 10 get a peep nj you
before meeting YOU. j intended yeh
wee disarreeable to me eYen in ap-
pea nee that | would after all deailne
e receive you. =
knowing this. I'm sorry didH =
leave yen free 10 make decision.
4 shonld have decided to 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
cur properties are to be carried out.
she said archly.
Il assure you" I replied. with an
injured look. that these properly
81 hemes have nothing 10 de Win my
satisfaction ut finding you In ever
way so much more attractive than !
he'd hoped for
There was a blush at this. not 81
bot Of pleasure
Now. | beg Of yeu. ! eoutinue1
mot to speak further Of this matter oe
property interest that has brought Us
together. Let as consider our pro
yecfed union one OF inclination alone
Yet before doing so ! would Ike 10
get one matter out OF the way so tna'
II may not influence Us Please "ine
on a bit Of paper what yeu cshs'ue.
the amoant OF your possessions. ana !
VIII do the same. We viii eKehanee
these papers and viii both know ~nat
re are 70 expect primarily from saSn
ether"
Now. I aaft<r myself this was sesy
foxy ON my part / was not sure Dui
thar \ wo,1ld ike 10 win this girl ana