The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-04-01
he heard. hoping he might hear some

a man resembling Mr.. Howard Beld-
ing were paying marked attention TO
Miss Gwynne il would he known and
he ,Shotwelb would certainly hear of
II. There was but one inferencc-the
man had either gone off without even
IN attempt TO make Miss Gwynne's
acquaintance or he had betrayed his
employer with a view To making capt.
tai with the young lady. Either OF
these propositions was sufficient 10
throw Shotwell into fever. He fret
ted and worried and pried till at last
he could stand the strain no longer
and concluded 10 get away from 1t by
making a trip abroad.
He came 10 this conclusion not only
because he wished 10 get the matter
off his mind. but because, having
somewhat cooled. he felt that he had
risked the respect Of all good men
and women who knew him. II the
matter should be known be would
rather be where he could not be called
upon 10 face it Perhaps by the time
he returned, if any trouble came of il.
it would have blown over. These con
siderations. however, did not seem 10
him of great Importance. for he had
little doubt that the fellow be had
hired 10 personate Bedding had simply
pocketed the perQuisites and left the
lob 10 take care Of itself.
Three months after Shotwell had
laid his plan for revenge upon Miss
Gwynne he went TO Europe. There
after a time the matter he had come
away TO get rid Of ceased TO occupy
the greater part Of his attention. and
eventually be thanked heaven that the
man he had employed 10 revenge him
had gone off without doing so. Ee
was feeling much relieved when IN
Venice he met an acquaintance from
America, who said 10 him, among
other things:
Il hear your old fame, Virginia
Gwynne, is 10 marry the rich young
philanthropist Howard Bedding"
Shotwell was astonished, terror
stricken, that so long after he had
repented Of his meanness the damage
had yet been done. he questioned his
informer as 10 when the wedding was
expected 10 come of, but received no
satisfaction.
One desire now toQk possession OF
Shotwell-to reach xfserica before Viz.
ginia Gwynne should full irrevoca-
bly, into the trap he himself had laid
for her Making for Genoa, he found
steamer about to sail for New York.
For two weeks he paced the deck,
looking out on the same watery waste
trying to stihe his Impotence. They
were the longest two weeks he had
ever known. But at last the voyage
was ended, and he FASTENED ashore,
his first object being TO learn II Miss
Gwynne had married.
The wedding had not yet taken
place.
Shotwell wrote his former love
note telling her that he had something
Of great Importance TO her welfare TO
communicate to her and asking for all
interview He received a brief reply
appointing the next afternoon az
o'clock at her house. The clock was
striking the hour when he mounted
the steps leading up TO her home and
rang the bell. He was all Of a tremor
when he entered the drawing room,
where he had had many happy tete-a-
tetes with Miss Gwynne and where
be had parted with her in anger.
Presently she came in and stood with
her hand resting on the back Of a
chair He rose and stammered:
Thank heaven l am not too late"
For WHAT
ITO save you from marrying MAJ
whom you suppose to be gentleman,
but who is really
Heavens
Il am here TO make confession. On
the day / left you felt much aggriev-
ed did that which, admit, was un-
worthy Of me Seeing a man in rags
who was the perfect image Of Howard
Belding. persuaded him to persOnate
that person 10 win your heart. But l
never intended that the matter should
20 so far And, not hearing from my
man iu NY cooler moments ! con-
graduated myself that he had disap-
pcarcd without taking any action
Miss Gwyune stood for moment as
If trying to recover from the blow;
then with one word. Wait" she left
the room. IN a moment ShOtwell
heard the ring Of a telephone bell. He
remained where be was for some min
utes. when the front door opened and
Miss Gwyune entered with her fance.
We've met again" said the man who
lad come iu 10 Shotwell What have
you TO say against mef'
Shotwell was astonished at the mans
assurance.
You know what you are and Of the
bargain I made with YOU" said Shot
well
Il know Of the bargain most assur-
eddy. As 10 myself. / am Howard
When you met me that day
| was eudeavoring incog. 10 find out
the needs Of the poor. ! was succor-
ing. ] could best do this in the COS
tune Of that regiOn-rags. / have 10 |