The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-07-28

| tel was a panel of the invincible
Brown; In her bureau drawers were In
Vulnerable litenesses and unlikenessrs.
She carried his picture in n tiny locket
about her neck, and on her desk was a
porcelain painting Of him.
She glanced smllingly at the dozen
different Caricatures each newspaper
] had proudly named MS the only true
| likeness Of the mighty one. Then,
with a queer little pang at her heart,
she opened the secret compartment Of
her desk and drew forth an old photo.
graph Of Billy Chalmers. She looked
into the handsome. serious eyes long
and earnestly; a little sob caught in
her throat How she had loved him.
Could It be really true. she asked her.
SELF that he had changed so much
and cared for that other (9. cared
enough to marry her. as report said?
A sharp rap on her door interrupted
the painful train of thought. and Sylvia
rose and turned the knob, schooling
her face into unconcern. II was n spc.
cial. in Billy's own handwriting. and
she tore open the envelope with Grim
sOning cheeks:
Dear sylvia" It ran. May call at
four on a matter Of importance? Am
sailing at daybrcak for Germany 10
take up the study Of medicine in Der.
lin. Please do not refuse me-Billy."
For an instant Sylvia stood holding
the sheet between trembling. icy fin.
gers. Should she see him? All tho
fierce resentment and wounded pride
Of the past year surged up in her de-
tense; with swift impulse she seized
pen and dashed down n single word
and signed II Sylvia"
The succeeding hours we're the long.
est Sylvia had ever spent in her life.
but Chalmers arrived promptly. She
greeted him with her most formal little
manner cffcctually screening wild in.
ward turbulence from his eager pcue-
trating glance.
Every attempt he made to lead the
conversation into personal channels
was baked by her. and finally Cha!.
mers broke out abruptly:
Look here. Sylvia the last time I
saw you # was an understood thing be-
tween us that as soon as we both grad.
uated we'd he"
Have you forgotteu-Allinc?" she
interposcd, coldly.
THAT anair was all my mothers
doing Only recently learned Of the
report in the paper which YOU must
have seen. | went at once 10 Miss N,g.
ter and told her the true situation. She
Is to be married in April to another
man. We shook hands and parted
friends. On my word Of honor. that is
the sum and substance Of the whole
thing, ny George, Sylvia! who is that
feIlow?" Chalmers had caught sight
of the panel on the mantelshelf. and
IN" color flooded his face
sylvia blushed. too. and said. fool.
ishly. Isn't he a wOndcro"
ITO judge by the gushiness of the
pross-he Is" was the halfdlsgusted
reply.
You know him well. Of coursc?" she
qneri"d, fencing for time
"Oh, after fashion DO your" lie
CAV" her quick, keen look
only in this legendary sort Of way"
md she indicated the pile Of clippings
on her desk, her eyes travelling com.
from one wall to another
where were displayed the more or less
l1dicrous prints Il suppose he's per.
Iect idol OF the girls. isn't he?"
Chalmers grunted. Il happen to
know that he doesn't care lg for
but one in the world--and she won't
look at him"
oh" exclaimed Sylvia. what a
stupid she must be-"
Chalmers rose and paced the length
OF the room. then back again. He
stopped In front OF Sylvias chair; his
voice had changed when he spoke.
is 1t possible. Sylvia. that this fol.
low has supplanted me in your estIma.
ton-has taken the old. dear-place
-"
sylvia laughed constrainedly. = |
YOU see" she said. Il had to have |
to keep up my interest /
somebody. Tits n sort of fad, Won
know"
But II he should come here today
ana ask You to be his wife. would Won
listen to him?"
l--suppose--l-should." was tina
very subdued response.
Chalmers bit his lip. Suddenly be
sat down on the arm of her chair and
deliberately drew her head against him.
Listen dear" he began cxcitedly. T
want to tell you few things about
Brown. lie had serious accident last
year during one of the big games. and
his people didn't want him to play
ootball any more. He didn't make any
ASH promises. but rather than have
hem worry. he took an assumed
lame"
Sylvia looked up tentatively, her eyes
low wistful. now dancing--red lips
Darted.
DO YOU think no did u,ron, In ,ht. ,.