Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-01-06
Real Townsend
A Complication That Was Born
, of a BIunder.
By MOlLlE K. WETIIERELL.
By MOlLlE X. WETHEREIL.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

"For the Effinghams," | said to the
elevator boy as l handed him my
card.
was in q New York apartment
house for call on some old friends
of mine. The elevator boy handed my
card to the telephone boy. who an
nounced to the Etfinghams that Mr..
Townsend had called.
"Au right" said the latter after re-
ceiying reply. You're to 80 up"
/ stepped on the elevator and was
soon ushered by IL maid in black
dress and a white rutiled 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 Effinghams
and supposed that at the announce
ment of my name the whole family
would be waiting to greet me.
1t 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" l said to myself,
"is spying OH me. That's game two
can play at"
l got up from my seat. strolled
about the room. looking at the pic
lures on the wall rs if to kill time
while waiting. and when | reached the
door in question quickly turned the
knob and throw the door open.
There, kneeling so as to bring an eye
opposite the keyho.e. 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.
l 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 Effingham. l
had doubtless got into the wrong fat.
But why was the girl peering at me
through the keyhole? Perhaps there
had been a 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. l proposed to listen.
not to talk.
The girl arose and, still blushing to
the roots of her hair, came forward.
'T am mortified beyond measure"
she said, "at 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 in the
world" replied, represslng start on
learning that I was TO be the girls
husband.
"I 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"
81 decided not to co.
"My act is certainly not calculated to
give you n favorable impression of
me, l admit. Just think Of a man call
ing for the first time on a girl he is to
marry, whom he has never seen, and
finding her peeping 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 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 if You were repulsive
to me the matter should not go any
further. And that is the reason why
] was endeavorinS to get Il peep at you
before meeting you. intended if you
were disagrceable to me even in ap-
pearance that l would after all decline
to receive you."
"Knowing this, I'm sorry didn't
leave you free to make decision"
Il should have decided to meet you, y
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," l 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 Mt this, not OF
modification. but of pleasure.
Now. I beg of you." ! continued
"not to speak further Of this matter OF
property interest that has brought u!
together. Let us consider our pro
1ected union one of inclination alone
Yet before doing so would like Il
get one matter out Of the way so tha
It may not influence US. Please wTit'