El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-25
The Herald's
Daily Shert Stery

self. He was going to a small tennis
party given by Mrs Beaton herself that
afternoon, and made up his mind 70 try
his luck there and then.
He played particularly badly that
afternoon, but hardly noticed 1T him.
self, though others did As a rule ne
was invariably among the first to go
| but this time he sat out all the otner
| guests, and while Mrs. Beaton was
talking to an old friend who had also
/ waited he managed to get his deSlreG
! tete-a-tete with May.
Its been quite a success, hasn't it?
! she said as they settled down in tnelr
| chairs.
"a success?. Of course" he answered
! absently. He was trying to formulate
words in his mind for his proposal
But I'm afraid you didn't enjoy It.
she went on You were little tired
! Of your play, 1 thought today
"Off my play?" he returned On
yes, 1 was I've enjoyed myself i'm
menseIy. immensely. Yes I was bit
off. 1 suppose One has ones bad days.
I've rather a lot to think of lately"
Business worries?" she queried casu-
ally.
yes, in a way" he answered. I've
| a rather difficult matter TO deal with
| just now, and-of course, I've no right
to worry you with my affairs, but IL
| happens that you can help me-
The last words came out with an Ell
fort, but he felt considerably relieved
when they were uttered. At least they
| gave him a clear lead.
81 help you?" exclaimed the girl in
surprise why, what sort of business
| can it beg"
ooh. the usual kind" he answered
/ with a nervous laugh. 'And you can
help me very much indeed. The fact Is
! Miss Beaton, will you be my wife?"
May gasped, she was completely
1 taken by surprise, and her gloved hands
went together in a peculiar manner,
which would have given Tom his an
| swer if her had been in frame OF
mind to notice anything.
! Yes" he went on impetuously, gath
| ering courage now that he had taken
/ the plunge. 81 want you to marry me-
You are the only"
/ "Oh, Mr.. Baldock, please don't" in
| terrupted May, with look Of distress.
! I'm very, very sorry. I'd no idea, but
"Can't?" exclaimed Tom, Aghast
J tOh, don't say that"
at never dreamt that you thought
/ this way" she returned. Please for
! give me. but I can't indeed. I'm en-
gagged to my cousin Jack Armstrong.
You know him.. don't your
YES" he answered. THAT young
/ soldier. But 7 didn't know"
cot course you didn't" she answered
! gently, 'or you would not have
spoken. Very few people know of 1t
| yet, but we became engaged just before
he went back to India a week ago."
! She Joined her hands again and felt
| the ring on her left hand through her
I glove and then added: eff 1 had only
guessed, I would nave told you, and
now I think of 1t, you have only met
me since then out OF doors, so that I
have always had my gloves on and you
/ dition," she exclaimed. Didn't he
Mrs Beaton's friend had gone and
she had come up at that moment to the
| young people unnoticed. She had taken
in the situation at a glance, and as she
| joined them she dismissed May with 4
! glance.
Don't go, Mr.. Baldock," she said. as
he started absently to take his leave.
sit down again. I want TO talk to
you. You have been proposing TO
May"
How did you know" he exclaimed.
ct was easy to see" she answered,
with a kindly smile. 81 am very sorry
! It happened. I couldn't understand a.
first but I do now"
Understand what?" queried Tom.
Well, you yourself" she returned
The way you have suddenly come out
Of your shell. But I am very sorry"
L don't know what I'm to do" said
Tom absently. I've barely three weeks
left and there was only May. I know
no one else"
Mrs. Beaton gazed at him in surprise.
Only three weeks. What do you
| mean?" she exclaimed.
I shall lose everything If I am not
l married by then" he answered.
But 1 thought you were fond of
May" said Mrs. Beaton sitting a laugh.
She was beginning to see daylight, and
she had a sense of humor.
So 1 was" he answered, at least
| as much as I could be- But I wasn't
in love with her in the ordinary sense
of the word. At my age, after having
avoided women all my life, I don't
think that would be possible"
Then why?" began Mrs. Beaton.
Because my uncle has left me all
his property on condition that 1 was
imarried in three months" he answered.
If I'm not married in three weeks
, from now lose ALL
| Mrs. Beaton was silent. She ought to
have been angry with him, for, as it
were, merely desiring to make a con-
how she could feel no resentment. In
| stead she saw the ordeal which this
shy young man had gone through, and
a very genuine feeling of sympathy
! came over her
What a shame to put in such con-
dition," she exclaimed. "Didn'a ne
know you?"
81 haven't seen him for Is years. he
| answered. mo, there's nothing for it,
the money must go to Ada, the only
| daughter of Mary Carter, who married
| John Samson. and I wish her more JOY
Of it than I've had" He had no diff
Guilty in remembering the wretched
| formula
Mrs. Beaton started and changed
color. She looked at Tom from under
| the brim Of her hat for a few moments.
| Then she gazed across the garden and
| laughed silently.
But why not marry someone else'
she said. There's still time"
ITO tell the plain truth" he an
swered, Il don't think I could screw
myself up to do it again, besides you
and May are the only women 1 know
at all we'll After all, it serves me
! right. 1 suppose it wasn't cricket to