The Winslow mail., 1911-04-29

matter of the chair
Angie did not look at him. but in a
cool little voice spoke 10 the sales
man She was somehow dignified and
remote--out of reach
Il think will not decide about the
chair today" she said Then she turn
ed to the door which Jack opened,
and turned homcward
Jack saw that there would be no
tea together. no cozy tete-a-tete. He
fioundered about for words, and did
the clumsieet thing possible
"Tessie Burton-I knew her at col
lege-"
"One would-judge as much she
replied. Don't you think it's getting
COLDER" Her polite tone was down
to about zero. Jack agreed with her.
Nothing else was left him. He knew
he would have to explain pretty
quickly and convincingly. Tessie had
been hopelessly ill-bred, and of. course
1t was embarrassing for Angie-he
knew that He would simply make a
clean breast of things
AUSlS, u6dI, lSI llS explain,
Angie lifted her pretty brows.
'Explain-what?"
About Tessie-Miss Burton-she-
Anything that needs explanation
should have been explained before"
at was only a foolish college en-
gagement-"
And you said you had never loved
anybody but ne"
Angie haven't That wasn't love,
it was a silly-it didn't last long,
and"
She interrupted Being spotless
too young to have been in love before
herself, she was merciless.
eff it wasn't love, it was wicked to
be engaged to her-a horrid girl like
that, too! l knew happiness like mine
could not last! Your engagements
don't seem to last long-doubtless you
will be as easily consoled this time as
you were the first-or have there been
still others?"
Angie" he said sternly, "do you
know what you are saying?" You can't
mean TO-" she had drawn off her
left glove, and was taking off her
ring, which she handed him. She had
not, in fact, meant at first to do any
thing, but being angry, hurt, nervous
from overwoork and waiting, she was
hardly herself. But she would not re-
lent She would punish him-at any
cost to herself
"Angfe-yOu know l love you truly
this has gone too far"
Altogether too far" she assented
turning at the gate you can come
in and tell mother it is all over. Tell
her would like to go to Florida for
month"; some one can go with me-
AS for you-perhaps 'Tessie' will have
you back?"
They were in the hall by this time,
and she fed upstairs. She had taken
him at a disadvantage-on the street.
where he could not forcibly take her
into his arms and make her listen to
him.
AS for the Aliens, they listened to
Jack; then they went up and talked
with Angie. She simply said 1t
was all over and she didn't want to
hear about it, and would not see Jack.
Thinking her too young, anyhow, they
did the easiest thing postponed the
wedding indefinitely because of their
daughters health and called the fam
lily doctor, who obediently prescribed
the southern trip. Then they waited
- ooo bo4 would bonnop
This happened: Angie, sorry for
what she did, even while she was do
ing it, worked herself into a fever and
was really i'll. Gloom settled over
Jack, who sent flowers and letters
He persisted but she would not give
him a chance-she brooded over his
''untrustworthiness until it became a
crime to her, and very real Folly
surely was with her, but she denied
her own heart
Jack suddenly did the unexpected.
She had grown used to his persist
! ence. when 1t ceased without warning
| He closed the little cottage, returned
what goods would be taken back, set
! tied all bills himself, and sent the
| house key to Angie by her father.
| He himself went on hunting trip, a
| fact that the papers chronicled, and
| which Angie saw. He accepted her
! decision.
This came to the girl like shock.
] She dressed, and in few days came
downstairs to sew by the fire. Sud
| denly she refused to go South at all,
! and kept the family in hot water with
| her moods She knew she had been a
! fool; she wished she were dead. Her
! young, terrified soul saw long, un-
! loved, unloving life before her He
| had gone. and she had sent him--and
for nothing absolutely nothing.
1t all ended in a way as simple as
it began One raw February twilight
Angie chanced to be alone at the fire
She heard the bell ring. A queer ter
ror seized her-was it a telegram :?
She actually was expecting any ca
| 1o,,,itv ot aDV nOmpnt She hid hpr