The Holbrook news., 1911-05-05

The girl stood. dnge of color came. into her cheeks as she began:
 MT. Steeds. we have an important question to settle. My mother and have arrived at a decision"
 "A decision?" he interrupted. pug zIed.
 The girl raised her hand a trife i'm periously. Please let me finish. It is simply this: I cannot marry you!"
 "But-" began the bewildered Steeds.
 The mother interposed: This is no personal reproach to you, MT. Steeds. We have inquired carefully concern ing you. We felt this was but fair, since my daughters happiness was at stake. And all the reports we re- ceived were favorable"
 Thank you,' murmured Steeds. And then again he began:
 But"
 Our decision was reached this afternoon" It was the daughter who had taken up the. thread of this amazing discourse. Tt Is a very large sum of money to lose, of course, and we much regret that your grandfa- ther made such an eccentric will. Why, he had never seen me-only heard of me from my grandfather
 Tt is almost beyond understanding that he should make you his sole girl neither of you had ever seen. Don't you think so, MT. Steeds? Don't you realize our position?"
 That made 1t plain to Steeds. Through some blunder the taxi had de- livered him at the wrong number, to mother and daughter expecting an- other caller. This other caller, man with a name very similar to his own, it seemed, was born to misfortune. He was to lose this most charming of girls
 A feeling of pity for that other man shot through Steeds; yet 1t was pity mixed with a selfish joy that she was not going to marry him. What a com rade she would make-what a wife! The knowledge had come to Steeds when he had first laid eyes upon her that this was his mate; this was the one he had known and loved always.
 Rambles through wood and field with her whose very name he did not know would be new adventures in contentment. To sit with her nestled in his arms in the frelight of their home would be a foretaste of heaven. To see her leaning over the crib of their child with the light of Madonna in her gray eyes
 What spring madness was this ~.41 l,0 land of fair dreams by a confirmed bachelor of twenty-eight.
 Why should this maiden with the air of innocence and of gentle breed ing stir his lazy heartbeats? He had seen pretty girls 4before-ah, many of them!
 He found his voice at last. q beg your pardon for permitting this dis cussion of a personal matter, but at first 1t puzzled me. And you will re- member tried to interrupt. I am not the man you believe I am."
 Not the mani" said mother and daughter, together. And then the lat ter added: Are you not Reginald Speed, civil engineer of Amsbury?'
 "Speed?" repeated Steeds. That explains my blunder in part I thought that you yourself and the maid spoke my name. am Dorr Steeds of Jeffer- sonville. And I am writer"
 They drew together and pondered a bit Then said the girl:
 But how did you find our home why did you come here?"
 T left my hotel to dine at Perry Bancroft's-" he noted, but did not interpret their start of recognition at the name-"which I understood to be 180 West Seventy-flrst street"
 And this is 1S0 West Seventy fourth" said the girl
 The maids entry broke an awk- ward silence. "A telegram. miss. And the motor is ready"
 With a gesture of apology she tore open the message. A swift glance at 1t, and little thrill of laughter es- capped her.
 This closes the incident, Mir Steeds. Under the circumstances, you must hear 1t: Don't expect me. Married today. .Will fight will in court Reginald Speed"
 Steeds looked back into her eyes and echoed their laughter. He bowed and turned reluctantly to the door.
 The incident was closed, as she had said. There was nothing to do but leave the house, at once. He could not take advantage of the double mis- take
 He was going out of her home, out of her Hfe-forever. The gray eyes would never light up with love for him; the dimpled arms would never be his sanctuary when editors or pub lie proved unldnd. They would never ramble together through woods and fields, nor sit before a glowing grate nor bend together over a tiny crib
 Fate and the mother intervened
 'It is a trifie unconventional, sup pose, since you are a stranger to us.