Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-07-31
MISS CRANNIS'
DECISION,
It Came With the Winning Of
the Game.
b. A. N. DAVIES OGDEN.


1t is so fatally easy for a misunder
standing to arise.
Johnson. galloping swiftly through
the long lane of overarching June
green, was musing somewhat bitterly
upon this fact 1t was over a month
now since he had seen Helen GranniS,
a month which had done a great deal
toward Quickening Il spark hitherto mo-
entirely recognized into vivid flame
He had tried to see her. but unsuccc>s
fully. and now his thoughts Were.
hrOodng rs 81 often before. over tilI'
last unfortunate meeting Was he to
blame or she? Yet how could til
fault be his?
Once again he went back mentally
to the beginning that day when he
had telegraphed to ask if she wouc
ride. They had often spoken Of so d.
ing, and this had been his first oppur
tunity. The answer had been that she
would be ut the club at I O'Clock
Johnson. promptness itself. cantered
over from the stable at precisely
There he waited He waited unit.
half after 4: he waited until a quarter
Of s. There was no sign Of Miss Gran
mis-. At last. reluctantly. he rode to
ward the park. wondering what could
have happened. The first person he
met. walking her horse slowly down
the main drive in the direction Of the
gate. was the girl herself. and with
her. talking eagerly. was Ransome Sin
clair. the man Of all others whom
johnson most detested
For a moment Johnson had stared
really incredulous. unable to trust his
eyes
Then. with formal lifting Of his
hat, he was past. the dark red mount
ing to his cheek and rage in his soul
Had she forgotten the engagement, or
had she deliberately thrown him over
for Sinclair-Sinclair with his millions
who could give her everything?
In the sudden blackness revealed by
the fash of jealousy johnson realized
for the first time how much this slen-
der. dainty girl. with her pretty little
air Of statelinesS. meant to him.
He had hardly gone u mile before
the impulse which had made him bow
ard pass on looked the height of ri
righteousness. OF course there was
some mistake. Why had he not stop
ped and asked? But. although he
turned at once. it was too late-the
two had vanished.
He had telephoned that night. Miss
Grannis was out for dinner. He had
called the next afternoon Miss Gran
mis- was not at home. He could no-
write. for there was nothing to say
One could not ask lady why she had
chosen to ride with another. The week
after. when he tried calling once more.
the house was closed. He found that
the family had departed for their coun
try place.
Johnson was in despair. but it was
not entirely a bad thing for him; it
taught him lot.
AS he turned in now Mt the Newlands
place and dropped Off his horse some
one moving down by the tennis court
suddenly brought his heart into his
mouth Could 1t be she? He knew
that Miss Grannis and Ida Newlands
were great friends. Was it possible
she might be staying here for week
end? With tingling pulses he went
forward 1t vast was! And he
might never have known! Somehow
he managed to answer properly the
greetings Of Ida and the men grouped
about: then he turned to Miss Grannis
He was unreasonable enough to be
disappointed when the girl gave him
merely conventional smile. He felt
that he was the one with the right TO
be angry. Ida Newlands looked sharp
~ at them both She knew Helen
Grannis well enough to divine that
something had occurred.
Now, as she saw johnson after mo-
ment turn aside her nimbe wit leaped
to sudden guess at the truth. And
nc she caught Johnsons flush as Sin
clair rnu.c - "oSS the lawn her convic-
ton deepened But what could be
done? In this last month Sinclair had
been pushing his advantage hard. CHE
knew that Helen was wavering. Ida
did not fancy Sinclair 1t was her
brother who had asked him today And
she did like Johnson. With swift In
SEPARATION she jumped to her feet
Lets have some tennis" she ex.
claimed Helen. | will challenge you
and Mr.. johnson to try to beat Mr.
Sinclair and myself. Here's your rack.
ct" pretending not 10 see the girls re-
luctance II was he only way she
could think OF to bring them togethar
Johnson could put up II strong game
He was tail, with long legs and arms
that seemed 10 cover every corner o.
ehe court And Helen had clean
telling stroke Sinclair. however. was
no mean adversary They would have
to play NJ But Johnson was not think
ing of tennis This was his chance
He must make the most Of II before
she Joined that chatterine group As
he brought ihe balls to Miss Grannis
for her servi g be looked down at her
for a momcut
why dil you not come to the club
that day" he asked abruptly. Il