Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-08-18

tightly; if that had happened. It
would bring ridicule upon him that
would be hard to bear. His fears were
set at rest, however. by the return Of
the messenger boy, bearing a parcel
addressed to Carter in Helens OVID
handwriting.
Hastily but carefully tearing off the
wrapper, Carter found that she had
sent him record in reply to his own.
minute later he placed it on his
graphophone and waited in hope and
fear for the words she had spoken.
Iney came, slowly and distinctly:
Mr.. Carter: think you are right.
Helen Granger"
Well, what do you think of that
Tag demanded Carter wrathfully
turning to the terrier, who had man
aged to elude the vigilance of the
servant and creep once more into his
masters den. ''She says she thinks
| am right. Right in what? Right in
loving her, right in proposing to her,
right in telling her of my love in this
way, or right In supposing I'm
the biggest fool who ever lived
This is too much, Tag. I'm going to
her house and stay there until | find
out what it means if l have to stay
there a week This thing must be
settled"
few minutes later Carter reached
the Granger home. Helen was not in
SO he decided to await her return. In
the drawing room he pondered over
the turn affairs had taken and strove
to find a solution of the enigmatlcal
reply he had received. 1t was all In
vain, however; he could conjure nc
hope or reason from Helen's words
AS he walked up and down the room
in his agitation, he happened to no
tice his avowal of love in record form
lying on a table near Helens graphic.
phone. He picked it up and gazed
at it as if it could affo- some solu-
ton of the problem. There was moth
ing in its appearance to help him,
SO he placed it upon the graphophone
and started the machine.
A moment of silence followed. then
the steady clicking O. the needle as
it worked it's way over the blank part
of the record, and the words began
to come.
my dear Helen: l have tried to -
love you, but l cannot do so. l know
that - you love me, but 7 -----
cannot reciprocate-. Do not - en-
terrain any false hopes; -, it is
best for us to part. Yours sincerely
Tom Carter"
With an exclamation of horror, Car
ter took the record and examined ii
carefully. He found several minute
cracks in the cylinder-shaped object
and understood it ALL The record had
been dropped and cracked, probably
by the messenger boy; the cracked
portions gave forth no coherent sound
as the needle passed over them. His
ardent avowal of love had been
changed to sound like a rejection OF
Helen's protestation of affection. What
could he do to repair the damage, to
set himself right in the eyes of the
woman he loved? If only he had a
blank record, he might substitute it
for the broken one and she would un.
derstand when she set 1t off at his re-
quest.
He searched the drawing-room and
found what he wanted. A moment lat
he he adjusted the graphophone and
into the new record. Twice he tried
it, to make sure it was right, and then
he placed it in the box. slipping the
cracked record into his pocket
Scarcely had he finished when the
door opened and Helen entered, flush,
ed from her brisk walk Her face
was grave and her manner frigid as
she greeted her visitor, but a roguish
twinkle lurked in the depths of her
eyes.
Helen, don't understand your re-
ply to my letter." he began somewhat
neryously. In what way do you
think | am right?"
Il think 1t was most fitting reply
to what you said, Mr.. Carter" she de-
clared quietly. "Just listen to what
you said and I am sure you will un-
doubtedly agree with me-" Picking up
the record she placed it on the graph
ophone.
They both listened eagerly, one in
hope, the other with difficulty main.
tanning her gravity, as the words re-
sounded through the room:
my dear Helen: have tried to tell
you how much l love you but can.
not do SO. | know that it is pre-
sumptuous in me to think that you
love me, but l hope and pray that
you do not feel you cannot reciprocate
my affection. Do not let me entertain
any false hopes; if you do not love
me, 1t is best for us to part Yours
sincerely, Tom Carter
Now, Helen Carter asked as he
stopped the graphophone. edo you
think you sent me the right answer
to my message?"
ct do, indeed, Tom," she replied
slowly, suffering him to hold the hand
he had taken. 81 think you are right
to love me. don't your"