Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1911-09-14

g. Co. by making yourself at home
here. For starter Will left pair Of
tickets to the theater for tomorrow
evening. Have you any engagements"
"N-n-o."
"Oh. if you don't care to go l can
dispose of the tickets" She looked
trifie miffed.
Il shall be delighted"
every well. Now we will talk Of
other matters. 1t has been quite warm
lately. hasn't it,"
"YcS-no. I haven't noticed. How
long did You say Will is to be absent;"
"a month"
won't you miss him very much?'
"Of course. l love him dearly. as he
loves me. But here comes in the ad-
vantage of trio. shall have YOU
Clarkson started as if bomb had
fallen OH the floor before him and WAS
sputtering ready TO explode. If he had
been looking at his companion he
would have seen very animated eX-
preston on her face.
II was not aware. didn't know
he stammered. that lady married to
the man she loves could let him 30
away a few days after the wedding
and bc contented with the company or
his best friend"
You forget that this is tripartite
arrangement, wherein three persons
are made one. But cease to bother
Yourself about that. The secret or re-
manning comfortable in this world Is
not to worry. By this arrangement
Will and l have endeavored to obviate
the necessity of you and lie loving each
other. 1t behooves YOU to accept the
situation ard he content"
You have both lGr:.,.--.y been very
kind. shall endeavor to prove myself
worthy of your confidence and con-
duct myself
Conduct yourself! OF course you
will. Now don't trouble yourself any
more about trifes. Just fall into the
situation naturally and all will be
WE'LL"
Ee left her. wondering what it all
meant. Surrey the .:s some mistake.
Was this woman so innocent that she
supposed such a partnership as she
proposed could endure witAc ut danGe"?
The head of the firm OF Damon, Pyth-
las & Co. remained away quite long
enough to produce Il volcano In the
breast Of the junior member.
The lady maintained the same posi-
ton she had taken at the first meeting
with Clarkson, talked about love exist
ing between the three of them just as
innocently and bore herself Just as
tcIrcumspectIy at. the last as at the
first of Damon's absence. The only
difference in her bearing from what he
might expect Of his friends wife was
growing disposition to sensiti7eness
with regard to his treatment Of her.
In one respect the intimacy was sue
cess. No other woman was permitted
to get near enough to ClarEson to en-
danger his single state. AS for the
purity Of the junior member OF the
firm and her loyalty to the head or II
there was no question.
Nevertheless before his friend Da-
mon returned Clarkson was in love.
Indeed. the evening before the arrival
of the man who had permitted this
unique arrangement Nj. Garrison
made two statements to the lady. The
first was that he loved her madly,
the second that he proposed to retire
ut once from the firm and never see
her again. He then left her with an
expression on her face denoting an IN
ternal upl: ,avul. but whether she was
offended with him for making the
avowal he conld not tell
The <next day, while Garrison was
hacking Il trunk preparatory to long
Journey, he received telephone mes
sage from his friend Field. inviting
him to meeting of the firm of Damon,
pyth;as Il Co. at dinner. C!arkson
tried to beg off, but failed, and. after
numerous excuses which sarrcd TO
sunrise and offend his would lie host.
at last consented.
On his arrival Field took him into
his sanctum aud said to him seriously:
Fob. before we dine something
neeCs to be Strengthened cut"
GARRISON ShudGer>!
"Defore my departure ! was struck
by your letter. We both regretted the
srparation that nuSt naturally result
between you and llr on account of my