Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-04-11
CAMPDEN'S Shave.
An Explanation That Was
Tardy, but Satisfactory.
0y FRANK POWNAll.


OF my mustache?" pleaded CaInpden.
THAT isn't just fair. you know. can
grow one again in a few weeks. Don't
spoil lifetime"
Its not so much the loss Of the
mustache." said Mabel Devant. you
should know what mean. though OF
course you will pretend to be igno-
rant. hate duplicity"
"'Oh. what a tangled web We
weave." he quoted. You don't mind
telling me what particular sin you have
found out in me. do you? admit that
I did buy some candy for Miss Travers
II that's what you are making all this
talk about. might add In self de
tense that it's the littlest Miss Travers:
she's five. l believe"
"If you are going to indulge In such
brutal joking shall say nothing fur
Their" said Miss Devant haughtlly. II
have been singularly patient. II You
only had confessed should have had
no more to say. As 1t is. can see
nothing in your conduct for which
can find the slightest excuse"
but see here. Nab" he explained.
II haven't been doing anything. ]
haven't murdered a man for at least
week, and my last bank robbery is
two months back. feel that have
clean slate so far as this last unhappy
week is concerned, and yet you come
back from town and want me to con-
fess to calendar Of crimes on the
argument that a good husband should
tell his wife everything. | don't admit
that argument. but all the same If
you'll give me clew to the sort OF
! crime you want me to confess to I'll
try to think up something"
Mabel turned on her heel and walked
, OF. 1t was not a very straight nor
steady tread. but she held her head
high and tried to keep back the tears
until she reached her room. She sue
ceeded until the elevator left her at
her floor; then she ran down the corri-
dor, the picture Of woe.
When she finally recovered her COM
posture and went down to dinner there
was no Harry Campden waiting for
her in the hall. Instead she ran into
Nettie Braden.
! II think it's shame!" began Miss
| Braden. THAT awful man packed up
his things and went to town on the
afternoon train"
"Harry?" asked Miss Devant COM
prehendngly.
Miss Braden nodded.
"Without even a goodby," she admit
ted. II think it's just too terrible.
! Come in and have dinner and forget
that such u horrid man ever lived"
I 81 don't feel hungry" declared Ma
bel, blinking back the tears and seek
ing her room for the second time.
The next few days were as miser-
able for her as they were for Campden
up in town. He and Mabel were to
have been married in October, and
while he puzzled his brain FOR some ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery she took ref
uge In ii woman'S comfort and went
about the beach with an ever read!
handkerchief.
The Harrises were giving house
! party through September. and Mabel
accepted their invitation because she
knew that they We're not acquainted
with Harry and that there she would
be safe. For the first time since the
break she felt happy as she came
down the stairs the morning after her
arrival.
The boat had been becalmed, and
she had arrived late, but the fresh
morning air was temptation, and
she ran down the stairs just as the
servants were opening the house.
Out on the piazza she paused mo-
ment to observe a blue coated back,
then she advanced with an air of care
leSsness and made for the opposite end
Of the porch.
At the sound Of the steps the man
sprang up, and she gave Il scream as
she recognized Campden.
Il did not know that you We're to
come" he began as he approached her.
II Just met the Harrises and was not
aware that they knew you"
They are very old friends she said
! coldly. Il used to go to college with
Mrs. Harris
That's nice" he observed cOnven-
/ tionally But see here. Nab, if we are
going to be fellow guests for a few
/ days. won't you please tell NE what all
/ the row was ab0ut:'
You should know" she said Sc
verely.
II should he confessed. but don't
All know is that you ran up to town
for week. When you came back to
the beach you asked me to confess my
/ sins, and when said had nothing To
! confess except the self evident fact
/ that had shaved off my mustache you
made that the excuse for breaking the
! engagement"
1 For moment Mabel paused: then
desire for the truth 0vercame her re-
serve. Il wanted To see il You would
tell me the truth. she explained
when | went away you promised 10
tell me if you had misbchaved. You
got into some loyemakiu- scrape and
never told me word about it,"
so that's it, is it:" he asked. You