The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-08-01
the card was the name of Isabel Doug

the card was the name of Isabel Doug
| las.
| Macpherson, instantly in revolt,
meditatei flight for an instant, then
realized how impossible that was, ana
| that there was nothing to do but go
| downstairs and meet her. Never IN
! his life had he entertained such
violent prejudice for any womans So
clety as he now felt for hers. He was
! entirely blind to her innocence or the
manner in which her name had been
rung in his ears till he hated the
sound of it. At any rate, she snoulo
not add him to the list of victims re-
port said strewed her path.
He entered the big drawing room
| and greeted his hostess.
I've favored you tonight" that lady
said, smiling. i've given you the pref
tiest and incest girl here to take out
to dinner Do you know Miss Doug
las OF Kentucky?"
81 do not" said the hapless iona
Macpherson, crisply, and mentally Sc.
! his teeth. In two minutes 1t was all
over and he was properly introduced
to her. Just what he had expected
Miss Douglas to do was hard to say
he had braced himself for resist
ance. But to his bewilderment, like
dash of cold water in his face, he re-
allied there was absolutely nothing
to resist.
Miss Douglas, far lovelier than her
| rIct,,ra ha5 oivoD hin, ona rare. cor
dial smile which revealed the secret
of her power, for it was smile speak
ing a sympathetic interest in the ildl-
vidual addressed, and then had not
paid very much more attention to him,
being interested in the conversation
of a returned arctic explorer.
MACPHERSON studied her at his le1s-
ure and as the moments passed found
himself grasping wildly at all his in
grained prejudices against her. He
had wits enough to reflect in panic
stricken way that If the mere sight OF
| her was so disarming, acquaintance
with her might work marvellous
! changes in a mans feelings. When
they passed out to the dining room
| Macpherson found himself hating for
something to say, new experience
for him.
The girl herself broke the ice by re-
marking that she thought she knew
his sister-was not Nan Ransom out
west that relative? She had mention
ed her brother so often.
By the end of that dinner John Mac
Pherson was miserable, apologize, at
sea- He did not know why he should
be so upset. All he realized was that
he lad desire to explain to Miss
Douglas how sorry he was for dislik-
ing her before he had met her.
She certainly got in her special
brand of hypnotic work on me, all
right he told his reflection grimly
| that night as he took off his cravat
before the mirror. But, then, she's
an exception"
John Macpherson was man who
went out after what he wanted when
he got his mind made up. He never
really made up his mind about Isabel
Douglas, however-that Is deliberate
| ly. He did not have time. 1t was
fatal attack from the very first sight
of her. And when he asked her to
marry him, after she had been In
New York two weeks only, and she
very properly protested at his haste,
it plunged him into despair so deep
that he made life unbearable for his
servants.
But Miss Douglas knew her own
heart, too, after several years Of ex-
perience in refusing numerous suit
ors, and she did not keep the man she
found she really cared for waiting too
long before she promised to marry
him.
Il don't understand 1t in the least"
she laughed, blushing and shaking her
head when she had said yes.
Neither do l." agreed John Mac
Pherson promptly. And l intend to
marry you as soon as l wheedle you
into naming the day, for fear you'll
change your mind
Then he telegraphed his sister out
west, who knew nothing of what had
been going on in New York Mrs Ran
som laughed and cried alternately
when she got the laconic message. 1t
said:
Il have at last met Isabel. You
can buy your gown to wear to the
wedding"