The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-30
Belinda'S
Way

BY CLARlSSA MACklE


charming girl should become his wife.
On and after their tenth meeting he
resolved to ask her the all.important
question that must precede an en-
gagement. but his courage was not
equal to his desire.
"Ill ask her tomorrow" was al
ways his desperate promise when his
courage failed. and many tomorrows
had become todays and yesterdays.
and still the question was unasked.
yet he almost knew. without being
conceitcd about the matter. that Be-
linda cared and that her affirmative
answer would be forthcoming when
he asked her.
Time and again he had gathered
his courage and on each occasion his
mouth when Belinda's brown eyes had
shyly dropped before the love light
In his.
Occasionally he ragged at himself for
his stupidity. IF she only knew what
consummate ass l am she wouldn't
have anything to do with me-" he
groaned one day.
Perhaps Belinda knew-or guessed
the state OF affairs!
''Tll ask her tomorrow-sure" he
said one evening after he had re-
turned from a dinner party where he
had taken Belinda In to dinner. ana
sat beside her in ecstatic wonder at
his great good luck.
Tomorrow came and with It q note
from Belinda saying that they Wre
all going down to Sea Sands that day
for the weekend and she hoped Mr..
Owen would be sure to accept her
mothers invitation to accompany
them.
Mrs. Howe's invitation came in the
same mail and Jack accepted 1t de-
lightedly. Then he made hurried prep
arations for the journey because he
wanted to be sure and catch the same
train that Belinda was going on. He
| went to the station and engaged q
seat. trusting to his customary good
fortune to lind 1t placed next to Be-
linda's chair.
| II was next to Belinda's seat, but
on the other side OF Belinda sat new
mana foolishly grinning idiot with
his hair parted in the middle and q
dimple in his chin. This was Jacks
summary OF the masculine charms OF
Mr.. Harry Brompton.
Belinda was interested in Mr..
Brompton, SO deeply interested that
she only spared an occasional smile
for Jack. who sulked openly and de-
termined to ask her the fatal question
that very night---if he got a chance.
When they reached Sea Sands and
the Howe's motor vehicles were filled
with the expected guests 1t was found
that Mr.. Brompton was seated beside
Belinda in one car while Jack owen
was squeezed between Mrs. Howe and
her private secretary, little pale
black.eyed being who shivered with
the excitement Of the coming week.
end gaities, of which she would only
snatch an occasional glimpse.
IN show him!" sputtered Jack
Hercely as he noted the devoted atti.
tude OF Mr. Brompton's by no means
Unlocking head.
1t was an added irritation to nnd
that Mr.. Brompton was to occupy the
pleasant room which Jack Owen had
always occupied on his frequent visits
| at Sea Sands. The room now ap.
pointed to Jack was pleasanter than
the other. but Jealousy is fed by lit
tie things like this and Mr.. Owen be-
came positively unhappy over the
matter.
BY the time Jack was ready for din.
ner the situation looked very bleak.
He was positive that .Mr. Brompton
had been o dark horse In the race for
Belinda's heart and hand and he was
sure that gentleman had won out, and
that the engagement would be an.
nounced tonight.
| He hoped It would not be announced
at the dinner table-he was positive
that he would be unable to control
his features. Yet 1t looked ominous
enough. AS he tailed the guests who
would be there he realized that they
consisted of old and intimate friends
Of the Howe family.
Harry Brompton was the only
| stranger to him. He wondered vague
| " II any of these friends were related
| to Mr.. Brompton or was the prospec.
tive bridegroom an orphan like him.
self
He went down to dinner in q mood
of black despair.
Dear boy!" murmured Mrs. Howe.
40 he stopped for q word with her.
I'VE are SO delighted about little Be-
linda!"
"Then It 10 decided?" he asked in .
hollow voice.
She looked at him in a puzzled way.
"You mean about announcing 1t to-
night?"
He nodded grimly. lie could not
speak.
"Oh, yes-of course you do not
mind?"
Jacks face hardened. OF course
they had thrust the knife in. but they
needn't twist 1t around!
mo, indeed. Mrs. Howe. ] am de-
lighted, Of course!"
Poor boy!" she murmured SYM
| Dathetically. II suppose you are fright.