Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-05-03

neckwear. thought to ask him il he
had missed it, but nothing could nave
induced me to give the slightest lntl-
nation of what | had seen.
Naturally this disagreeable feature
Of my visit marred my enjoyment, and,
as for the game | had looked forward
to playing with some interest, l forgot
1t entirely. One evening the hostess
said to me.
You have disappointed me in not
having shown preference for any OF
the girls Of the party. To make the
matter more interesting l am going to
tell you that | noticed in her a decid-
ed preference for you as soon as you
arrived"
"a preference for me!' exclaimed.
surprised.
Yes, for your
what indication did she give of
the fact"
Don't you wish you knew" and.
tapping me playfully with he: Ia.
she ran away to other guests.
During the rest of our stay at the
Duncans' country place Hester Ad'
ans seemed always to have something
Oh her mind. For a time she was
sought by her admirers as before. but
| like seeks like, and the young men.
finding her preoccupied and uncnter-
tanning, gradually drew away to more
animated companions. |, too. with the
secret on my mind, was moody and
i'll disposed to join in the gay sports
our host provided for US. And short
ly before the expiration Of the term
for which had been invited | made
an excuse to leave. Charlie drove l:!e
to the station and while we were wait
ing for the train said to me:
EILEEN is greatly disappointed I
the failure of her effort to E..::.;
match for you"
I'm sorry not to oblige her, bu: '"l
know those things can't be for
| Possibly had | known the girl Y" r
wife picked out for me l might ha'c
done better
"Shes splendid woman"
~ say, Charlie. since we've not mat
ed and It's all over, suppose you tell
me who she IS"
EILEEN would divorce me If | did"
"On my honor. she shall never know
from me-"
There was Il whistle, and The train
rolled I'D. Just as | was about to get
aboard Charlie whispered in my ear:
Hester Adams"
hurried into the car and sank III
my seat in semi-stunned condition.
The little god likes startling things.
| Better disagreeable episode than
none at all. Some Of the most vio-
| leut loves have started with Il quarrel.
! The secret | carried with me had kept
Hester Adams in my mind to the eX'
clusion of alI others. Eileen Duncan
had told me that the girl she had pick
cd out for me had shown me Il pref
erence. And now comes Charlie and
reveals her rs the girl | had caught
pifering. Surely Cupid must have
| chuckled over such q complicated sit
uation.
| Charles information capped the
climax. 1t revealed to me that the
plan to mate me. 50 far as | was con-
| cerned, had been eminently successful,
but plan to marry me had resulted
| in a catastrophe. The happy issue in
nv case would be paradoXcal-mar
riage with thief.
Soon after the DuncanS returned Ia
the city | received Il note from Eileen
as follows:
A confession has been made to me con-
corning something that occurred during
| your recent visit to US. One of our guests
| one | esteem very highly-has made me
| her confidant. | believe every word she
| says, and your and my friendship mere
after depends upon your believing her too.
| paused to remark that this was
very womanly statement. It confirm
ed my IDEAS of the inconsiderateness
Of the sex.
Please come over on Tuesday evening
and hear what is due the lady that you
should know.
TO describe my feelings at this
promised explanation of what | re-
garded inexpicabie would be impossi-
Bile. counted the hours till Tuesday
| evening. then went to the DuncanS'.
was usherel into ii drawing room,
where stood single person. That
person was Hester Adams. Size SEEM
ed to have lost twenty pounds since |
had last seen her. bowed defer
entialy. and without seating herself
or asking me 10 be seated she said:
During my visit at the DHnlnS'
one day | went Upstairs. So wrapped
in something Of wLi"h WAS thinking
| that | PASSED owe" ;Wo lt~.lt> % S!;;irs
| instead Of one and entered ihe room
directly over niI:e Advancing to the
dresser. still th!u:::mg OF Whist was on
my mind. picked up Il 'ar!DiA. vt
| that E0meut my rever:e was broken
| by footst"p in tie hall. ;:2I III the
glass before me saw you.
Saw me-" interrupted.
ut flashed upon lie that | vas IN
mans apartment. | have since seen
how unwiie WAS not 10 con2 out ana
fake the consequences. feared not
TO be believed. il seemed - Ee that
must bear the imru;;.tioa # having
| gone to mans room for purpose.
! preferred that purpose 10 lie conSid-
| cred theft. ! put the scarfpin | had
inadvertently taken NJ in my corsage
and turned slowly enough to enable
you to pass Oh without our meeting"
II have Eeen fool" | exclaimed.
not to have known that you could
zee nv reflection as we'll as could see