The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-01-13
Kelly Versus Kelly
E1kII
(coDyright. 1871. By Associated Literary Press.)
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

girls were soft and innocent and al
Turing. That was their stock in trade
Kelly had never been in Omaha,
nor had he so much as heard OF Hell
en- Ware, and he hoped now ne never
would, but he found that with Vfr-
ginia Tracy's leads he could follow
his role in the story with only occa-
sional slips.
The girl across the table looked at
him from time to time with vague
questioning. That mute appeal went
straight to Kelly's heart and before
he led the girl from the restaurant
he had begun TO doubt his own 1dAn-
THY. Perhaps there was a Helen
Ware in Omaha, and perhaps she was
engaged to man named Kelly.
Thank goodness I'm not the Kel.
Iy." muttered the young lawyer, as
he piloted Virginia to a seat in the
| orchestra
During the performance Kelly be-
came satisfied in his own mind that
| there was a Helen Ware, that she
was engaged to a Kelly and that Vir-
ginia Tracy was to be bridesmaid.
Il am glad you are not the BRIDE"
he said, uncOnsciousIy Vo1c1ng his
thoughts.
Virginia cast a startled glance at
him, then burst into a laugh. That
is very complimentary speech"
A dull color mounted to the roots
t, of KeIly's auburn hair and Vtrginia's
eyes narrowed themselves into keen
| scrutiny.
Il only meant" Kelly fumbled for
I
| this pleasure of meeting you-then."
STILL Virginia stated with a
| laugh in her eyes, "a man generally
has had the pleasure of meeting the
! girl to whom he is engaged
There are exceptions-to all
rules" laughed Kelly and slipped from
| the dangerous subject.
After the theater they had supper
and then drive home through the
park Somehow, Helen Ware had
| dropped from the conversation.
At parting. Virginia looked up with
! a guilty flush. Il will write tonight
and tell Helen how nice you have
| been to me-" she said, and with d
! little nervous clasp of the hand she
| was gone.
Virginia flew with light feet up
| the stairs to her room. Her cheeks
| were flushed and she tried to escape
| from the memory OF the expression
/ in Kelly's eyes when he had touched
her hand.
| After a restless night she was
| awakened by the postman's whistle.
| There was a letter for her from
! Helen Ware. After Virginia had con-
! quered the emotions that had arisen
at sight of HeIen's writing she broke
| the seal.
! Dearest Vingy: This is just a
scratch TO tell you that 1 am almost
sure I gave you the number 3O2 in
| stead OF 2O3 for Jim's office. l hope
you haven't written yet as there are
/ probably a dozen KeIlys in each OF
those great Office buildings"
The letter dropped from Virginia.
nerveless fingers. The whole awful
mistake dawned on her. a storm of
weeping burst over her What had
her companion of the evening before
| thought of her? There was no ques-
ton in her mind save that, and v1r-
ginia flushed at her own reflection
when she realized it.
The question was answered before
| nine O'Clock when Virginia descended
| for breakfast
A dozen Of the most exquisite pink
chrysanthemums awaited her In the
box she found a note. Kelly had
spent a restless night, being unable
to forgive himself for having taken
so mean an advantage of a girl from
the west. His apology was abJect
Virginia found room for a smile in
her eyes as she read KeIly's note
1T wasn't entirely his fault she
whispered into the biggest of the
chrysanthemums. IF 1 hadn't put the
wrong address on, he couldn't posi-
bly, have done-what he did"
And what did he do?" Virginia
| questioned herself
A quick little laugh followed
we know-but we won't teII,' the
| flowers nodded.