Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-15

At his first meeting with Be1nda Howe Jack Owen determined that the charming girl should become his wife On and after their tenth meeting he resolved to ask her the aIl-important question that must precede an engage 1 ment. but his courage was not equal to 1 his desire
 "I'll ask her tomorrow, was always /, his desperate promise when his cour- Age failed, and many tomorrows had become days and yesterdays. and still 1 the question was unasked yet he all most knew without being conceited about the matter, that Belinda 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 tongue had clove to the roof Of his mouth when Belinda's brown eyes nad shyly dropped before the love light in his.
 Occasionally he ragged at himself for his stupidity. If she only knew what a consummate ass I am she wouldn't have anything to do with me-" he groaned one day.
 Perhaps Belinda knew or gIeS9ed the state of affairs.
 eI1l ask her tomorrow-sure, he said one evening after he had taken Belinda in to dinner and sat beside her in ecstatic wonder at his great luck.
 Tomorrow came and with it a note from Belinda saying that they were all going down to Sea Sands that day for the week. end and she hoped Mir. Owen would be sure to accept her mothers invitation to accompany them.
 Mrs. Howe's Invitation came in the same mail and Jack accepted it de- lightfully. 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 a seat, trusting to his customary good fortune to find it placed next to Be- Indas chair.
 It 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 dimple in his chin. This was Jacks summary of the masculine charms Of Mir. Harry Brompton.
 Belinda was interested in MT. Bromp- ton, so deeply interested that she only spared an occasional smile for Jack, who sulxed openly and determined to ask her the fatal question that very night-if he got chance.
 When they reached Sea Sands and the Howe's motor vehicles were filled with the expected guests it was found that MT. Brompton was seated beside Belinda in one car, while Jack Owen was squeezed between Mrs. Howe and
  b1ack-eyed being who shivered with the excitement of the coming week end gayeties. of which she would only snatch an occasional glimpse.
 'Ill show him!" sputtered Jack f1ercely as he noted the devoted atti- tude of MT. Bromptons by no means iH-lookfng head.
 It was an added irritation to find that Mir. Brompton was to occupy the pleasant room which Jack Owens had always occupied on his frequent visits pointed to Jack was pleasanter than the other, but jealousy is fed by little things like this, and MT. Owen became positively unhappy over the matter.
 By the time Jack was ready for din ner the situation looked very bleak He was positive that MT. Brompton had been a dark horse in the race for Be- linda's heart and hand. and he was sure that gentleman had won out. and that the cement 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 it looked ominous enough. As he tallied 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 ly if any of these friends were related to MT. Bronpton, or was the prospect i've bridegroom an orphan like him. self?
 He went down to dinner in a mood of black despair.
 Dear boy.' murmured Mrs. Howe, as he stopped for a word with her.