Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-06-12

sue udu naQ ner way.
On the contrary she was small and
piquant looking-Jim called her a
"blacked-eyed chickadee"' most of the
time. Now, she wondered what he
called that other woman-the one
who confidently signed herself Your
Own!"
Jim was stirring restlessly in his
chair. Antoinette could see the back
of his head with its heavy crop of
brown hair. She could close her eyes
and see his regular features, hazel
eyes, straight black brows and finely
chiseled lips. A little sob broke from
her at the recollection that Jim was
not all hers-never had been
Jim turned quickly-one might have
suggested that he had been listening
for some sound from the little form
in the willow chair.
What is the matter, Antoinette?"
he asked quietly.
Antoinette lifted tragical dark eyes
to his and placed on the table be-
tween them the blurred little note she
had found in his pocket.
This is the matter" she said un-
evenly. Il found it in your pocket
when / was mending your brown coat
don't look so disgusted. really
read tim glad | did! For it has
opened my eyes to your deception"
Deception" echoed Jim, jumping
up and towering over his small wife.
What harm is there"
"Harm?" interrupted Antoinette
angrily "Harm-what harm would
there be If you discovered was car
rying a love letter from some other
man next to my heart"
From some other man? What
would | do? Why, why. suppose I'd
punch his head" he said dazedly. But
what has that got to with It? For the
love of Mike. Chickie, tell me how
you could raise a rumpus over that
harmless little note, eh? Notice, I'm
not saying anything about your rum.
maging through my pocketsl"
Harmless little note, indeed"
hared back Antoinette. she called
you her 'dearest'-she said the days
were sixty hours long'-and she
signed herself Your own Tell, me,
James Dewey, who is this woman?"
Jim's lips trembled In a smile. stiff
Tened sternly, and his eyes we're
quite hard when he asked: Don't
you really know who wrote that note,
Antoinette?"
How should ! know" she retorted
i am sure II cannot be one OF my
Tiends-any way, 1t Is such a com.
mon looking, grubby note; If I'm go.
Ing to have rival-I-" She broke
down and sobbed brokenly.
A great tenderness came into Jim's
eyes. He had never known Antoinette
TO be Jealous before and he was
touched by her grief.
He held the note before her eyes.
Antoinette dabbed her handkerchief
on her tear.wet face and II came back
streakea with black and red and white
like the Kaisers war flag.
All in n fash Jim comprehended
the reason for the rouged cheeks
and lips and the dark pencil. An.
toinette had been crying all day over
this notel
"Chickie. what do you want me to
do?" he asked finally.
Destroy that note and promise me
never to see her again." was An
toinette's quick reply.
Il can't do that, dear" he said
gently. in the first place the girl
who wrote that note was my first
sweetheart and she win be my last
one; carry II around In my pocket
because like to look at It occasion.
ally and remember that she loves me
as much today as she did when that
was written"
Antoinette was as coldly composed
now rs she could have wished. only Il
was funny that her heart should feel
so deadl
Very we'll" sha said listlessly. "I
can 70 away"
"Chlckie," said Jim again, do you
really mean to say that you don't rec.
ognize that note?"
u only read II once"
We'll, read II again. word for word
read the address at the top. Il is nj.
most obliterated now--but read A.
The envelope Is locked up in nv
desk"
Antoinettc held the ragged note
close TO the lamp and re.read the
penciled words. a puzzled look came
into her face.
Il can't remember anything about
twas she some one knew?" she
asked at last.
Dear. you wrote II yourselfl- cried
Jim excitedly. Don't you remember
that time when you were stoppinr nj
Sea Sands with your mother? We
had just became engaged and we quar-.
relied over a necktle | was wearinr7
went back TO town and you wrote
me this darling note and I've kent II
ever sincel"
And then. Antuinette vaguely re.
membered the hastily scrawled note.
No wonder she had forgotten IL In
the whirl OF her short, happy engage.
ment TO Jim!
There was only one thing 10 do and
Antoinette did a. She laid her head
on Jim's broad shoulder and begged
forpiypnpga for hpr inck ~ faith