The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-24

joys. much worldly knowledge had
bee nlearned by both OF them. and
even had II been their greatest de-
sire. never again could they enjoy The
innocent pleasures of their joyous ir-
responsible youth.
But Porter Fielding's regrets for
the lack OF sincerity Of his own feel.
ings were far 0utw eighed by happier
thoughts OF the elimination OF his
hopes which had been so suddenly
and unexpectedly realized that night.
BY the time he had reached his home
he was smiling again and was thor
Oughly content and at peace with him.
self and all the world. In the brass
box In the hallway he found letter
that had evidently been left by mes
senger, and when he had carried II
to his sitting-roOm, and turned on the
lights, he saw that the address was
In Fay's handwriting. These were
the words she had written In her brief
note:
Dear Porter:
"You may remember that on the
last night we were together at Pleas
|antville-the night before ] left to
come to New York; asked you to
make me a promise. II was that,
never mind what might hapren, you
would bring me to Pleasantvil,e when
ever l asked you, and you made the
promise. am leaving tomorrow
morning on the ten-forty from Twen-
ty-third-st. and shall arrange things
30 that we can return by an after
noon train. I shall meet you in the
outside waiting-room of the station az
| n 10 n nj untl 4
don't think I'll have quite money
that your coming. even apart from
your promise. Is imperative. Au re.
voir, AS ever,
FAY
Fielding read the note the first time
|hurriedly and while he still stood un-
der the chandelier. Then he sat
down and read and reread II slowly
several times. His first feelings were
Of great surprise and CONSERVATION,
and the more he considered Fay's re-
quest the greater his conservation
grew. 1t seemed not only thoughtless
but most inconsiderate and altogether
unlike her to ask him to do her such
Il favor at such q time. OF course,
Fielding realized that she could not
be expected to know of his engage
nent to Blanche Wilmerding. or with
what keen pleasure both he and the
girl he was to marry were looking
forward to the long day that they
were to spend together on the NOR
row. But Fay did know that Saturday
was at best only haff-hofiday and
that under circumstances less unusual
It would have been imperative for him
to have been at the Office during the
morning hours at least. On the other
hand the fact that Fay herself had a
matinee the following afternoon seem
ed conclusive proof that she regarded
her visit to Pleasantville as not only
extremely urgent but OF the greatest
possible Importance.
But worry and fume over the mat
ter as he might Fielding could not
argue against the two vital facts, that
he had made promise and that he
had been asked, and asked In no un-
certain terms. to make that promise
good. His first idea was to telephone
Blanche at once and to lay the whole
matter before her. but on second
thought he decided that she had no
doubt already gone to bed, and that
tnCIC WVusu OC uO OnG NV u-Bt0ho "
answer the call and switch It to
Blanches telephone in her room.
Should he wish to do SO there would
be plenty Of time to telephone her In
the morning before he started to meet
Fay. But then he remembered that
conversations over the telephone
were not only not always satisfac-
tory but frequently led to misunder-
and, therefore, his final de-
cision was to write her q brief note.
This he did at once. merely stating
that he had been called out OF town
on imperative business, the nature of
which he could better tell her on his
return that evening. In a few care
fully chosen words he ended the let.
ter by assuring her that when she
knew the circumstances she would not
only forgive him but agree with him
that he had done the only thing pos
sible.
The morning following he sent the
letter by messenger to Miss Will
merding and then went on to the
station to meet Fay. He found her
waiting at the door Of the ferry
house, and when she saw him she
hurried to him, laughing, and dang