Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1914-12-17

ence."
"All my friends are out Of town"
groaned Rittenhouse. The thought OF
spending the night In a stuffy, un'
clean police cell was not an enticlng
one, 81 don't know soul. / was IN
the Adirondacks until this morning.
I was summoned down by my firm
Birch & Landso-on business. On
II only Freddy Holmes were mere!
He'd get me out Of this" groaned the
young man.
A remarkable change came over
the girls face. "Mr. Fred Holmes
of-of-where was he living last
spring? Quick!" she exclaimed
AT the st. Elizabeth said Ritten'
house And then light came to him.
"You don't mean to say that you are
Miss Rita -er-I never learned the
last name" he continued. why,
Freddy has told me about you, and
Oh. won't you let me put on my coat
and take you out to-talk over the
matter? We can get him on the long
distance telephone, and"
The revolver hesitated and was
lowered. Then the girl replaced 1t IN
her suitcase.
Half an hour later they were seated
opposite each other in snug corner
of q famous restaurant not very far
from Grants Tomb Their acquaint
ance had progressed as far toward
friendship as is possible, among we'll
bred young people, in the space OF
half an hour. The rapidity of Its
progression may have been the reac'
tion from the dramatic thrill Of their
hostile encounter.
Wont you forgive me for saying
tbat?" Arnold was pleading.
"I don't know that can" answered
the girl. ITO call mother a snob-'
81 didn't say she was a snob, Miss
Seftcn"-he had by now learned that
much. 81 said Flood said she was. ]
am sure she isn't"
"N'hy not?" demanded the girl
Because of you"
How me?"
Because - because" stammered
Rittenhouse; and then, all at once q
chilling thought came over him. Here
he vas chatting away with Miss Rita
Seton like an old friend, while poor
Freddy, who loved her to distraction
was eating out his heart in the Adj
rondacks, all ignorant Of the situa'
ton.
Il think / had better send a wire
. to Freddy, telling him you are here,
he said, after turning aside the ques
ton as gracefully as he was able
You know" he added, "he has told
me all about YOU"
"Yes?" inquired the girl. a little
cold!y.
"And he will be so glad to kno"
that-that you haven't"
She rescued him adroitly from this
dangerous ground. THAT I haven't
married the earl?" she asked.
"Yes. Forgive me, but, being Fred
dy's friend, I was naturally interested
Freddy is the best fellow in the
world, Miss Seton, and I hope you
will be very happy together"
81 am not going to marry Mr.. Fred
Holiness" answered the girl. coloring
81 don't see why you should make
h insinuations as that. cant
help it II he is eating his heart out
for me, as I think you phrased it.
Silence. Rittenhouse was dumfound
ed. He did not see the sly glance
that the girl stole at him from under
her long lashes until
Until she raised her head and said
softly: 81 am not Rita Seton"
Not Rita Seton! At first Ritten
house only looked at her with 30 mel
ancholy visage that her heart smote
her. Then he understood.
you are Miss Beth!" he cried.
well, you've hit it at last" she an
swered. "And I knew who you were
tho moment you mentioned Freddy's
name. So we can let the telephone
wait until morning. And you can for
give me for turning you out Of your
apartment? You see, didn't know
mother had rented it. I was at Vas
sar, in my last term, and then
stayed with friends at Huntington
and-and mother simply said she had
closed the place. I came up to town
because / had letter from Rita"
Announcing her engagement" said
Ritteahouse. Poor Freddy"
mo, telling me that mother is en-
gagged to marry the earl's brother
and asking me to let Freddy knew
she loved HIM"
That was en- excuse for Rittenhouse
to shake his fair companions hand
enthusiastically. And he held 1t lit.
tie longer than was strictly necessary
because-well, they were both so de.
Lighted, and then. each saw the pos.
sir!iit~ OF something more personally
rorlant;c as 4 Lot too distant elisGls