The Washington herald., 1914-08-13
DAILY SHORT STORY.
MAGGo IS OF FANCY.
BY KATHERINE HOPsON,

NSol1AAeiAAs -'-hl
Margaret Semeron hung the sign, En-
FaSed," on her door, aha then locked II
from the inside.
As she stood removing her hat, she
glanced out the window. The girls were
walking about the college campus arm
in aim, chatting and laughing in Me
bright spring sunshine, A little while
ago size had been as liSht-hearted and
JOYOUS as they and now-Oh. the utter
establishment of ii all!
She took OF her street suit and slipped
lltu a dainty pink 6ressing-gown' the
soft tone OF which failed for the first
eyes met their reelection in the mirror
they had the look Of a wounded thing.
She sat down on the window seat and
spread out a crumpied newspaper. From
IT,, society column there stared up at
her the words which seemed to change
for her the face OF the world.
AT an informal dinner given at their
home on COS South Jersey boulevard last
night, Mr.. and Mrs. Julian c. Danley
announced the engagement of their
daughter Grace to Mr.. L. S. Kerton, of
S23 Langley avenue. The wedding is 10
take place in September"
1T must-it must be the Luther Ker-
ton that know! Those are his initials,
and that is his address on Langley ave-
nue."
He had been a cIassmate of her
brothers, and when Margaret came TO
Cambridge to teach in Connought Col
lege. Luther Kerton had shown her much
attention OF late he had seemed more
than a friend.
And to think, all the time he was
teaching me TO care-he was virtually
engaged to this other girl"
No
morse Throughout their acquaintance
shin she had held herself with reserve
vet in her heart she realized that many
little instances would have been differ
emit had she known about Miss Danley.
Margaret buried her face in her hands
to shut out the thought. Nor did she
stir when the dinner gong sounded and
the girls tEooped down the corridor and
descended The stairs to the dining room.
Some one else can sit at the mead
of NV table, she murmured. and gave
herself up to her wretchedness.
"oh, IL I only did not have to go
down tonight to that CHASTITY reception.
she declared later, as she heard the
girls returning to their rooms to dress.
How long she sat huddled there Mar
garet did not know, until she was start
led by the sound of knocking. 1t was
Nora. the maid, who dared brave any
Here are some flowers for you. Miss
Semeron."
Margaret opened the door to receive
them. As she laid the box on the table
her fingers trembled. Even before she
removed the wrRppings she knew from
whom they had come. Nesting among
the roses was Luther Kerton's card.
A wave Of resentment swept over her
and she started to tear 1t to bits, then
her mood changed and she slipped 1t
into her Jewel box:
ITS all have" she said with CULVER
ing lips, and buried her face in the vel
yety fragrance of the roses. And the
roses are not to blame.
At length she reused herself and began
to dress As she stood arranging her
fuzzy brown hair, she could hear the
girls fitting merrily about the corridors
laughing and talking to each other. The
senior reception was one of the big events
o. the college year.
When at last she was ready in her
flmy white dress. Margaret took up the
roses in hesitation; then with = quick
indrawn breath she put them back in the
vase, resolutely closed the door, crossed
the corridor down the stairs and took her
place with the rest Of the faculty in the
receiving line. She was not moment
too soon, for the first group Of guests
had already arrived
As this was her frst year of teach
ing at the college she knew few town