Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-08-07

Thu u6lCEt4 ~ ~ lnAn6 INT thA
asked Bob ~doubtfully.
Jefferson Dean laughed loudly.
"She won't know anything about 1t
until poor Sam springs their engage
ment upon her. 1t will be rather a
ioke-~on her too. OF course l shall
write the note" he added.
II didn't suppose Alice Chase would
appreciate that kind Of joke" COM
mented Bob Waters. a little coldly.
My boy. she has a keen sense of
humor. / wouldn't marry any other
kind of woman. Why, I've even
known her to laugh at your jokes. old
man." he ended wickedly.
But Bob Waters did not hide his
disapproval of the cruel joke. Il say,
JEFF. it's tough on Freeman. you
know" he protested as they parted.
Hes a mighty fine fellow. and he's
hard hit in that direction. As you're
the lucky one. you ought to spare
him.
But Jefferson Dean was in high
good humor with himself. He clapped
his friend on the shoulder and laugh
ed loudly.
Now, don't get preachy. old man.
he demonstrated Its only a joke.
and five years from now Freeman will
be laughing at it himself"
"Five years is a mighty long time to
wait when you're trying to appreciate
a joke like that on yourself. He'll be
sore about it."
ITS only a joke. Look out you
don't get caught yourself" laughed
Jefferson as he went on alone.
Sam Freeman found the dainty little
note among his letters one morning.
He had recognized the handwriting
at once, and his wildly throbbing heart
had testified to his desperate interest
in lovely Alice Chase. But Jefferson
Dean, that light hearted cavalier, had
appeared to be first favorite. At least
he was always In the field ahead of
Sam, and now an engagement was
openly rumored.
In the face of these facts the con-
tents of that little note were astound-
ing to Sam Freeman. He pored over
the few words with white. stunned
face and bright eyes.
What DID it mean?
Alice Chase was saying that she
loved him and would marry him, and
she hoped he would come tonight
when father would be home. and his
proposal was so unexpected, but she
was so happy.
He had not ever asked her to marry
him. though he had longed to do 90.
Again he asked himself what it could
mean. Surely. surely he was not con-
ceited enough to believe that Alice had
thrown the handkerchief in his direc-
ton. She was not that sort. Anyway
he would call upon her that evening.
Again he read the little note. 1t was
for him alone. 1t began Dear Mr..
Freeman and ended Yours ever, AL
ice Chase"
He was of a dozen minds whether to
send her flowers or not, but his long
ing to do so prevailed. and he sent a
huge box Of American Beauties.
That evening Jefferson Dean reach
ed the Chase. mansion at an early hour.
Alice received him with her accustom-
ed sweet cordially, and he noted that
she was looking especially beautiful In
a cream colored gown, frightened by
several American Beauty roses.
They were not his offering. and Mr..
Dean felt a thrill of excitement as he
pondered whether Sam Freeman had
taken advantage of the note and sent
her the flowers.
But there was little time for such
reflections. The successful working
out of his joke absorbed his attention.
for presently Sam Freeman was an.
nounced.
Now for the fun" chuckled JEFF In
wardly as he shook hands with his
rival and noted that young mans
tense, eager face as he bent over
Alice's hand.
The fun came thick and fast, but
somehow it was not amusing to JEFF
ferson Dean.
While that young mans attention
was diverted by Alice's mother the
girl had a few words alone with Free
man at the other end Of the room.
When Mrs. Chase had gone Alice
turned and came, down the room with
Freeman, and Sam was holding her
hand with an air of proprietorship.
Jefferson Dean saw and gasped in
wardly. Outwardly his face was quite
c%olorless. and he cursed his own folly.
Jefferson said Alice sweetly. con
graduate US. We are engaged to be
married" She bent down and her lips
brushed one of the roses on her breast.
Married. echoed jefferson, with a
hollow laugh. rs it a joke?"
mo. indeedr' protested the happy
pair in unison. Its true" And they
turned and looked into each others
eyes and entirely forgot poor Jeffer-
son Dean. who gladly slipped out Of