The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-10-02
DAILY SHORT STORY.
AN INTERRUPTED ENGAGEMENT
By LOUISE OLIVER.

| FREDERICK Adatr rolled over IN Oeo anu
squinted through the open door of the
ohiffrobe. he smiled contentedly when
he caught q CLEAN Of pale grayC He knew
that were he q little nearer he would get
the faint stripe of tango color that ran
through the perfectly tailored suit. And
his ewes wandered lovingly toward the
/ drawer beside IL which held the new
tango hose. cravat and bordered hand
kerchief. In the hatbox was new pearl
gray hat, and in the cupboard brand
new walking stick. A shirt careIuliy
selected from a new half dozen, lay over
q chair, and new gloves and ooots were
in their proper places.
This beautiful spring Sunday was to be
a day Of days, At 2 o'clock he was 10
dine Al the Emersons to meet Miss Vida
| Winters. And Frederick knew as well as
all the rest Of Greendale that old Henry
Winters had coined money almost a.
fast as the mint, after he had moved 10
| New York.
Frederick rolled out Of bed. bathed, and
made a painfully careful toilet. albeit MS
brain was buster planning things TO say
to the prospective heiress than with snoe-
strings and collar buttons.
| It was an opportunity not to be neglect
ed Time and again, he had put the
little god of love behind him. TIL never
marry until 1 can ind some one with
we'll, with enough money to keep her
comfortably u anything should happen
to me-" He had always put it that way
! even unto himself, arguing that It was
all q matter OF not being able to anord
a heavy insurance. But in his heart he
knew that he wanted a few substantial
| things on his own account, and automo-
bile, a man to say Thank you. SIR and
4 Very good, SIR IL he chose to kick him
down stairs. and time to enjoy himself.
/ To tell the truth. he wanted about every
/ thing that money can buy, and in ex-
change he was quite willing TO give MS
l carefully tailored self.
Il The latter was more OF sacrifice than
Il would appear. 1t was common talk
in Greendale that Frederick Adair would
never marry. Bachelorhood ran in the
Adair family, his father being the only
: one OF seven brothers who had married.
The Adairs loved their freedom!
It's a shame for him to waste Mar
Raret Cartwrights time"' was the COM
mon cry. He'll never marry her IN the
world"
she knows the family failing" pro-
tested other. Why doesn't she throw
him over? She can pick any one OF q
dozen better than him"
Frederick finished dressing. He had
tried to conjure up a mental photograph
OF Vida Winters, but invariably her
| /
brown like Margaret's, and Margarets
violet eyes smiled at him.
|, When Beau Brummel sailed forth
after a critical inspection in his mirror
| the annoying mental vision had van
ished. Instead. on the retina Of his men
tai eye was an impression Of Mr.. Fred
erick Adair, correctly and extensively
caparisoned in the newest style. ready tc
lay siege to the heart, hand and FORTUNE
! Of Miss Winters.
It vas too early to present himself a
the Emersons. The spring morning be
ing exceptionally fine, with grass. trees
| sky and flowers more wildly colored thar
he ever remembered having seen then
. before, he wandered into the park. Be
sides, by so doing he need not pass Mar
Earet's house. Someway he wished Il
avoid her today. But as luck would hav'
] II, Margaret returning from church de
cIded to take the path in the park, too
and they met.
Darn it," was his mental ejaculation
when he recognized her. Then his eye
widened with admiration. In q new sui
: Of silk, the exact shade OF her eyes, anC
i a little tip-tilted hat with blue flowers
she was adorable. With a background o
/. | green, and the clear waters Of TIM
, lake that reflected the s<y-had anything
prettier ever existed? One OF the bache
ior Adairs had once had a picture hum
! in the National Gallery. Frederick hat
I inherited an eye for color.
Good morning-what shall 1 call yol
Madame Ceres? The spring doesn'
? come until you APPEAR.
, She laughed and held out her hand
Good morning, Mr.. BrummeL Thanl
YOU for your compliment, but Ceres onlI
made potatoes grow. Besides. I'm no
madam"
"Of course! I always say the wronI
thing" He glanced at his watch. Their
was still plenty Of time before dinner
I Where are you goiEg7 And may g
!, along%'
5 I'm going home and you may go along
D I was Just hoping to see you today. In
: going away tonight"
Away? For how long and where, ma!
e ask?''
: IT am going forever and always, t
$ answer your first question. and to New
: York. thence to Europe to study, II al
goes well. It's my music"
A tiny cloud hung between the SUI
and the gay little park for an instant
The shadow seemed to chill him In
: moment the world had changed Forgot
! ten was Miss Vida Winters. heires
v to millions.
Z curious pain was gripping his hear
q MARGARET was going away to be swal
; lowed up by the big world. He was abou
Q to lose her.
Z "Why-I hadn't any tdea Of this. 70