Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-04-06
WHEN ELIZABETH
SCORED
Or a Case of Too Many
Lovers.
ss.sss
BY AGNES G. BROGAN

III I'LL Ills lTglHS SApSiiCASSS 80 -
editor Richard West had never faced
SO peculiar situation. The two
young men had burst in upon his pri
vacy. accusing and gesticulating In an
incoherent manner After much ques
tioning their cause of complaint was
found to be the recent publication oil
the following astonishing communica
ton
Mr.. Robert Wells and Mr.. John Glegg
of marlborough announce their engage
ment 10 Miss Elizabeth Thornton of this
city.
Twice the perplexed editor read the
paragraph, then rubbed his eyes.
This is out of my province" he re
marked at last, but I'll see the socie'
ty editor about it
mo use," snapped Robert Wells
1--WE went to her first, and she says
the clipping was inadvertently copied
from the marlborough Suburban. Any
joke goes in that home town paper
but how a thing like that could get
by in responsible daily
'.Such blamed carelessness might
bring a pretty suit against your pa
per- holly interrupted John Glegg
made things hot enough for us in
marlborough, but 1t was rather toe
much to have it repeated when we
came to the city,
In spirit of relief the managing ed
itor turned to answer his telephone.
Editor Daily News" questioned an
aggrieved feminine voice. well, this
is Mrs. William Thornton. | called
up to ask explanation of that vulgar
notice regarding my daughter which
appeared in last nights paper. Yes
unfortunate mistake no doubt, but
will call to see you personally this aft
ernoon-at O'Clock"
viciously Richard West banged the
receiver into its hook $50 there Is
Miss Thorntonr' he exclaimed.
There is indeed" Mr.. Glegg remark
ed feelingly.
"And you have both, perhaps, been
paying her attention"
well rather" this from Mr. Wells.
II can only express. then, my regret
for the occurrence and suggest pub
lie contradiction"
Contradiction" groaned the blond
one of the two. Good heavens, it's
been rubbed In enough now!'
''If anything Of the kind happens
again. vaguely threatened his com
panion. and the door closed with an
eloquent slam.
Suddenly the editors annoyed expires.
sion changed to one of irrepressible
amusement The smile still fingered
as he returned to his work. But as the
hour of 4 drew near and his clerk an
nounced visitor he glanced appre-
hensively toward the door and arose
stiffiy 1t was only girl who con
fronted him. however, not the dreaded
Mrs. Thornton, whose important name
figured so largely in social circles
just slip Of girl with appealing blue
eyes and q sensitive mouth.
Are you the editor?" she asked
naively and, unlimited, settled herself
in the editors chair. II came about
that engagement notice. Had to gel
here before mother, who will probably
make fuss. am Elizabeth Thorn
| tom
Bowling, the editor waited. 1T was
| who wrote the announcement" she
calmly stated.
your lie swung about in unbe
lief The girl nodded.
1T was one Of my jokes" she said
ruefully. They always turn out the
wrong way" She leaned forward con
fdentially. do yon know what II
means to have reckless impulses, Mr.
West-doing or saying thing you are
bound to be desperately sorry for mex
| day? Well. that's me. Let me explain
about that foolish announcement
| Miss Thornton's suddenly embarrassed
| gaze sought the toe of her foot.
You see, have known those two
! boys, Bobbie and Jack, for some time
and we've gone around a lot together
| more or less One afternoon unex
| pectedly and right out of a clear sky
| Bobbie asked me when-we were-go
| ing to be-married. Why, I'd nevel
even thought of such thing. Wher
| tried to tell him 50 he insisted quite
stubbornly that the marriage question
| had always been understood between
US; said when he talked about 1t had
never contradicted him" Miss Thorn
| ton raised aggrieved eyes to the edi
| tor Now. wasn't that unreasonable,
she demanded. TO be expected to mar
~ a man just because one had MOI
gone round denying being engaged Il
him? And that very evering"-shs
paused impressiyely Jack GIege
comes walking over to ask me wher
I'm going to marry him; declared
knew all along that the house he wa:
building was for me.
81 had encouraged Jack in the
building" Miss Thornton admitted
because he's naturally idle, and like
to see him busy. But 1t seems Jacl
had told me the roof would never e
on his house until he had the promise
of wife TO occupy II. and, Of course
any one would have advised him Il
put on the roof So she sighed, Il
ended By both boys accusing me o.
falsely leading them on while beins
engaged TO the other and when EN-
phatically denied this TO each thel
settled back comfortably, believing ma