The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-29

seen. she fastened TO the dentist who
had made the teeth. .S
No, declared that autocrs, he
couldn't possibly fix the teeth while
she waited. 1t might be possible to
get them done by FIVE O'Clock. He
wouldn't promise.
But he did promise finally. Miss
ArabelIa's agony moved even his hard
heart. He agreed to send the teeth
before he closed up that night. Miss
Arabella went back 10 Miss Cross
AS she neared the house, she saw
emerging from 1t the figure Of AFR.
jenkins. He seemed to be Ia a hurry.
Lucky for Miss Arabella that he was.
She lodged quickly into a doorway,
and breathed a sigh OF relief when
Mr.. jenkins had passed and she emer.
ged undetected.
Miss Arabella lunched on glass Of
hot milk and a sponge biscuit, brought
10 her room by the chambermaid. She
nut in the afternoon watching the
clock and praying that the dentist
would not fail her. At $3.50. the auto.
mobile would be at the door.
At 6 o'clock, In a tasty new gown
and hat reserved for the occasion, she
heard knock She opened the door
Just enough 10 permit the dentists
boy to thrust in small box. Then
Miss Arabella breathed again. She
hastily undid the paper, opened the
box. took out the teeth-an1 almost
collapsed on the spot.
They were not her teeth They be-
longed to a much larger mouth cvi'
IDENTIFY than Miss Arabellas. She
gaze at them horror.stricken. Then
she burs: into tears.
Strange to say. IN Mr.. jenkins room
similar scenc.:ninus the weeping and
plus few harslIcr words than Mr..
Jenkins usually used-was being en-
acted That very morning, Mr.. Jen'
kins had broken off front tooth. lie
had pcrsuaded--not without difficulty
his dentist 10 repair the damage and
deliver the teeth that night.
Bur they were not his teeth. Imagine
good dinner without any upper
teeth. Imagine proposing to the lady
Of YOUR choice. whose teeth were per
feet, with an empty upper jaw!
Mr.. Jenkins gave himself up to des'
pair. And Just at that moment the
chambermaid knocked at his door aud
handed In note.
II was from Miss Arabella. In terms
Of the utmost regret 1t announced
that the writer. for reasons she could
not explain. would be unable TO helr
him celebrate his birthday that even
Ling.
Ordinarily Mr.. jenkins would have
fell hurt over that failure on the part
OF his lady love to keep her appoint
lmcnt. Now, however. his first feeling
one of the satisfaction. was quickly
succeeded By one OF fear that Miss
Arabclla was sick. For Obvious rcn
sons, he could not go down to dinner
SO he did not know that Miss Arabel
las place at the table was also va
cant.
lie spent a slecplcss night, and the
next morning he slipped out early tt
the dentist, with something little shor
Of murder in his heart.
With the little box which had caused
all his troubles clasped In his hand:
MIR. jenkins was laying down the law
| al a great rate when the door bchint
him opcned-and confronted Miss Ar
abella.
A little box. the exact counterpart o.
the one he held, was clasped In heI
neatly g1oved hand. She gave one
despairing look at Mr.. jenkins. Then
faint for want of the food she hat
missed at dinner and breakfast, she
sank hclplessly into chair.
Explanations followed. of course
Miss Arabella and Mr. Jenkins walket
home together, both with their well
Atting teeth in place. The dinner wa:
then and there declared postponed on
Is till the coming evening. And Miss
Arabella's heart. which had only
bumped painfully for the past twenty
four hours, begain to fIuttcr strangely
again.
And that evening, when the brigh
moon revealed ali automobile speeding
over the road citywards, leaving a sill
yer streak OF ocean behind 1t, It also
disclosed, on the back seat, n mascu
| line arm around feminine waist ant
feminine head on masculine should
or.
And suddenly Mr.. jenkins said fond
lis: "How foolish We were! Knowing
We were going TO live together all oul
lives, what did it matter?"
Miss Arabclla did not reply. For thu
first time in all her starved and stunt
cd forty.fvc years. she was learning
what 1t meant TO be really happy.