Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-08-03

the city where Arthur Bellows was liv-
ing. Bellows met Jessie at the station
and took her to her destination.
On the way he said laughingly:
"Your friend Miss Carter has good
looking brother. If l find he's trying
to cut in on me, there'll be trouble"
When the girl protested, he added:
"Oh, he'll try 1t, all right" and he pro-
ceeded to warn her against George Car
ter.
Jessie, by Bellows invitation, often
met him downtown, and they dined at
some restaurant and went to the thea
! ter or other amuSementS afterwards.
She also went out occasionally with
Anne Carter and her brother. One day
Anne asked her if she were engaged
to Bellows. When she admitted she
was, her friend said: "Jessie, if l
didn't think so much of you l wouldn't
say this-it isn't easy. But 1 think
you ought to know. Arthur Bellows is
going a pretty rapid pace, drink,
chorus girls and all the rest of it. He
can't afford it, and he's borrowing
money everywhere he can"
Quite naturally Jessie fired up, re-
fused to believe it, and asked Anne
where she had gotten her information.
Anne reluctantly replied it was from
her brother. Jessie remembered her
fiance's warning about young Carter
and decided to wait for further proofs.
Of ho
two girls to dine at cafe rather diff
ferent than those to which Jessie had
been going. There was singing and
dancing such as she had not before
seen. At a table not far from them
sat two girls very much painted. very
conspicuous in dress, and whose loud
laughter drew all eyes in their direc-
ton. Jessie, disguised with their
coarseness and vulgarity, was about
to look away, when the man with them,
whose back had been toward her,
turned to speak to the waiter, and she
saw it was Arthur Bellows. She could
scarcely touch the food before her,
and the meal over, they left without
Bellows having known they were there.
Her eyes now being opened, she began
/ to notice the change in Bellows that
she had not seen before, and went
home convinced that her friend was
right.
Her mother had news for her. Tom
Cropsey had bought out the business,
but her old position was still open If
she wished it. More news was to the
effect that Tom was seen of late so
much with Mary Parker, going about
with her in her car that people were
beginning to say they were engaged.
Mary Parker's father was about the
richest man in town, and everyone
thought 1t would be pretty good
match now that Cropsey seemed to be
getting on so well.
Jessie took her old position at the
desk. She noticed good many
changes. Things were being brought
up more to date. She had taken note
of some windows in the city, and she
suggested new way Of window dress
ing to Cropsey. He gave her full
| SWinS Ill the arrangement, anu was
delighted with the effect, offering to
raise her salary If she would take
charge of the windows.
81 suppose, though" he added, you'll
not want to be doing it very long"
She turned away without answering
him. Then he noticed her hand. He
caught at 1t, asking quickly: "Where
is your ring?"
81 gave it back to him. But" she
added, show can that concern you.
hear you are going to marry Miss
Parker"
"Nonsense!" he laughed. "Tve been
attending to some business for her
She's engaged to a congressman. Why
jessie you look almost glad"
"It's more than almost" she an.
swered in a low voice. "Fve been O
great fool, but I've learned great les
son."
Then Tom asked If the lesson left
any room for loving him, and the an
swer seeming rather satisfactory, he
dined that evening with Mrs. Faber.