Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1917-01-05


a few hours after he had assured her
of his constancy, the other his ignor-
ance as to who was the girl he had ex-
changed pledges with Getting out of
bed, he took up his dress vest and felt
in the pocket where he carried his gold
pencil 1t was gone. Oh. how he tried
to remember where it had gone! OF
all his horrible entanglements-and he
had passed through a number of them
this was the worst.
There would have been something
like comfort in his not remembering
the girl he had made love to had it not
been that he shrank from doing dis
honorable act. The girl, not receiving
a visit from him, would suppose that
he intended to jilt her and would be
too proud to trouble him again. But
from such a position he shrank. And
would she not tell some friend who
would tell another and the matter
finally get to Lena?
There were so many awful things
that might grow out Of his relapse
that he resolved to Danish them ALL
With one kick he removed the bed
clothes and in few minutes was driv-
ing the blood out of his head with
shower bath. Then when dressed he
sailed forth for breakfast.
Time was when New Years day was.
devoted to calls. This custom having
passed away It Is a holiday without
any especial object. Andrews wished
that he could relieve his mind by work.
During the afternoon he received by
messenger a note from Lena. A new
shock greeted him when he read it:
Mr.. Andrews-After what occurred last
night I do not consider 1t necessary to
keep you waiting a year for an answer,
which may as we'll be given now in the
negative. l am aware of what passed be-
tween you and my new rival. l regret
that am not Indifferent as to your ac-
ton, but 1t Is better that l should suffer
now than as your wife. Trusting that
you may be happy with the girl with
whom you exchanged tokens, 1 am your
wellwisher, LENA.
Frank rested his elbows on his knees
and his head in his palms and groaned
He saw no hope anywhere. The night
before on account of his constitutional
failing he had been required to wait
a year before being accepted by the
girl he loved; now he had to wait for
ever. In his position with regard to
Lena he forgot his position to this
Gwen, whoever she might be. What
should he do to palliate his offense
to Lena? He did not see that he could
do anything.
1t Is questionable If there was ever
lover who was without hope till
the lady of his love had passed to an
other, and Frank Andrews was no ex-
ception. About o'clock in the even
ing he called Lena on the telephone.
"Will you be at home this EVENING"
he asked.
eyes" o..
MAY call"
Il shall be pleased to see you"
There was nothing in the replies or
the tone of voice in which they were
! spoken either to reassure or discourage
him as to an ultimate forgiveness. He
would go to Lena and see what he
could do .
Lena kept him waiting a few min.
utes, then entered the room where be
was with neither vindictiveness nor
encouragement He judged that ii
was Indifference.
II received your note" he said
! gloomily. 81 thought l would come to
at least say goodby."
"You began your trial at 10 o'clock
on Dec. 81 and proved your inconstan-
cy at o'clock on Jan. Of the next
year. You were true to me just three
hours"
"You remember how much cham
pagne"-
"You can't plead that you didn't
know what you were doing. You
did not drink wine enough to mar
your memory Of me. Besides. if true,
that would be no excuse"
Driven from this expedient, Frank
concluded to try another.
"You see, Gwen and l were play.
mates when we were children. used
to carry her books to and from school
had no idea then and have never had
since that she thought any more OF
me than any other fellow. presume
| SOueIuluB L Sdlu last nlSuL SOuuueu u
her like lovemaking, and she-well
she, thinking that L Of course
couldn't turn her down in a bruta
fashion, you know
Lena burst into laugh.
Frank Andrews, you are the big
gest humbug have even known in the
whole course of my hfe!'
81 swear
Don't commit perjury"
'"Then you will not permit me to ex
plain?"
"There is no need of an explanation
from you. 1t must come from me-"
Frank looked at her in bewilderment
There is no such person as Gwen
Last night it occurred to me - play 1
joke on you. have for years worn 1
sort of amulet around my neck-a golC
locket. / saw Charlie Hartwell asl
you for a pencil, and you handed hin
your gold pencil case. took it from
Charlie and didn't give it back to him
} Here it is"
A relieved smile began to break on
on Franks face.
Handing Charlie my gold heart,