Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-06-21
Jenny COMES BACK
BY OSBORN JONES.
"e"s"s"s"s"s"s"s s.s"s"s"s"s"s"s'.,
Observation-Disclosures


Samuel Smith sentiment was in abey-
ance. That had all gone before in
plenty, and 1t would come again. But
the wedding was but ten days off and
there were more important things to
do than to pass the time in lovers
dream. There were time tables to con-
suit, there was furniture to buy and
there were trunks to pack. And all
this had to be done after five o'clock
at night, for Jane as well as Samuel
believed in sticking to work till the
very eve of the wedding.
Samuel had come cityward because
Blairs Corners did not seem to afford
him opportunity for the making Of u
living, and when James uncle and
guardian had died, she, forgetting Sam.
uel for the time, also came to the city,
dug up cousin for chaperon, and
found position as stenographer.
Two years had passed since Jane
first went to work, and so there had
been leisure enough in the unfolding OF
the romance and time enough for the
deliberate feathering Of the nest iL
the shape of small uptown apart.
ment. They had just picked out the
dining-rOom set, and they sat shop
weary in the concOurse Of the big de.
partment store while Jane checked of
from her methodical little list the items
that they had bought. As she checked
her eyes noticed those Of Samuel fol
lowing the 1.-THE figure and exquisite
plumage of little city bird that strut
ted by them in the crowd.
striking girl, isn't she?' suggested
Jane. 1t was James way to refuse tC
let Samuel suspect her Of jealousy.
"Striking, yes," agreed Samuel, bit
annoyed with himself and just trifle
piqued that Jane should willingly see
his eyes follow another woman. Its
always been the memory Of the little
Jenny used to know and the fact that
you are all that little Jenny that has
made me think of you even when those
other women may have attracted my
passing notice"
Jane especially hated to be called
Jenny. In the city she was Jane and
she frankly liked the city better than
the country. "And that reminds me-"
Samuel went on, "after we are married
l am going to ask you to be more like
that little Jenny and less like the Jane
Of the city,"
Jane laughed. II know what you
mean, and if you really want me to
be Jenny, why Of course l shall"
It was five o'clock when Jane
reached her Cousins and before she
had put aside the new sophisticated
hat Samuel had reached her on the
telephone. "A big buyer from San
Francisco has just come" he told her.
doll up and do your worst. He's go
ing to meet me at seven at the Palma,
and l thought between you and the
cabaret show we could land some
pretty big orders. OF course I'll tell
him we are engaged"
Jane dashed to her room and worked
with furious rapidity, and at half past
six she reached the Palma, where she
registered her name and asked for a
room. She had suitcase, which she
deposited in the hotel room and then
came down to meet Samuel. But Sam
uel did not recognize her.
In fact, it was not till she had laid
a hand on his arm that he realized
that the little mouse before him was
really Jane-only it was the old Jenny,
and not Jane at all. With the help
of her cousin, Jane had resurrected
"hoppy hat" Of the kind that she
had worn in the "Corners" two years
before. Then Jane had taken from
her wardrobe the dress that was best
two years before. Before donning this
costume Jane had washed her face
vigorously with soap and good cold
water till it shone like June sky, and
Jenny in the country frock had added
not a touch Of cream or powder. AT
first Samuel was speechless. "But-
the buyer!" he gasped.
"Don't you like me?" the girls tones
Knocked pleadingly. Don't you see
I'm dressed just like the dear old Jen-
nv of the 'Corners?' I thought as long
as you were going to tell the buyer
that 1 am going to be your wife, you
would want me to look the part
Samuel was thinking now just of
business. He consulted his watch, and
as he did so he had vision of the
Jane as he had seen her that after
noon-the Jane whose citified clothes
had little alarmed him; the Jane
who, though dressed in the best OF
taste, attracted the attention OF the
men who passed; the Jane whose
strikingness had called forth the little
talk about the charm of Jenny. 1t
was not Jenny but Jane that he count
ed on for that interview with the buyer
1t was just quarter before seven by
his watch.
"Jane, 1 get the point. I see what
you mean-but 1t isn't fair. The joke
would be a good one If the occasion
weren't so serious. You see, I counted
on your help. That way you'd spoil
everything. And now, of course, you
can't get home and into your togs IN
q quarter of an hour"
"No" smiled the girl, and it was
Jane talking through the Jenny make
up, "but can go to my room here In
the hotel and put back the Jane
clothes in ten minutes. They're all
there in a suitcase"
And as she turned to take the eleva-
tor to her room Samuel followed for
step. "Good-by, Jenny, forever" he
said. 81 liked you back in Bair's Cor
ners, but it was with Jane here IN