Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-01
MYSTERIOUS MAID
BY JACK WALTON.

IL was seldom that 6Iythlng an
: preaching mystery visited the sleepy
: village OF Summerville. and Miss Tsn
; bel Ormond In refusing all offers Of
: hospitality had become a subject Of
! comment. 80
summervilie did not always ex.
} tend attentions to strangers. but
: Miss Ormond. having been Introduced
. by Elder Benson's daughter. was an ex.
eepuon. II was. therefore, not 10 be
understood when the beautiful strang.
er persistently excused herself 10 call
ers. The unclaimed men OF the town
ship were emboldened to the ofrer OF
their automobiles and society-to no
purpose. Miss Ormond was. she an
nounced. engaged In the study Of
French, and wished not to be interrupt
ed. MFR. Billy Cavendlsh, spending
boresome time at his sisters country
place. promptly decided TO call.
Il want to see that girl" he said !;
she sure Is a mystery" And when he
had located her In the garden-Billy
wanted 20 call again.
Il don't wish TO be entertained" she
remarked.
"what prejudice have your" de-
manded Billy. against spending n So
cinl hour with a lone mani Do you
think I'm bound to make love to your"
Gould you promise that you would
notT' the unusual girl asked.
Billy gasped. II could promise" he
evaded, but who can foretcll the fu-
tufeT
Then" she answered decidedly. 1--WE
will dispose OF the possibility. There
shall be no excuse for ilrtatiOn."
But why" Billy calmly questioned.
SIS filtration such a terrible thingf
The face OF the mysterious maid |
grew grave. Because" she replied. /
filtration may lead to love. to mar
rage. and I-can never marry" With
flnallty she arose. "Good-by." she said.
Billy. arising. also TO claim = fare
well hand-clasp. exclaimed: "You nev-
er can Martyr
The girl nodded her head. ut 10
true" she said. Then 8Illy had his
Inspiration.
'well." he confdec. neither can L
Last wish OF Grabbed old uncle Lose
all his property x form any serious
attachment SO you and are destined
to be the original platonlc friends.
About that French" he added, a. she
regarded him wonderingly. "In help
you out tomorrow" Then Billy strobe
along.
FieTcely each day he resented the
task OF restraint he himself had Inn
posed. AS he came across the lawn
one day. something In the girls attl-
tude brosght n sense OF forebOdlng.
"Mr. Cavendlsh." she said. "you have
been kind, and | AN sorry, but you
must not come here any more. The
villagers are limiting nm attachment be-
tween us. / should have foreseen this
DEMONSTRATION"
Then Bllly's carefully built defenses
crumbled; hercely he crushed her In
his arms. ''Do you think" ne NUT
tered, that anything In this world can
keep me from you but your own word
that you do not love me? have been
you. and not the cOpy-boolss.
Isabel, and you cannot give me that
y ord"
The Girl met his victorious gaze
steadily. Yes" she said at last. II
10 love you. My fear has come true
we must say-goodby."
"four reasonG" he demanded.
81 am-marrlcd." she said. ut was
ong ago" she added. startled at his
tr!cken face. 1--WE we're forbidden to
,!2rry until we had graduated from
'pllcge. He was inslstent. The cere-
ncny was performed one vacation af- ]
ernoon. each hurrying back TO our =
Instant schools. No one need know, Z
ny lover assured me, until our second q
'ublic marriage. Then-all az once :
'ur love vanished. Answering his let
ers became a burden; each time he
10 come e. me his promise
vas broken. At last we met, looking
nto each others faces.
ave dare not spend our lives to-
'ether without love- told him. VIII
ngly he agreed.
"'But II find you care. will come
'ack.' he said. Occasionally comes a
Inc OF his changing address, but he
nows will never send for him"
what" asked Rilly. 'ls the name OF
his coward1"
John Hamilton" she answered
New York"
Billy fancled that evening that his
rain Knocked him when he read that
name beneath a pictured face
n the paper. Then the words steadled
themselves. John Hamilton OF New
'ork," he read, aviator. killed In bat
le."
In the mOonllt garden he found the
~ "Isubei" he nsked gantlv--asvou