Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-04-12

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disappeared through his back doorway.
In few minutes Dorothy saw him in
the Marlborough yard picking up the
rune. He glanced up at the porch
with a bright smile and raised his hat.
Soon the rufde was In its owners
hands and Fred was on Dorothy's
porch. Hearing voices, Mrs. jerks
came to the kitchen door and looked
inQuiringiy around.
| "Auntie." said Dorothy, "this L.
MI She paused with a charming
blush, as 1t occurred to her that she
had begun to introduce one whose
name she did not know.
"Pitchard," supplied Fred quickly.
Mr.. jerks did not grasp the situa-
ton, but to Tred's Joy she did not at
tempt to do so at that time.
| Good evening. Mr.. Pritchard," she
murmured. Dorothy. 1t is too cool for
you out here. You and Mr.. Pritchard
had better come inside"
Fred could not resist the unexpected
invitation. He followed the ladies'
through their back door. Mrs jerks
was q notable housewife and her kit
chen was as immaculate as her draw
ing room. SO she did not finch as she
conducted the guest across 1t and
| down the entire length Of the narrow
hall to the front Of her pretty little
nat The drawing room reached, she
and Dorothy and Mr.. Pritchard were
soon engaged In pleasant conversation.
Fred stayed as long as he dared. Mrs.
jerks. who had found him remark
ably entertaining. asked him to call
again.
why. auntie." exclaimed Dorothy.
as soon as he was gone. do you know
that Mr.. Pritehard Is an entire stran
| ger to mer
"What on earth were you chatting
together on the back porch for, then7"
inquired the aunt. ITO be sure, don't
see how he got there" she added re-
fisctively.
You funny auntie," said Dorothy
you acted as though his being there
were q matter Of course. Did l ever
take young man out to the back
porch-even Mr.. FosterY
well. how did he get there?" asked
i Mrs. jerks. Il didn't show surprise
when l saw him, of course not. 1t is
never well bred to show surprise"
Dorothy laughed, and related her
little adventure.
"Well, no harm is DONE" commented
her aunt. The young man is certainly
gentleman and is, very entertaining"
Each day during the ensuing week
Fred asked himself If he might call on
his new acquaintances and prudence
answered no. Twice he met Miss NAL
vern on the street near her doorsteps
and received smile and bow each
time, but he saw nothing more Of her
during his period Of waiting. Exactly
one week after the affair Of the rufle
he presented himself at the jerks
front door. Mrs. jerks and Miss NAL
vern were not at home. Fred waited
three long days before calling again.
Happily. the ladies were receiving. The
evening passed pleasantly. Fred dared
to ask for . song andeM Miss Malvern
graciously granted his request Mrs.
jerks skillfully drew out the young
man and discovered that he was a
lawyer and the nephew Of one of the
leading business men Of the city. She
did not hesitate to invite him to come
again. Fred joyfully availed himself
Of the invitation. Before long he was
a regular visitor at the house. He be-
came a great favorite Of Mr.. and Mrs.
jerks, and he knew 1t. OF Dorothy
he was not sure. One evening, when
he and she were alone in the drawing
room he found courage to ten her how
long he had worshiped her from afar
and to ask her to be his wife.
~Oh. Mr.. Pntchard," cried the girl in
genuine CONSERVATION, II am so sorry
1 never dreamed Of this. Ihave been
engaged for nearly . year to Mr.. Fos-
ter, whom have known from child
hood
II have never seen him." stammered
Fred awkwardly.
NO." answered Dorothy. he went
70 St. Paul last December. He is a
railroad man and no IL ordered about
like an army ofacer or a Methodist
minister. We shall probably live in
st. Paul. We are to be married In
September" 90
ffs4 sorrowfully took his leave.
He az not die Of a broken heart. but
It was ok years before he married.
His BRIDE wss neither young nor pref
y. ner could she sing. She was q
widow With two children. But she had
half q million dollars.