The Tomahawk., 1919-06-05


ritable.
10 add to the anguish of believing
the girl he still loved, heartless and un-
worthy. Yantis came to realize that
Terrill intended to marry her He won
( red amid his pain. Gene was not a
man who would marry poor girl.
Then, late in April, Charlotte Den
tier, seventeen years old and plain and
reputed heiress to $4,000, came to
visit her cousin, Mrs. Theodore OLE
want.
Holly did not think it was necessary
for Gene to so aut0riding every morn
ing and every evening with the homely
care. She had not cared very much
for anything all spring. She had given
a listless consent when Gene had asked
her, with fervent protestations Of love,
to marry him, but she had not been
moved.
1T does not NATTER" she told him
when he asked her to keep the engage
ment secret. Nothing mattered!
One sultry evening, near the end Of
the third week of Charlotte's visit, Yam
tbs moodily strolling in the towns park
came suddenly upon couple of young
people sitting on the soft turf In a
secluded corner. They did not see him,
and he was backing softly away when
he heard Gene Terrill's persuasive
voice.
"YOu're sure you're going to run
away and marry me tomorrow evening,
Charlotte dear? You'll not fail me.
sweetheart?"
"Oh, I'll not fail you, Gene darling!"
tile girl answered.
Yantis caught his breath. Had Gene
been playing fast and loose with Holly?
1t was Yantis' evening for hearing
conversations not meant for him. AS
his steps took him unconsciously to-
ward tie old McCord place, and he
slowly passed the high privet hedge,
voices came softly to him from a
rustic bench beside the hedge.
ooh, mother darling" the voice that
two months back he had thought the
sweetest in the world, was saying, lit
worries me so your always being so
tired It's cooking for those dreadful
boarders! Can't we give them up and
give up the big house? We could make
out on my salary.
''The boarders pay, Holly. want to
put by some for fathers stone, and l.
I can't bear to sell the house in which
he lived last, DEAR"
II know, darling, but it breaks my
heart to see you working so hard"
"When you are married to Gene,
dear, things will be lighter" the older
woman answered soothingly. Both Of
you can stay with ME then, and l
won't try to keep boarders. I'd rather
send the announcement of your en-
gagement to the papers, tomorrow,
don't you think, dear?"
Yantis walked on silently. I'D
rather like to have that liar here in my
hands one minute" he thought angrily.
Next morning on the corridor floor
by his office door Yantis found thick
white envelope. 1t was addressed to
the society editor of the towns paper
and contained an announcement of the
engagement of Holly Slade to Eugene
Terrill. Mrs. SHADES name was in the
upper left-hand corner, but the envel-
ope was not sealed. Evidently Holly
had brought it to the Office to mail.
The next day the papers told of the
| runaway marriage Of Charlotte Dentler
and Eugene Terrill. At noon Yantis
came to Holly with thick white en-
| velOpe.
"Forgive me-" he said, II forgot to
send out the mail yesterday afternoon.
I hope it won't Inconvenience you?"
Holly seized the envelope and the
| intuitive knowledge that he had kept
it back to save her modification came
| to her.
Her answer was an indistinct MUIR
muir, but the red blood flooded her face
and the eyes she raised to Yantis' were
full of an indescribable relief and
| thankfulness.
In the late afternoon, at the exact
| moment that Mrs. Theodore Olevant
was telling Gene Terrill's mother, with
n degree of malicious satisfaction, that
it was a mistake about Charlotte's
| fortune-it was her stepsister who was
the -Cardwell Yantis was
speaking to Holly, putting on her hat
| in the cloakrOOm.
I'D like to walk home with you this
evening If you'll let me-" he was say
ing. 1--WE something I'd like to tell
you"
She looked up at him and her heart
gave q great leap. The old smile was
| in her eyes.
Two MaximiliAns.