The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-17

kEN'S FRIEND
BY MILDRED WHITE.

| CldlFe DdltOu HedfIleSSly UecHlNeO Nun,
he had sworn never more to love or
be loved And to that purpose bad
avoided resolutely the charming fem
| mime.
Yet here he was, well on in his thir
ties and more sincerely In love thai
he had ever been in his life. Blu
who could resist Chloie? Not thu
fatuous youths in her own social set
not the grave employees of her father
office, not Kenneth himself, with all his
unyieldng determination.
While he blamed old Mrs. Blair will
her mania for matchmaking, for bring
ing him and CHLOE together, he als'
blessed her for the great happiness
which was his. For intellectually
CHLOE had returned his immediate az
lection. Frankly she told him, so.
~ never met man like you before
said CHLOE; you are wonderful"
Her dark eyes were deep with the
wonder of which she spoke, and
dimple popped out at the corner OF
her red lips, betraying her confident
happiness in his approval.
II love you" Kenneth had confessed
"but l am afraid of love, CHLOE, anf
its appointments"
There can be no disappointment in
our love-" Chloe answered him. Still
he was troubled.
Tales had come to him of this
| oirl,s pri,lo of oopouoct of hr,,iCa1
hearts which followed her meteorlike
| passing Kenneth, we'll knowing the
charm of her, believed in the truth OF
the tales-and was afraid. Her prom
Use to marry him seemed too good to
be true. What was he that he should
have won her above all others? And
now, in the first Joy of possession, he
must go away and leave for time.
the presence which made life beautiful
and worth while.
"This business trip" he told her,
must carry me across the continent
VIII you be faithful, dear, in thought
and deed, while | am away" Ken
meth was an exacting lover, also jeal.
GUS one.
II couldn't bear It," he said. "if any
other man claimed your time"
I CHLOE noticed a crease between her
| brows that night as she turned out the
light. And in the morning came q
letter.
The w:iter was in the city for few
days, it appeared, upon business, and
he was an old college friend of Ken
meth Willoughbys.
mo doubt she had heard Ken men.
ton Jack Tols?" CHLOE had heard of
Jack" very often.
We'll, Jack met old Ken in Chicago
recently, where he had Informed him
of his engagement. and suggested"
so the letter saba call upon his
| tiancee."
Choices dimple showed for an in.
! slant.
Permitted" she knew was the word
| Jack should have used. 1t was Jack.
Of course, who had made the sug
| gestion. She could imagine her jeal
Gus lovers reluctant consent. Jack fur
! Their went on to say that as McCor
mick was singing in the city, and lie
was anxious to hear Mccormick
would Miss CHLOE Sutherland give him
the pleasure of her company that eve
ming to the opera house,"
With an impatient sigh, CHLOE laid
the letter aside. Above all things she
wished to hear the singer, she was
certain that Jacks company would also
| be agreeable-he had a frank and
pleasing manner Of writing. After all,
this same Jack was Kenneth's par
tcu!ar friend. In former days the two
were inseparable. Jack had even
known about the faithess Claire.
CHLOE picked up his letter and sat
considering. This was an unreason-
able thing her lover had asked Of her,
an unnecessary sacrifice of simple
pleasure.
AS she delberated. the telephone
summoned. 1t was Jack" who called
her.
HE had decided" he said, mot to
await her written reply. If convenient
! to herself, there was no reason why
they should wait for Wednesdays per-
Torrance at the opera house. He
could call and take her tonight"
AS CHLOE listened to the mans urg
ing there came to her memory pic.
ture of Kenneth. patient, true, salts.
fed in the work which was TO hasten
the realization of their home. Ken
meth alone with his dreams of her in
strange country. After all, it was q
little thing he asked, loyalty in his alb.
Sence.
She hung up the receiver with a
smile. Cautiously she had refused
the request of her lovers friend. In
peratively the telephone recalled her.
1t was Jack again.
II am coming to call tonight" he
said unabashed. II want to see Ken
neths choice. Please be home"
CHLOE put on one of her prettiest
dresses. A CALL of course, could not
be refused, and Kenneth must be proud
of her. But when long car stopped
before the door, and young man
alighted he was not alone. Choices
heart flew faster than her feet to wei.
come the other arrival.
ken, dear!' she cried, while jub
lantly the taller man caught her in his
| arms.