Gunnison news-champion., 1920-05-14
THE REclUSE
By MARY wiNiFaeo Ford.
: is.s. ~ Mcclure S-sspAp>r syzete.t.

x is.s. ~ Mcclure s--.p.p<r sy.ats.i.D
Jack, will you ever come cut Of
your shelly" asked Guy fremont laugh
ingly.
Well. if Just depends
always the same old reply. II Just
depends Have heart, old man
And Guy made 8 dash for the door Of
the restaurant, leading TO the street.
entirely out Of patience with Jack
Hamilton. who FOR year or more had
taken u upon himself TO play the part
Of recluse. refusing all Invitations
TO AFFAIR rendered him by either ser.
but Instead OF making enemies by 50
doing. he won them over TO a certain
degree-not 10 his way OF thinking.
but they were still his friepds, even
though he did refuse their many In
vitafions. II must have been the way
Jack smiled when he declined, for
Jack did have beautiful way OF de-
ciining: that Is. he smiled so charming
ly and looked 50 Innocent that-weli,
as his friends would say: "well. It's
almost impossible to get angry with
Jack, but h. does try our patience
As Guy fremont was entering his
home he almost coIIIded with his
younger sister. Virginia.
Guy fremont. you must be In love
10 actually look at me and then run
right into me-" and ylrginIas merry
laugh echoed through the house.
sis. ! am sorry. but II ! appear
grouchy today. have pity on me and
don't sco'd." and Guy walked into the
pretty little sitting room, and made q
brave attempt TO interest himself in a
magazine, and as Virginia looked at
the magazine Guy held in his hands
she turned away and smiled.
well. Of all thIngs-Jack has some
thing ca iis mind when he will take
up ladies' magazine and hasn't dis
covered as yet what he Is reading"
she thought
you are great little pal. Virginia.
and am going to tell you. dear. / am
not In lore. but II is Jack Hamilton"
why, who is Jack Hamilton. Guy
you 0entIoned him In several Of your
letters, but you never explained Just
who and whnt he was"
TO begin with. he is giant with
a smile that provokes n fellow. and he
is the fellow ! met out West In 1918.
Wei. he came on here about two years
,go. He didn't come 10 this town di.
rectly. While In New York he met a
young lady. whom he thought he loved.
and who later told him very nicely
that she didn't care for his Company
any longer"
ITS rather queer you never asked
him up here, Guy. but then I forgot
perhaps you had him here. while was
In New York with Aunt Mary
"It's next TO impossible to get him
any further than the club and Guy
sighed In such a way that set Virginia
thinking. She was going to help Guy
how or In what way she was not sure
but help him she must: so few eve
nings later. when she was certain Guy
was at an affair some miles distant,
she called the clubhouse and asked for |
Mr.. Jack Hamilton.
"Mr. Hamilton. will you come up to
Mr.. Tremont's house at once, please
II is very important-yes, 415 Long
wood drive. Thank you"
But, Virginia." urged her aunt, who
was making her home temporarily with
them. "0uy will be provoked with
you"
Now. aunty. you Just let me attend
to this Mr.. Jack Hamilton
"Aunty. there goes the beil-you
must usher him in-please. aunty, Just
this once" and giving her aunt a gentle
push toward the door, she few into
the sitting room. half tempted to ny
from the house. and regrettinE at the
last moment what she had done, but BE-
fore she could move, aunty had ush-
cred In "AIr. Jack Hamilton" and as
she left the room. she failed to hear
an excla nation from both Virgins and
Jack at the same time.
"Why, Mazda IL can't believe its
it-is 1t really your and Jack stood
rooted to the spot.
Ted Thompson. where did you come
from-why. thought"
Virginia, unable to 20 on. Just
dropped into the nearest chair, and re-
garded Jack with questioning eyes:
eyes that asked a thousand questions
at once
Jack recovered himself. and he. too.
sat down. quite near Virginia. "why
did you run away like that. Maidar'
he asked tenderly. = searched nearly
all New York for you after that night"
Virginia burst out laughing. and
cried happily: Tell me, are you Ted
Thompson, OF Jack Hamilton, or did
We both deceive one another. for I am
Guy Tremont's sister. and when Helen
Orr introduced US, had warned her
beforehand not to reveal my real
name-just a.whim Of mine. and then
when ! found you really cared. Ted
ef, r"
"Yes. dear. It Is Jack" he said smil.
ingly.