Middletown transcript., 1920-05-29
. The RECLUSE
BY MARY wINlFRED FORD.

t@. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
"Jack, will you ever come out Of
your shell" asked Guy fremont laugh
ingly.
well. it just depends"
"Always the same old reply. 1T Just
depends Have a heart, old man."
And Guy made 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 it upon himself to play the part
Of a recluse. refusing all invitations
but instead of making enemies by so
doing, he won them over to a certain
degree-not to his way Of thinking,
but they were still his friends, even
though he did refuse their many in
vitations. It must have been the way
Jack smiled when he declined, for
Jack did have beautiful way Of de-
clining; that is, he smiled so charming
~ and looked so innocent that-well,
as his friends would say: swell, it's
almost impossible to get angry with
Jack, but he does try our patience"
AS Guy fremont was entering his
home he almost collided with his
younger sister. Virginia.
"Guy fremont. you must be in love
to actually look at me and then run
right into me-" and Virginia's merry
laugh echoed through the house.
isis. am sorry, but If appear
grouchy today, have pity on me and
don't scold," and Guy walked into the
pretty little sitting room, and made a
brave attempt to interest himself in q
magazine, and as Virginia looked at
the magazine Guy held in his hands,
she turned away and smiled.
swell, Of all things-Jack has some
thing on his mind when he will take
up a ladies' magazine and hasn't dis
covered as yet what he is reading"
she thought.
"You are great little pal, Virginia.
and I am going to tell you. dear. I am,
not in love, but it is Jack Hamilton"
"Why, who is Jack Hamilton, Guy
you mentioned him in several Of your
letters, but you never explained just
who and what he was"
ITO begin with, he is giant with
smile that provokes fellow, and he
is the fellow met out West in 1915.
Well, he came on here about two years
ago. He didn't come to this town d.
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 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.. Tremont's house at once, please
it is very important-yes, 415 Long
wood drive. Thank you"
"But, Virginia" urged her aunt, who
was making her home temporarily with
them, Guy will be provoked with
you"
"Now, aunty, you just let me attend
to this Mr.. Jack Hamilton
"Aunty, there goes the bell-you
must usher him in-please, aunty, just
this once" and giving her aunt gentle
push toward the door, she flew into
the sitting room, half tempted to fly
from the house, and regretting at the
last moment what she had done, but be-
fore she could move, aunty had ush-
cred in "Mr. Jack Hamilton" and as
she left the room, she failed to hear
an exclamation from both Virginia and
Jack at the same time.
"Why, Mazda II can't believe its
its it really you?" and Jack stood
rooted to the spot.
'Ted Thompson, where did you come
from-why, thought"
Virginia, unable to 60 on, Just
dropped into the nearest chair, and re-
garded Jack with questioning eyes;
eyes that asked thousand questions
at once.
Jack recovered himself, and he. too,
sat down, quite near Virginia. "Why
did you run away like that, Maida?"
he asked tenderly. Il searched nearly
all New York for you after that night"
i Virginia burst out laughing, and
cried happily: 'Tell me, are you Ted
Thompson, or Jack Hamilton, or did
we both deceive one another, for 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
er, +"
Eyes, dear, it is Jack" he said smil-
ingly.
"Well, felt so mean for deceiving
you regarding my name, that just
couldn't go on, and that last night at
Helen's reception, just had TO run
away from you because"
swell, Mazda"
virginia" supplied Guys sister, her
face now radiant with smiles.
"Virginia, can't explain why !
changed my name, but, like yourself,
I suppose it was whim Of mine, and
1 had never given up the hope Of find
ing you some day." he smiled.
After q talk that satisfied both Of
fhnm VIRGINIA asked. "But lack |