The Lamar register., 1920-03-10
THE RECLUSE
BY MARY WINIFRED FORD.

We'll. 1t 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 10 the street.
entirely out of patience with Jack
Hamilton. who for a year or more had
taken 1t upon himself to play the part
of recluse, refusing all invitations
to affairs rendered him by either sex
but instead of making enemies by so
doing. he won them over to certain
degree-not TO his way OF thinking
but they were still his friends. even
though he did refuse their many in
vitations. 1t must have been the way
Jack smiled when he declined. for
Jack did have a beautiful way of de-
clining; that is. he smiled so charming
ly and looked so innocent that-well.
as-his friends would say: "Well. 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. I am sorry, but II I 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.
well, OF all things-Jack has some
thing on his mind when he will take
up ladies' magazine and hasn't dis
covered as yet what he Is reading"
she thought.
You are a great little pal. Virginia.
and / am going to tell you. dear. | 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 segin with. he is a giant with
smile that provokes a fellow. and he
Is the fellow | met out West In 1918.
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"
IT'S rather queer you never asked
him up here. Guy. but then l 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 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 q few eve
nlngs 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.. Tremonts house at once. please
II is very lmportant-yes. AIS 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 ffv
from the house. and regrettlng 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 IL can't believe Its
It's It really you?" and Jack stood
rooted to the spot.
! Ted Thompson. where did you come
from-why. I thought"
| Virginin. unable TO go on. lust
dropped into the nearest chair. and re-
garded Jack with questioning eyes
eyes that asked thousand questions
AZ once.
Jack recovered himself. and he, too,
sat down, quite near Virginia. "Why
did you run away like that. Mazda ?"
he asked tenderly. II searched nearly
all New York for you after that night"
Virginia burst out laughing. and
cried happily: Tell me. are you Ted
Thompson, or Jack Hamilton. or DIN
we both deceive one another. for I am
| GuN TrpmOnt'S SiStar and yrhnn IIot.