South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-15

, became eNTressionless as she glanced
from it to her companion, still
searching for his elusive card AS
he raised his eyes they, also. were
| caught and held by the square en-
| velope.
Il forgot it, he said simply. ut
/ reached me when / was absorbed in
/ an important case. OF course it was
| IneXcusable. / meant TO read il when
| / had leisure, but whenever 1 start
ed to open 1t I was Interrupted. If
YOU will pardon me 1 will look 1t
over now"
Let it wait An hour or so viii
now make little difference to your
correspondent"
II have never corrvspOnded with
woman in my life, and / doubt if
this is anything more important than
an invitation"
she placed a hand over the letter,
| still lying on the table. Just little
/ longer" she said gayly. There is
no telling what news it may contain
and you may wish you had read it
alone"
He shook his head as he slit the
I envelope. Il viii not have it longer
upon my conscience"
~ he opened the sheet he found it
blank. Curiously he further unfold
ed 1t and a newspaper clipping drop
ped upon the table. 1t fell right side
mp and held his gaze. over and over
he read the printed words, then
raised his eyes to the girls face.
You were right. 1t does contain
news" lie touched the envelope.
i have never seen your handwriting.
Did YOU direct this p
For answer she took a pencil ano
card from her bag and wrote his
name upon it,.
he placed it beside the envelope
and studied the two His glance
again fell upon the printed slip
which. after a moments hesitation,
ne read aloud:
mir. and Mrs. Robert Bowie
announce the enga cement of
their daughter. Mary, TO Mr..
William Berkeley. The wedding
VIII take place in the early fall
For time he looked absently at
the clipping, then his ewes sought
and held hers
Not If ! can prevent it. ne said
at last. do you think L will let you
go out Of my life without protest."
81 have never beer IN your life"
The reply came a trifle breathlessly
You have probably not realized
f. any more than ]. but this" touch
ing the slip OF paper, makes II very
plain 10 me. The trouble has been
have never had time for play. but
IN the back of my mind has always
been the certainty that YOU and
would live out our lives together.
There has Deen no time for play
nor for that delightful experience,
courtship and courtship is what a
girl wants. is Il not2"
surely it is her right" The re-
ply held a touch of asperity.
Il suppose so and now ] have no
time for II. This letter came two
months ago. II is now October ]
viii have to take YOU whether you
will or no. The courShip can come
afterward." He looked at his watch.
There is just time TO reach the city
hall before Il closes VIII YOU come
with me and from there TO some
clergyman am afraid to let YOU
Jut of my sight. Mary
Ard Mr. BerNey? I gave him
ms promise
This IS a question between YOU
and me. love you. I hope you
care enough for me 70 marry me.
some promises should be broken be-
fore .hey break ones life. And,
Mary we can be very happy tCgeth-
tr II l mad time YOU would find it
out before. but 1 am pressed for
time and the knowledge must come
later VIII YOU Genre 90
she HAD risec and was fumbling
rather aimlessly with her glove put
ton.
II think I had better tell YOU
something first. she replied a little
unsteadny. L found did not care
FOR Mr.. Berkeley and at the eleventh
hour broke my enlightenment. dis
covered before ii was too late that
cared for another man"
And that man"
He was very stupid" she looked
az him squlreIy now. L had TO find
some way 10 make him know his
own mind for / was sure lie cared
TOR me. but fo- many years he had
t.t'.en me SC as q matter of course
that ne did not realize g. You ask
ed me II / directed thaJ envelope. /