The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-07-14

Jd8 W8eNly VEME0HeCO0l
lenly ne remembered. I'm afraid
I've bored you awfully!' he exclaimed
i:ontritely:
mo, indeed-I'm awfully interested.
DO tell me some more" And Collins
lid.
Three weeks later the situation was
Unchanged. That is, it was unchanged
Is far as Mr.. Hawkins govt was con-
.erned, but there was decided change
n the affSirs of Edward Collins.
Formerly he had spent his even
ngs reading or wandering over the
grounds alone; but now he seemed to
haunt certain spots. It was a peculiar
tact that Miss Evangeline Hawkins
was nearly always near those spots.
he was also given to incoming about,
and Mr.. Hawkins found some cause
for complaint in inattention. 1t might
have been noticed, in addition, that
he cherished q withered rose in a
drawer of his dresser. This rose had
been worn by Miss Evangeline Haw-
kins at a small dance given at the
house one weekend. She had dropped
|tsand he had picked it up. All these
signs, OF course, mean nothing In par
ticular
And then one day he lost his note
book and Miss Evaneeline Hawkins
found it.
An hour after he had discovered his
loss he came upon her In little sum-
mer house in the garden. She was
reading something-his notebook !! With
a sign of relief he approached. She
rose, and smiled at him-a little I'm.
certainly. Here's your book" she
said. s.
"Thank you'll" He was relieved that
she had found 1t. @"&
what neat shorthand you make 7!
she said. IT..
He blushed crimson. live had q
good deal Of practice
Ibid you know" she said idly, II
went to a school once and learned
stenography? thought I'd be useful
l can still read It,"
The red in his face deepened.
LET me read some Of yours-rve
been looking 1t over and can read II
very WELL" She was turning the pages
as she spoke. He became conscious
of wild desire to grab the book from
her hands and fee; but he remained
rooted to the spot. =. rs.
Here" she said. Dear Sir-Youl
letter of the 18th received-1 love her
In reply would say that-she is thu
sweetest girl in the world. We are
! unable to make any other terms thar
those stated In our last communica
tion-Of course, have no chance, but
maybe
He found his voice. "Please, Miss
Hawkins, don't torment me.
shouldn't have done 1t, I know
haven't any right-but couldn't hell
it-won't you give me the book"
| She handed him the book. and he
left her without word.
That night as he prepared for bee
he glanced once more over the pages
where, in neat curves and angles. were
4 the damning words that had made him
hopeless for all time. He stared al
them DULY as he read sentence aftel
sentence, Hawkins's terse business
English interspersed with the thought
of his own-as he thought-secre'
heart. And then his heart gave bount
and began beating, madly; for at thu
bottom of a page In characters quite
unlike his own, a new line had beer
scrawled. He translated it breathlessly
| "Why say you have no chance? Yor
never asked mel"
$50 you've been making love to m!
daughter behind my back, eh?" Ole
Man Hawkins glared at his blush!nl
secretary. III.
"Well, sir-she-didn't seem Il
mind"
| "Oh, she didn't Well, how do yor
know I won'ty'
| The baited Collins could only gull
and stammer. But into the room burs
Miss Evangeline Hawkins, all radiant
; and happy and overwhelming.
1 Daddy, you're not to pretend thai
you're angry when you're not. Yot
} know you told me-"
I flush up!" roared Old Man Haw
kinds. But the mischief was done. Col
Inns turned on him. do you mean tt
tell me that you've been soaring me It
Z death all this time for nothing2 III
never be afraid Of you again!"
- There it is Run along, children
run along. You'.e found me out, anc
I've lost the best private secretary
ever had, butt seem to have gained
4 an excellent son.!n-law."
!, ~ 80 - : '----c g.