The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1922-01-06
A Forgotten
Engagement
BY r. RAY BAKER

While Marjorie Crandall sat at /
window, a book dangling from {
iimpid hand, and with wistful eye.
watched the stars straggle forth Int
the gathering night, her father, Ber
Crandall, rocked by the stove and
read Of Black Jim Simpsons lawless
depredations.
No sound disturbed the dusk ex.
cept the piping Of tree-toad and the
creaking of Mr.. Crandalps chair. Mar.
Jorte had sat by that window much OF
late, in pensive mood, with her mind
FAR away, at race tracks where de-
mons In motorcars annihilated time
and sometimes tossed a human life
aside.
Her father always occupied the
creaky chair by the stove, at this time
OF day. The stove was dead, because
summer was here and almost ready
to depart, but it was his custom to
huddle near 1t, forever reading a
paper.
THAT rascal Black Jim is at it
again." Mr.. Crandall observed aloud.
"And he's not so far away. He seems
to be edging toward Happy Valley
and I'm feeling little bit scared, ar
though of course there would be moth
ing here to interest him."
Marjorie scarcely heard him. Her
thoughts were of her racing demon.
Harry Trenton, and she had a vague
hope that he might keep the big en-
gagement, very vague, indeed; for
Harry was now famous and would
not be likely to remember his sweet
heart Of year ago.
The big engagement was made early
In September year ago, while Mar
Jorie and Harry sat in Belle Isle park
In Detroit, having motored thither in
his rattle-trap, made-over auto of vet
eran service which had been pur-
chased for less than song and given
racing appearance by means Of
some clever body work. At that time
Harry was mechanic in a Detroit
factory, but the racing
FEVER had gripped him and he was re-
solved to make name for himself
Dn the speedways.
On the September day Harry had
proposed marriage, Marjorie loved
him and she was exceedingly roman
tic, but there was a practical side to
her nature and this asserted itself.
Harry was not in the proper financial
circumstances to care for wife, so |
The advised that they wait a year be-
ore becoming engaged.
"All right" Harry sighed. make
a year-a year from today. On |
hat date I'll call on you for my an
wer."
This appealed to Marjorie's roman
lc propensities.
Exactly year from today" she
aid. But" she added, as an after
bought, perhaps we shall be far
part by that time"
'It makes no difference" he assured
er. mo matter where you are, will
eep that engagement. And in the
leantime, Wen never refer to it
gain. Neither of us is to be re-
linded, for If we continue to care
ell remember. One year from to-
ay, If we are both living, I shall Call
n you for my answer"
Within a month Marjorie moved
way. Her fathers health suddenly
ad failed and his physician advised
utdoor life. They went to North
akota, where Mr.. Crandall invested
Is savings in small farm.
Marjorie and Harry correspondent,
ut as time went on and he began
,rging ahead in the business Of mo-
n racing, the letters became more
I'D more irregular.
The date of the big engagement was [
wv only two days away, but Mar
rie entertained little hope as she sat
7 the window and pondered. Fame
I'd taken Harry from her, she was [
raid, for it had been more than a [
onth since last she heard from him.
How dead everything was in the s
llleyl Happy ValleyI How she 6
athed it! No, she did not quite feel C
at way, because 1t had restored her b
theirs health. But Marjorie's ro- v
anticism did not thrill to lonesome b
aces. Crowds Of people, glittering O
sctric lights, appealed to her. She
Is unhappy in Happy Valley, espe-
lily as the day Of the big engage
snt drew near; for 1t meant dis Il
pointment, she was almost sure. e.
The night before that day dawned tt
lrjorie was alone. Her father had "
md it necessary to go to Bismarck o.
business, and he would be gone is
7eral days. b,
Watch out for Black JIM" he ad- c,
,nished as he hoped into his fify- N