Smyrna times., 1931-09-16
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"ViIIage Gossip Went Astray," An
Interesting Short Story Writ
ten by Duford Jenne

L with a song in her heart, as she
dreamed and played with the soft,
shining shimmering things she took
from the trunk-the garments that
made up her trousseau-suddenly
heard Mrs. Abbey's high speaking
voice in the lower room.
There's no question about it,
Mary. For five afternoons no.
ticed Will Hanley out driving with
one of the prettiest girls l ever
saw, / was suspicious. the girl
seemed so interested in him. and
l asked one of the men where Will
works, and he said. Sure. he's en-
gagged to herr"
There was a deep silence in the
kitchen below, and then Theodore
heard her mother say in a slow,
hurt tone: "Why it can't be sol
Ted has her wedding dress ready,
and their plans are all complete J"
.Well, I'm telling you what l
saw and what was told me!'
1T will break her heart! But /
have been afraid-just a bit. He
writes her so seldom since he went
to the city, and he's such a hand
some, popular fellow !"
IFS too bad-and if l were
Theo, I'd
Hush. don't speak so loud,
please. Ted is in the old guest
room looking over her wedding
things. and every sound goes right
up there through the old register.
She might hear yOu-and l don't
know what she'd do if she did !!
Shes been so happy in her dreams
of"
Her mothers voice died away.
Theodore sat in dumb misery, a
little heap Of pain. 1T could not
be true II her heart told her brave
ly; and then her mind whispered :
1T might be true!' Wills letters
had been so short-yet he had al
ways been a man of few words ;
and he was handsome. good-na-
tured-
She moaned a little as she sat
on the floor near the trunk where
lay the shining remnants Of her
dream.
Suddenly, it must have been a
long time after the conversation be
low, her mothers gentle voice
came to her Up the stairway.
Ted awOke with q start from the
depths Of her despair, rallied her
will, kissed the soft garments one
by one and folded them back in
the trunk. Then She stood mo-
ment in Silence fighting for mas
terry Of herself 50 that her mother
would not read the hurt in her
heart.
But the moment she stepped into
the Kitchen her mothers tender
eyes understood. .'Oh TheO, YOU
heard. But don't. you believe it,
dear. | know it can't be true z
her mother said quickly.
Theodore smiled family. "Ot
course II isn't, mother"
This il the day for the usual
letter He wouldn't keep up writ
ing you if everything wasn't all
right. lie isn't that kind" her
mother urged
When the mail came, she found
his letter She opened it with slight
trembling fingers. Across the
page her eyes read a line Of fire
Dear Ted-Our engagement is
off. Sorry. indeed. AS ever, Will"
She could not quite stay the lit
tie cry Of pain that broke from her
lips. Her mother came to her with
q rush, and Theo handed her the
brief note.
Theo smiled at her bravely. ITS
his way. I'm glad he said it simply
and quickly
Then she went quietly to the lit
tie room which had been her refuge
in childish troubles and in later
years, and there she wrote him a
simple note of understanding Then,
with the letter in her hand. she
walked through the gathering dusk
of the late afternoon to the village
office and mailed it. 1t would reach
him in the morning.
On the evening of the day follow
ing the mailing of the letter she
went outside into her mothers
flower garden, and stood a silent,
solitary figure searching for heal
ing and peace among the blossoms.
As she stood there she heard the
roar of a powerful motor and q
car swept to sharp halt at the
door. A tall figure dashed to the
house, saw her. turned, and came
with long strides toward her. Then.
with strange sense of things un,
real, she was caught in strong
arms. kissed warmly on lips and
cheeks.
"Ted. what in the sun!' Wills
strained voice said. "Why did you
send that note?"
She explained haltingIy. He
groaned as he listened. "I sent that
note to pal of mine, Ted Evans,
calling off a golf engagement-I
meant TO; instead | sent my love
letter to him and his note to you.
What a mess y
A little song began to sing In her
heart. She understood, but she
told him Mrs. Abbey's story. He
laughed.
THAT girl is the daughter of a
rich chap. The company asked me
to teach her to drive her new car.
She's the biggest dumbbell / ever
met" he said with some heat. "As
TO that yarn of my being engaged
to her, one of the men told me
about an old lady who asked him