Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1912 — Belinda’s Way [ARTICLE]

Belinda’s Way

By CLARISSA MACKIE

(Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary Press.) At bis first meeting with Belinda Howe, Jock Owen determined that the charming girl should become his wife. On and after their tenth meeting he resolved to aßk her the all-important .-question that must precede an engagement, but his courage was not equal to his desire. •TO ask her tomorrow,” was always his desperate promise when his courage failed, and many tomorrows had become todays and yesterdays, and still the question was unasked, yet he almost knew, without being conceited about the matter, that Belinda cared and that her affirmative answer would be forthcoming when he asked her. Time and again he had gathered his courage and on each occasion his tongue had clove to the roof of bis mouth when Belinda’s brown eyes had shyly dropped before the love light . in his. Occasionally he raged at himself for -his stupidity. “If she only knew what a consummate ass 1 am she wouldn’t have anything to do with me," be groaned one day. Perhaps Belinda knew —or guessed the state of affairs! ‘Til ask her tomorrow —sure!” he said one evening after he had returned from a dinner party where he had taken Belinda in to dinner, and sat beside her In ecstatic wonder at his great good luck. Tomorrow came and with It a note from Belinda saying that they were all going down to Sea Sands that day for the week-end and she hoped Mr. Owen would be sure to accept her mother’s Invitation to accompany > them. Mrs. Howe’s Invitation came in the same mall and Jack accepted it delightedly. Then he made hurried preparations for the journey because he' wanted to be Bure and catch the same train that Belinda was going on. He went to the station and engaged a seat, trusting to his customary good fortune to find it placed next to Bellnda’s chair. It was next to Belinda's seat, but on the other side of Belinda sat a new man—a foolishly grinning idiot with his hair parted In the middle and a dimple In his chin. This was Jack's summary of the masculine charms of Mr. Harry Brompton. Belinda was interested in Mr. Brampton, so deeply Interested that she only spared an occasional smile for Jack, who sulked openly and determined to aSk her the fatal question that very night —if he got a chance. When they reached Sea Sands and the Howe’s motor vehicles were filled with the expected guests it was found that Mr. Brompton was seated beside Belinda in one car while Jack Owen was squeezed between Mrs. Howe and her private secretary, a little pale black-eyed being who shivered with end gaities, of which she would only snatch an occasional glimpse. “I’ll show him!" sputtered Jack fiercely as he noted the devoted attitude of Mr. Brompton’s by no means ill-looking' bead. —————■. It was an added irritation to find that Mr. Brompton was to occupy the pleasant room which Jack Owen had always occupied on his frequent visits at Sea Sands. The room now appointed to Jack was pleasanter than the other, but Jealousy is fed by little things, like this and Mr. Owen became positively unhappy over the matter. V By the time Jack was ready for dinner the situation looked very bleak He was positive that Mr. Brompton had been a dark horse in the race for Belinda’s heart and hand and he was sure that gentleman had won out. and that the engagement would be announced tonight. He hoped it would not be announced at the dinner table —he was positive that he would be unable to control his-features. Yet It looked ominous enough. As he tallied the guests who would be there he realized that they consisted of old and intimate friends of the Howe family. Harry Brompton was the only stranger to him. He wondered vaguely if any of these friends were related to Mr. Brompton or was the prospective bridegroom an orphan like himself? He went down to dinner in a mood of black despair. 1 **n—r boy!’’ murmured Mrs. Howe, as be stopped for a word with her. “We are so delighted about little Beftada!” - “Then it is decided?” be asked in a hollow voice. She looked at him In a puzzled way. “You mean about announcing It tonight?” He nodded grimly. He could not speak. “Oh. yes—of course you do not mind?” ** | Jack’s face hardened. Of coarse they had thrust the knife In. but they

to William. Belinda baa hurried tw so, only notified us this morning and insisted on its being announced tonight” “That’s ail right—don’t mind me.” faltered poor Jack and strolled over to William, who was Belinda’s father. “Keep up your courage, old boy!" whispered Mr. Howe. “Brace up—lt can’t happen but once, you know!” *1 won’t give any one a chance to let It happen to me again!” growled Jack fiercely, but William Howe was happily hard of hearing, and at this moment dashed away, for dinner was announced “Mighty kind of ’em to be so carefui of my feelings," thought Jack as he tried to quell a murderous thrill at sight of Harry Brampton's carefully parted curly hair. Belinda came in then—a wonderfully radiant Belinda In pale pink satin veiled with white lace and with pearls about her throat. She included Jack in her swift survey of the room, and he saw that a rosy wave of color stained her cheeks from brow to chin and left her pale. His own heart did not leap In response to her passing glance as it had been wont to do. It felt quite cold and still. It did not throb even when he found that he was to take Belinda in to dinner. His face was like a white mask as be gave her bis arm and led her to-her Beat. To his relief Belinda did not talk much to him. She seemed absorbed in conversation with Harry Brompton on her other hand, while Jack was not obliged to talk, for a lady beside him chattered foolishly from course to course until dessert was reached. An unusual silence came upon the company as Belinda’s father slowly arose holding his wine glass. “Friends," be smiled upon them, “may I ask you to drink to the health happiness of one who is very dear to me —my daughter, Belinda, and her future husband, Mr. Jack Owen." “It Is a joke!" gasped poor Jack as the company merrily drank to their health and happiness. “There must be a limit to —" Nobody beard his voice save Belinda, whose hand sought his and pressed it significantly. “I’ll explain afterwards. Jack!” she said hurriedly. “You must respond to the toast.” “It’s true, then?" he asked dazedly. —“Of course —stupid!’’ - Afterwards they commented on the brilliant speech of Jack Owen. “Didn’t know It was in him to be ao funny!” commented one. “Enough to Inake any one hllarioua to win a girl like Belinda Howe!” retorted another. , “Who is this young Brompton r* “Oh, 1 don’t know —some friend from the west who Inflicted himself upon them this morning and had to be invited down.” After dinner Jack Owen found himself mysteriously spirited away to the alcove in the library. Belinda was beside him, very pale, very quiet Sounds from the company In the distant drawing room came faintly to them. “Oh, Jack, do you mind?” asked Belinda after a long silence. '“Mind?” he asked, still dazed at the strangeness of -the whole thing, and suspecting a.trick of some sort “Mind being engaged to me?" she faltered. “Mind being engaged to you?” he repeated. “Why, Belinda, darling, it’s what I’ve been trying to accomplish ever since I met you!” His arms were around her now, and his lips were pressed against her wonderful hair. “I didn’t understand, you see." g \ *T kfiew you wanted to, only you were so diffident- —oh, indeed, sir, you are recovering rapidly—and it was the only way. You know this is leap year!”