Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1908 — HEADACHE Versus HEARTACHE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HEADACHE Versus HEARTACHE.

By GRAHAM BOYD.

Copyrighted. 1908, fey Associated Literary Prese,

Nell noticed the girl as the car came to a stop. She was undeniably pretty, though her clothes were a little too pronounced in color and cut, apd her hat was distinctly “loud.” The white parasol, however, softened the high coloring of clothes and complexion and moved the man in the seat ahead to the audible reflection that she was a “peach." There was a trifling delay to the car ahead, and Nell was about to turn her attention to the trouble when Vance Joslin dropped lightly from the rear end of the car and approached the girl. For an instant she seemed to resent his address, but as he spoke her manner changed, and a moment later they moved off up the street together. The man in front remarked to his companion that “the Johnny had bis nerve with him.” The vulgarity of the remark emphasized the shock Nell had felt when she had seen Vance speak, and with a crimson face she turned her head away from that side of the car that she might not see them as the car, now’ in motion again, overtook them. She had not seen Vance board the car, and she was certain that he had not seen her, else he would have made his way to her side. They had been engaged just three days. Only that morning he had told her over the telephone how sorry he was that a business engagement prevented him from asking her to lunch, and yet he had apparently left the car to take this girl to lunch. Neil had meant to stop off at the little restaurant w here she had so often lunched with Vance. He would probably take his client there, and he would have a chance at least to speak to her. And when one is but engaged even a word and a look are worth the while. Now she decided

that she did not want any lunch. She only wanted to get home and have a good cry. But she was not permitted to enjoy this luxury, for at the transfer corner she ran into a party of her old school chums. The solitaire told Its own story, and Nell was carried off to a fashionable restaurant, there to be the guest of honor at an impromptu banquet. As she entered she gave a start, for, though Vance was sitting with his back toward her, she had no difficulty in recognizing him, and the girl was unmistakable. While she bad been chatting with the girls he had probably passed them. His order had been given. She led the way to a table at the other side of the room that she might not be compelled to recognise him, but the precaution apparently was needless. When the girls were leaving the place, Vance and his guest were still absorbed In each other. Vance was drinking coffee, and the girl was consuming highly colored cordials. Nell led the way from the place, thankful that none of the other girls knew Vance. The luncheon had l>een an ordeal for her. She wished that she had slipped off the ring when the first Impulse came to her to do so. Then she would have been saved the humiliation of accepting a celebration lunch at which she sat and planned the letter which she should write to accompany the ring. As it was. the lunch had broken her nerves completely, and. hurrying home, she wrote the fateful letter, then took to her bed. She was crying her heart out In comfortable feminine fashion when her mother opened the door. “Vance is downstairs and wants to see you,” she said gently. “I told him that you were ill. but he Insisted on seeing yon just a moment.” *l*ll see him.” said Nell, with sud-< den determination. “Tell him I will be right down.” She sprang from the bed and began to dress. While lying there she had thought of many things to say that were even more bitter than the things she had said tn the letter, and in her present mood she wanted to hurt him as much as he had hurt her. she wanted to taunt him with his choice and to see him shrink from her de-' scriptton of the girl as seen through a

#dman*seyes. Hie anticipation' gavi her strength, and with head proudly erect and shoulders militantly braced back she entered the parlor. Joslin came forward eagerly. “It was good of you to see me," he cried. “I was afraid, from what your mother said, that you were too ill to receive any one.” "1 had a headache,” she explained Mtlessly, keeping the ‘ table between them that he might not kiss her. Probably he had kissed that other girl. “It’s too bad about the poor head," cried Vance. “I wanted you to come to dinner with me. We will go to the Trocadero and have just the best we can find, or we’ll go to the Alhambra if you prefer that. The music is better there, but the cooking is. not as good.” For a moment Nell could only stare dumbly. He wanted to take her to the Trocadero, where he had taken that woman for lunch. The thought was impossible. Probably his conscience smote him and he wanted to compromise with it. “I don’t think that I care to go to the Trocadero,” she said, adding meaningly: “I was there this afternoon for lunch. I met some of the girls, and they Insisted upon my going with them.” "Then we’ll go to the Alhambra,” he offered. “What time did you have lunch?” “About 2 o’clock,” answered Nell, .watching bls face closely for signs of confusion. Instead he merely gave a whistle of surprise.

“I was there about then.” he declared in mild astonishment. “I know you were,” admitted Nell. “I saw you.” “I don’t blame you for not speaking,” he said, with a short laugh. “But why didn’t you send the waiter for me? I would have come over to your table.” “It seemed a pity to disturb you,” retorted Nell. “You two seemed so much interested in each other that I did not like to interrupt. You told me on the telephone that it was a business engagement.” “But that waS not the engagement,” explained Vance. “You see, I was to lunch with old Mr. Bingham to talk about that infringement case. I was on the car on my way to get him, and a blockade brought us to a halt. I got off to walk, as I was late, and Bingham's office was only a couple of blocks away, and I ran right straight into this girl.” “She didn’t know me at first, but I told her who I was, and she accepted my Invitation to go to lunch, so I slipped in and excused myself to Bingham and took her over to the Troc. I knew- that she would appreciate the chance to show off all her finery in a place like that, and I guessed right. She was tickled to death.” “You seemed well pleased yourself,” suggested Nell maliciously. “Why not?” asked Vance. “That was Sadie Webster, the girl who could—and did—tell me all about that Mylius case. We'll win that now’, and it means that we live in our oyn home instead of in a flat. That’s why I want you to come out and celebrate.” “I’ll get my hat in a minute,” promised Nell. Then she paused as the remembrance of that letter she had written came back to her. “I’ll go on one condition.” she added. “On any condition.” promised Vance laughingly. “You have but to name it.” “You mustn’t read a letter I sent you this afternoon,” she stipulated, while her cheeks grew crimson. "You must throw it away unread.” “Jealous?” he asked curiously. “Was that the headache, Nell? Couldn’t you trust me, dear?” “I wasn't exactly jealous,” sobbed Nell, seeking the refuge of his shoulder to hide her flushed face, “but I could see that she didn’t know you, and a man in the seat in front said it was a flirtation, and—and I was so miserable.” Gently Vance raised the tear stained face to his own. “It's a lesson that comes to every wife, dear,” he said softly. “She has to learn that she must trust her husband, even though appearances are against him. I’m glad, sweetheart, that it was no worse. Now get the hat and we’ll celebrate the meeting with Sadie if the poor head Is well enough.” Nell threw her arras about his neck and kissed him. “Vance," she said penitently, “you are just the best headache cure that ever was.” ,

GENTLY VANCE RAISED THE TEAR STAINED FACE TO HIS OWN.