The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-07-10

Feminine logic" he snorted, AMI
bent over the board His elbows
were on his knees, his head in his
hands, his fingers tangled in his hair.
\ dozen moves.
"Check," she breathed.
"Ncs. That's it. If there were no
checks in the game / would not fear.
So far, 1t appears, have none to
give"
She started. A great light broke
in upon her. So this was what was
Keeping him silent? So this was the
trouble, was it-money? Being sure
now, she could tantaize.
With half-closod eyes she regarded
his bowed head, musing silently. IT'S
my last chance to tease him and Ill
make il count. Torment him good
If ] am to be your slave for the rest
of my natural fife. I'll be the tyrant
as long as I can, my future lord and
master. You poor, dearest, most
foolish, bestest of dear old boys,
yo-"
"Check!" he blurted, savagely. The
tide was turning.
"Ahl Asking so soon? My king"
But the man Strengthened up, rigid
and white as marble. She had gone
too far-was frightened The taunt
was cruel She hastily placed pawn
before the threatened king.
"You see, | do cherish my king
after ALL" she said. tenderly.
YES a pawn will do" was the bit
ter reply. at has done before and
will again.
"Really?"
"Yes,' desperately. 81 once lived
two weeks on my watch"
"Why, I've lived on the watch ever
since knew you!" with wide-open in
nocence. Then, with a smile of keen
intelligence: Before papa located
the Maidenstakc-that was his first
mine, you know-he lived three days
on his overcoat. Regular goat"
"Wh-y-" But the subject was
dangerous one, and he let it rest
where it was!
Silence again. From the brooding
forest came the splashngs of distant
More moves-his, calculated and
wary; hers, studied, but for differ
ent end.
"Well, that's all over. See. OFFER
check" she whispered. His hand
plunged for his knight; but, in light of
recent disasters, he stopped; and long
and carefully surveyed the squares.
Then he accepted the opening. She
laughingly moved an innocent pawn,
and under the black batteries thus un-
masked he found his game all but
hopeless. Again he began to boil, while
she listlessly, on dainty finger, triedito
balance the captured queen. From the
board he looked at her. Never had she
played such game. Was it accident
young luck? Was she Budding wom-
an, rich, lovely, loving and lovable his
for the asking-a pearl, or a coquette,
beneath contempt? "Whichever you
are, l will conquer. Man must mas
ter" he told himself--and the moves
went on.
'If | win" he murmured.
She said nothing-only flushed.
"Ah, young lady, | may yet have
my queen" ,"and he pushed white pawn
TO within one square of her king row.
you may-if you can break through
my defenses," came the prettily defiant
retort, and with it toss of the head
and flash of white teeth and dark
eyes,
"Castleing? All, I'm afraid that that
is the trouble. Castles, when once used,
are hard to get along without"
Not at all, I assure you. | would
rather have bishop and knight-with
perhaps pawn thrown in-than any
castle. Besides, have enough for two
-see| and delicate fingers rested on
the tips of the two ebony castles, in
defiance of all rules. "Now, you won't
make me move them, will you, Just be-
cause | touched them to show you
will you?" and, bird-like her head was
turned sideways andIhalf invitingly up
ward He caught his breath. He was
on the rack. What did she mean? Did
she mean it-a Desdamona hint-or
was she joking, heartlessly, on danger
Gus ground, only to stitfen, repellant,
and wither him if he dared? This girl
woman-his wife! Ecstasy! But he
fiuttered back to earth.
"And / would rather have my queen
than the whole checkered board of
life" he said in low, vibrant tone; it
thrilled her with sudden, breathless,
nameless dread-an exquisite fear.
The white pawn had stolen into the
black king row.
"Now, give me my queen!" he de-
manded, exultantly, trembling with
curbed throbbing.
"Not yet" she warned; you must
win first"
"Oh, that's easy"
SIS it?"
He was stunned. For an instant the
girl famed with shame, fearing, panic
stricken, that she had been oyerbold,
forward unmaidenly. Heart-wrung,
she was about to take refuge in an icy,
impregnable reserve, when
"What fool / am" he blurted out,
the picture of bewildering despair.
frba bapaSt frap1,paSS al hon ~