The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-04-04
fore no uas our thinking Of mar.
rlage.
"A neat eplgram." she laughed.

That evening when ! said good night
to Mrs. Carruthers. she remarked play.
fully
81 am sorry about the old bird,
Phil"
80 am /, very sorry." / said, "but /
old birds cannot help being caught |
sometimes" and I went to bed feeling |
that had scored.
The days passed quickly enough at |
first. and Miss Delayne and / spent "A
great deal Of time with each other. We
sat together at meals, we walked TO
gether, We rode together, and we con-
tinued to derive great amusement
from the covert interest which Mrs.
Carruthers appeared to take In the
apparent progress OF her scheme.
soon found also that we had many 9th
er things in common besides our views
about marriage, and therefore Miss
| Delaynes company became in every
way a source OF more pleasure to me
than l had reason to anticipate when
we laid our plans.
This possibly created q desire on
my part to strictly enforce the terms
of our compact, and because Miss
Delayne did not always fall in with my
ideas as to how much We should be
together, attributed this rather to a
falling off of enthusiasm on her part,
which in its turn teuded to increase
my efforts.
Another and unlocked for factor
gradually appeared on the scene
to confuse our plans In the
shape Of Captain Rodgers. Perhaps l
was really right in thinking that Miss
Delayne was not keeping to her com
pact as much as she ought to, but GER
tainly this was partly the fault Of
the captain. The way he looked at
and spoke to her was a source of
great annoyance to me, because no
doubt Mrs. Carruthers would notice
it. and our little game would thereby
be spoiled And, therefore, felt that
Miss Delayne should not encourage
him; but when I mentioned the matter
TO her she did not see it in that way IT
all.
AS the days went on l found that
Rodgers was always at her side when
l happened to be away for moment,
and he even began to accompany her
on some of the outings. l remon-
| strated with her about this also, but
t she replied that we must be careful
: not to overdo our parts, and as l did
t not in any way wish her to think she
2 was being compromised by me, / had
: to acQuiesce in this, while tacitly
l writing with desire to kick Rodg
g ers. 1t was impossible, too, for me tc
r take him into my confidence, because
/ apart from the fact that ii was not my
t secret, he might then openly declare
+ that he did not recognize the game Of
my right to monopolize Miss Delayn'
r If | had no serious intentions.
L Was it possible that Mrs. Carruthers
,, having despaired of me, and bein;
s determined to make up a match TO
r Miss Delayne, had put the captain O.
8 after all? If that was the case l woul
= thwart her at all costs, and so mad
d every effort to forestall Rodgers o.
all occasions.
% But the more tried to be with Mis-
20 Delayne the more she contrived t.
1t keep out of my way; neither could
d get any satisfactory explanation frol
s. her. In fact, she could not or woul
or not see that she was not carrying OF
n her mart of the agreement Her mai
ner to me had gradually become MOI
reserved than it was at first; theI
10 was not the confidence and feeling
e. equality which had found in the b
u ginning, and of course, it was a
" through that COMPOUNDED Rodgers.
at began to see that the game was NJ
Ut going to come off, and the sooner
left and ended it the better, as muC
y, a triviality was not worth the distur
AZ ance of my peace of mind. Accordin
III ly made my preparations, and tn
evening l told Miss Delayne about n
intentions.
~ 81 find that l shall have to leave
morrow morning" l replied
indeed" she replied. Il am We
~ ~ sorry"
M She certainly appeared most &C
cerned.
"Why are you sorly?" l said, fe
GA ing my way on to sentimental grour
- "Well, because you are going befo
= me- and am afraid that Mrs. Carru
=, ers will ask me the fatal question.
u" us that all?" l asked disappoint'
- ly. Il was hoping"
az 81 see you think it is rather self
of me" she interrupted, but alwa
think epigrams are so near toto
A-I "Tn what?" I asked.