Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1902-03-07
HOODWINKED.



ferred to the fowl. but being greeted
with cries of Name Namel" The
contretemps was very annoying-as
felt that | was now thoroughly in
/ Mrs. Caruthers' bad books, and al
though she did not know what we had
been talking about, still-such is the
effect of a guilty Conscience felt
sure she must think that l had re
ferred to her. Miss Dclayne also did
not seem over pleased at my innocent
! indiscretion which had directed the
company's attention to her. and she
occupied herself with Captain Rodg
| ers. who was on her other side. He
| was an old acquaintance of mine. one
! of those generous, good-hearted sort
OF fellows who is always stony broke,
and who will always step into the
breach to help a friend
had often told him that would one
day find him rich wife. but now that
| saw him talking with Miss Delayne
| did not feel so particularly keen
about my suggestion to Mrs. Carruth-
ers. as it happened to interfere with
brilliant plan which l had just thought
| of and which would dish Mrs. Carruth-
| ers so nicely. | recognized at once that
it would be difficult to put the case
too bluntly to Miss Delayne, so accord
! ingly, when later in the evening !
found myself ensconced with herin the
conservatory, l proceeded to let her
unfold the plans | had thought out
over my cigar. | little thought what
would happen in the same conserva-
tory in about three weeks time.
Mrs. Carruthers is a most enter
tanning hostess and an amiable WON
an | remarked. by way of preface.
and she has one set sin. But this
is the first time she applied her ener-
gies in my direction although she has
known me ever since | was so high"
What are you going to do?" asked
Miss Delayne.
Rather ask, What are we going to
do? said. not wishing TO reply to
such a delicate personal question. 1T
all rests with you" l continued, add
ing quickly, whether we are to dis
please her by avoiding each other or
deceive her by pretending to fall N
with her views"
Miss Delayne's eyes twinkled.
Mr. Mellor. you forget that there
are other ways. | might. for instance
pretend that | did not want your com
pany. while you could easily satisfy
Mrs. Carruthers by your actions that
you were doing your best to carry out
her schemes"
Yes" / assented, not at all eagerly
or she continued. you could
leave suddenly tomorrow on urgent
private business"
quite So l faltered.
But it would be very selfish Of me
to spoil your holiday here?'
Not at all, 4 interrupted.
And | rather like your second idea.
In fact. it would be great fun. think,
to upset Mrs. Carruthers' little plans
for once"
That is just what l thought" | ex-
claimed
We could be a lot in each others
company" she said.
And especially when Mrs. Carruth-
ers is about | added
Il have expectations. and don't want
any man to marry me for them"
And I have money. but if took a
wife she should only take me for my
merits"
That is capital" she said. "Then
we are agreed in our views sf life. Let
lie CHI a rpo,o II
We shook hands.
we shall have great fun out OF it,
said,
And be the best Of friends" she
added. Poor Mrs. Carruthers," she
laughed, and then a look Of doubt
crossed her face. What shall We say
to her if she puts the direct question
to either or both of us when we
leave?"
That is very simples' answered.
we need merely to say We found out
at the beginning that our views of life
we're similar, and that it was there
fore no use our thinking of mar
riage.
"A neat epigram" she laughed.
That evening when said good night
to Mrs. Carruthers, she remarked play
fully
Il am sorry about the old bird.
Phil"
so am /. very sorry" said, "but
old birds cannot help being caught
sometimes" and 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 10.
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
Delayne's company became in every
way a source Of more pleasure to me
than ! had reason to anticipate when
we laid our plans.
This possibly created a 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 tended to increase
my efforts
Another and unlocked for factor