Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-10-21
Playing the Game

Z = =
Playing the Game !.
~ sS~-~-~~~-e-Se
"A ND / really think" said Mrs.
IN Merriman, sit was more than
one of my ordinary inspira-
ticns.
Reilly I" said 1.
Eyes. 1t was genius I'll tell you
4 about It. !.
LAURA was staying here. She wasn't
By way Of being actually engaged. you
know. One of those unsatisfac tory
sort Of hnlf.and-half things. He's a
nice boy--quite a nice boy; but he had
\ = gay little way, like the Tomtit, you
know.
Laura was here some time. They
$ wrote to each other; more often than
not, Is Tom would say. Then for a
few days she looked 'mopy.' and was,
for her, quite Cross. She came to me,
and by degrees began long rigma-
role. He was this, and he was that;
he was writing horrid, short letters; OF
course she didn't care-it wasn't that!
only he wasn't to think he could be-
have Is he chose. He was staying in
. house full of people; he had himself
said there were some nice girls there,
and-this was the apex Of the whole
matter-he was going next week to
another house. to which her twin sis
tee had been asked, and not she.
Your twin sisters pretty, isn't
shsy
81 don't know snappily. We
we're supposed to be exactly alike.
: Only she wears fringe, and has dark
er eyebrows. Yes. She is pretty
.'Then came sudden burst of con-
ndence. e
Dear Mrs. Merriman. I'm-afraid
he'll think she's prettier than ann
But surely he has seen her be-
forer
NO that's just 1t. He hasn't.
She's been abrond great deal. new
er met him till this summer. you
( know.
.Stopv i said authoritatively Il
: really couldn't bear any more conf
dences especially second -hand onesD
Stop! Ihave magnificent idea. Come
up to my room. and let me cut you a
fringe q.
"'What on earth do You meanr said
yLAura blankly.
WHAT I say. Come up at once, She
came, and cut 1t.
ut is great improvement she
! said, as she twisted up her hair. I
shall write and tell him.
No you WON'T l said. You little
blind idiot! Don't you understand?
Now, tell me how much would 1t take
to keep Norah away from the Cham
beflaynes'?'
'Laura's jaw dropped.
".To keep away? o, couldn't do
that. lists not what the boys call
playing the game" Besides. 1t would
upset the Chamberlaynes' plans
How II you went instead of herr
"Laura's head went up.
/" Thank you! l have more pride
than to force myself - she suddenly
stopped. She had caught sight of her.
self In the glass. She laughed, picked
up hand-glass, and turned slowly
\ round.
Could she be bribed with a hatT
said, with a business-like' air; "a Paris
& hat! z
".I-I think London one would do.
You sec, George Marten will be at the
rectory- She took burnt match
and began darkening her eyebrowA
II struck while the iron was hot.
Write at once to Norah and settle
everything said briskly. Go home
5 day or two earlier 4 shall be sorry
to lose you, dear. but this Is import
anti: borrow q respectable amount Of
Z Norah's things. and appear at the
Chamberlaynes' as Miss N. Stafford, "
1.-TWO days later.)
Ny Dearest Mrs. Merriman: 1 have
come and 30 has he. l nearly tainted.
He doesn't guess. He talked to me all
the evening about me-Laura! Twas
magnificent. No time for more. He
nsvsr ,oors At the other Girls yon.s
dssotasly I.AI1p
fNert dav, -
sn.ar Mr.. Marr,man. Won w,,, \.
.nrnr,.e.i ~ learn that leave hara ~
norrnw morn,pr Z would have ,as,
te.nieht univ there /. not q train
4 =. al over no has haan Gavin /,
.nch things. 10 think be avar co,, IA
locr - .nv one In eractIv INC son,e
r,sv 10 ussd r. iook ~ ma
4 vs,sh + was dead
I Told him today was going "a te,,
y.nrs - =
IL .o,d 10 no Won WOMEN
vh.t. Mn,
1swondar tent I'M Int did
How could I avar have liEad him
( ,the least little h,tp
y.r rao,,rs vow, n, yo,.,