Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-10-26
Playing the Game


81 ND really think" said Mrs.
| IN Merriman, sit was more than
go one of my ordinary inspira-
lions.
"Really?" said l.
Eyes. 1t was genius III tell you
about it.
Laura was staying here. She wasn't
by way Of being actually engaged, you
know. One of those unsatisfactory
sort Of half-and-hal things. He's q
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, as Tom would say. Then for n
few days she looked 'mopy,' and was,
for her, quite cross She came to me,
and by degrees began a long rigma-
role. He was this, and he was that;
he was writing horrld, short letters; of
course she didn't cAre-it wasn't that!
only he wasn't to think he could be-
have as 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
ter had been asked, and not she.
".Your twin sisters pretty, isn't
she?
81 don't know snappily. We
we're supposed to be exactly alike.
Only she wears fringe, and has dark
err eyebrows Yes She Is pretty
"Then came sudden burst Of con-
fdence.
"'Dear Mrs Merriman. I'm-afraid
he'll think she's prettier than l ann
"'But surely he has seen her be-
fore?
"'No-that's just it. He hasn't.
She's been abroad a great deal. l new
err met him till this summer, you
know
"'Stopn l said authoritatively q
really couldn't bear any more conf
dences- especially secondhand onesD
Stop. l have a magnificent idea Come
up to my room, and let me cut you
fringe
"'What on earth do you mean| said
Laura blankly.
"'What say Come up at once. She
came and l cut it.
1T is great improvement she
| said. as she twisted up her hair. L
shall write and tell him.
"'No you won't l said. You little
blind idiot. Don't you understand?
Now, tell mellow much would it take
to keep Norah away from the Cham
berlayncs'?'
"Laura's jaw dropped.
".To keep away? o. 1 couldn't do
that LISTS not what the boys call
playing the game" Besides, it would
upset the Chamberlaynes' plans
How if you went instead of her?
"Lauras 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
I'D a hand glass, and turned slowly
round
could she he bribed with hat"
said, with Il business-lille air; "A Paris
hat?'
IL think London one would do.
You see, George Marten will be at the
rcctory--' She took burnt match
and began darkening her eyebrows
Il struck while the iron was hot.
Write at once to Norah and settle
eyerything,' | said briskly. Go home
a day or two earlier q shall be sorry
10 lose you, dear, but this is import
anti: borrow a respectable amount of
Norahs things. and appear at the
Chamberlaynes as Miss n. Stafford :"
Two days laterD
My Dearest Mrs. Merriman: | have
come and so has he | nearly tainted
, He doesn't guess. He talked to ME all
the evening about me-Laura. Twas
magnificent. No time for more. He
never looks at the. other girls. Yours
devotedly. LAURA.
| (Next day.
Dear Mrs. Merriman: You will be
surprised to learn that l leave here to-
morrow morning l would have left
tonight, only there is not train.
It is all over. He has been saying
such things. To think he ever could
look at any one in exactly the same
way he used to look at me.
wish ! was dead.
I told him to-day l was going to tel
Laura.
He said. 90 no, you won't"
I hate him.
, l wonder kept up, but I did.
, How could l ever have liked hin
the least little bit: