Middletown transcript., 1903-06-27
A GAME POSTPONED :.
BY GERTRUDE SMITH
By GERTRUDE SMITH.

bright and cozy. n
Isabel, here is Mr.. Holderman
!, my dear.
She sprang up.
II I didn't hear you come in
Good evening. Come over here
by the fire. Why, it's Clint. she
said, as he came into the glow.
I thought father meant your ia
ther. I never think of you as
Mr.. Holderm1n. Have some
corn.
She held the pepper open be-
| fore him.
| I'm sure never think of you
as Miss Hilton, he said, plunging
his hand into the corn and laugh
ing. That would be a little too
much like strangers, as long as
we've known each other.
The judge cleared his throat.
/ I have always decidedly dis
| liked the informality of country
people in calling every one by
their Christian names, he said.
1t leaves no degree in intimacy.
But I suppose it is impossible to
know where to draw the line.
Isabel went back and knelt be-
fore the fire again.
Oh, I'don't know, she said,
shaking the pepper vigorously.
AS long as it is a custom, I don't
think any one feels it a mark of
special intimacy, and SO the Gus
tom is protected by being a Gus
tom.
The young man sat awkwardly
in his chair and was silent.
They seemed to be closing the
doors against any thought he
might have of closer intimacy
with the family.
The Judge left the roem for a
moment and came back with a
lighted lamp and placed it on the
claw-legged table in the centre of
the room. He had put on long
dressing gown faced with Grim
son quilted silk and now he drew
his great chair up before the fire
and stretched himself out in it.
Come, Clint, I will let you shake
the pepper for me, and I'll 60
down the cellar and get some ap-
Piles, Isabel looked at him with a |
merry twinkle in her eyes, as she |
held the handle toward him, and |
then ran out of the room.
Clint grasped the handle of the
pepper with the delight Of sue
cess flooding his veins. Isabel
had never before given him a
reason to believe that she cared
for him that could compare with
that look.
Daylight would find him sitting
right there but he would beat
the judges watch, and gain the
opportunity of speaking to her.
It was a delightful evening.
The judge partook of the pop
corn and the conversation was
more than usually affable and en-
tertaining.
Isabel sat on the opposite side
Of the fireplace and crocheted on
a blue wool scarf. There were
pink spots burning her cheeks
and her eyes were very sweet.
The time passed on until the
noisy clock on the mantel clearly
and forcibly announced the hour
of ten. Il
1t had been comparatively easy
this far, but now was the time
when Clint usually went home.
The real contest was about to
begin.
The Judge showed the chair
back to the table, picked up pa
per and began to read. II
From time to time he glanced
over the top Of his paper at the {
two talking before the fire, but i
still read on.
When the clock struck eleven
ne threw the paper down, pulled !
MS chair back to the fire and :
lrew the young man into an ami !
mated political discussion.
Isabel stirred about the room,
putting things in order for the
hight.
1t was nearing midnight. For :
he last fifteen minutes the con.
7ersation had begun to lag. /
There were cold comments of
complete silence.
Had you noticed that I had h
raded horses? Clint asked, in r
me painful pause.
No; have you? Isabel asked, S
;oming forward with interest. h
Yes; I've traded the grays for
ieorge Merwin's blacks. Of r
curse there was considerable to
'oot. They go like the wind. /.
/ should think they would. Isa- b
vel drew deep breath. l do like 81
lack horses. never cared for Il