Evening journal., 1903-09-02

come back and remain long enough in
the grounds for me to go out and
punch his head.
l finally intimated that this Douglas
business was growing tiresome, think
ing she would mend her ways. What
was my surprise when she sorrowcd
more for Douglas than ever. Besides,
she seemed hurt, If not offended, that
/ should take 80 matter Of fact a view
Of what she called tender associa-
tions," and refused to allow me to play
the accompaniment again, playing 1t
herself and stumbling at every note.
Something must be done. Two weeks
once a year are too short to be spoiled
by such nonsense. and 1 resolved on a
stroke. One evening, after she had
walled the usual plant to Douglas, /
went to the piano, and after q few
melancholy chords sang:
o Mary dear, departed shade.
Who're is thy place OF blissful rest7
See st thou thy lover lowly laid?
Hearst thou the groans that rend his
breast?
I arose from the piano and went and
sat in a dark corner for awhile, then
rejoined Marcella.
Don't you think" / said, signing,
"that anniversaries are very sad?'
"very," she replied, not sympathet-
ically. 1 thought.
Nothing more So" sighed again.
IL supposed you to be a bachelor. II
appears that you are a widower."
''How did you find that out"
"By your singing Burns beautiful
lament to his wife so feelingly."
"Am I to consider you a widow be-
cause you are pining for Douglas?"
She got up and went into the house.
The next day was Saturday, and the
usual overflow from the city was ex-
pected. Marcella looked troubled.
whats the matterT 1 asked
douglas moved farther awayT
She bit her lip. 1 didn't know then
why, but 1 found out before long
without any reply she went into the
house.
In the afternoon when the express
came in the crowd came In with It, an6
with the crowd who should come bui
Douglas.
We'll, upon my word, and this Il
douglas. tender and true"-a pudgy
fat, knockkneed little man who slut
tered.
1 would have supposed that MARCEL;
would have met him. Not so. She did
not appear on the piazza, and at Dime
time had a headache. The next morn
ing / haw her trying to steal through
the hall to get away to the woods, bu
Douglas was watching for her, and
saw him approach with the air OF al
old friend, IL nothing more. Marcella
who saw that l was a witness to tn
meeting, blushed violently, made few
incoherent replies to his tender re
marks and dash for cover. Dougla
looked puzzled.
There was little seen OF Marcella tn
Monday after Douglas had departed Of
the early morning train. The SAM
evening she sat in an obscure corne
OF the parlor with a novel. went t
/ the plano and sang
Won't you come back TO me. Douglas,
Douglas. tender and true?
1 sang the whole song over twice
then walked out on 10 the piazza. l
wasn't long before l heard a few som
Der chords, followed by
o Mary. dear. departed shade
Where is thy place OF blissful rest?
I couldn't understand what had le
the girl to play such a game. 1 wen
to a good friend of mine, a marrie
woman Of mature years and with
knowledge Of the world. told her of th
episode and asked her opinion.
"She undertook to get you," was tn
reply.
"HowT'
s'By playing the man Douglas on o
you"
''Do you think that a high grade wa
Of getting a husbandY
'sYou men can't be reached by an
high grade means. Women have I
give you what you are fitted for"
"Do you mean to say that could
won by any such ignoble meansT"
"Of course you can and are. Your
= In love with Aarcella--so plainly
). love that everybody in the house ha
noticed it."
went out and Joined Marcella.
Douglas coming back soon?p asl
ed.
''He is coming back with Mary"
"Oh, perhaps It viii be as well
order to avoid embarrassments that b
} fore they come we should have a
understanding. II win save disappoin
ment. remark and all unpleasannes
. VIII you take a strollF"
A few days later when announce
10 my mentor that Marcella and
were engaged she replied:
"She played that very well. Witho'
% the Douglas incentive It never cou
s have been done in two weeks. possib
j. not in months"
. The most absurd part OF It all is thi
/ rejoice in having been caught eve
In so contemplate a trap.
INV