The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-11-04

alike. She told the news. hoped she
might see each man sometime before
long addressed each as Dear Mr."
and signed herself, Sincerely your
friend, Margaret Benton"
She deliberately put Bobby's letter
into Ned's envelope, and Ned's into
Bobby's. Each, she thought, would,
after proper qualms, read the other
mans letter, return it to her with the
assurance that he had not read it. and
take fresh heart from her frankly un-
sentimental attitude to his rival. Thus
would she gain time, and peace. She
sealed, stamped and mailed the letters
with relief, and little mischievous
glee in her heart.
But she reckoned without her hosts
Up to a certain point her calculations
were correct however: each man re-
ceived the letter belonging to the other,
resolved virtuously not to read it, and
succumbed in the end, jubilant that
the lady of his desire had evidently no
love whatever for rival; each put
the letter in his pocket intending to
return it, not to it's owner proper, but
to Peggy herself. For on the spot,
each decided to run up Friday and sur
prise Peggy. Each decided to declare
his love, and each, thanks to the letter
in his pocket, was sure the other had
no chance with her, and was confident
of winning. They received these let
ters Wednesday,
About the same time Mrs. Benton
RI To ~ mil lnS
north in Clayton.
Dear Jack: l promised to write you
when l thought it would do you any
good to come. l think this is the time.
When a girl finds it hard to choose
between two men, it is ten to one she
wants a third man, and doesn't know
it. You are the third man, and the
right one. Yesterday Peggy grew very
angry when l mentioned Nell Forest.
Hadn't you better explain? Do it by
force if necessary; make her listen!
She deserves punishment for her treat
ment of you. And l am so tired of
having Ned and Bobby about! Sim
cerely yours,
tELEANOR BENTON"
FRIDAY came and found Peggy all
unconscious of three approaching sur
prises. Jack Burton was speeding
along on a south-bound train; Bobby
from the east, and Ned from the west,
were complacently approaching her.
and-each other. For as fate and poor
railway connections would have it.
Ned had to pass Bentonville by is
miles, and change cars at Flat June
ton, where Bobby also changed cars
for the city of his lady-love. The
trains of both men were late; they
ished, but friendly, on the platform. 1t
was raining in floods, and there would
not be another train till morning.
They took a room together at the
little place that called itself a hotel,
and decided to make the best of Il.
Thus it befell that gradually and eau
tiously they compared notes. 1t all
began by Bobby magnanimously re-
turning Neds letter, with the assur-
ance that he had not read it, by Ned's
astonished reciprocation of the COM
pliment, and the perusal by each of
his own letter, which ne saw, with dis
gusted amaZement, was almost the du-
plicate of his rivals.
Then there were explanations, and
from being angry at each other, they
became angry at Peggy. for the whole
story came outflow each had been to
see her every two weeks, and how
each hoped to get her now that she
had broken with Burton
FINALLY they went to bed, having
agreed to give her a thorough surprise
Together they would visit her, declare
their love almost in unison, and make
her choose between them; each was TO
abide by her decision, and to bear the
victor no ill-will They agreed that
they had been friends too long to
quarrel about a girl. But in his heart
each man was sure that he would sue
ceed.
They slept; so did Jack Burton in a
Bentonville hotel; and Peggy in her
dainty room at home. Saturday morn
ing Ned and Bobby, immaculate, and
not suspecting the surprise they were
to spring upon themselves, sauntered
out to Peggy's. They went by the back
road to the old orchard. She might be
there, and they could take her entire
ly unaware. She was there-and una
ware of them with vengeance
AS they came to sudden turn in
the winding path, they stopped and
stared. Beneath an old apple tree, her
sweet face upturned. was Peggy-in
the arms of John Burton! Her pretty
laugh rippled out.
Its all right about Nell, dear. Of
course you couldn't refuse when she
4 tal- laoxi Sho,e. b<,.di