Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-10-27

hair. and a radiant complexion hei
smile was entranciug. She picked uE
the letters and re-read them. Then
she calmly tore them to bits.
I've notion to do 1t, she said te
herself. Things are getting mixed
They are ready to fly off the handle
each so jealous of the other! I've goi
to calm them down, till | can decide
which like"
Then she wrote to each man an hon.
est. casual, friendly letter, with nj
trace Of Irritation, or any sentiment
beyond friendship. They were much
alike. She told the news, hoped she
might see each man sometime befor5
long addressed each as Dear Mr.--
and signed herself, Sincerely yoW
friend, Margaret Benton"
She deliberately but BObby's letter
into Ned's envelope, and Neds 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 1t, 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 a little mischieyous
glee in her heart
But she reckoned without her hosts.
Up to a certain point her calculations
were correct however: each man re-
ceiyed the letter belonging to the other,
resolved virtuously not to read it, and
In ba
the lady Of his desire had evidently no
love whatever for a rival; each put
the letter in his pocket intending to
return it, not TO its owner proper, bat
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
wrote a note to John Burton. 100 miles
north in Clayton.
Dear Jack: | promised to write you
when | thought il would do you any
good to come | think this is the time
When girl finds it hard to choose
between two men. it is ten to one she
wants third man, and doesn't know
it. You are the third man and the
right one. Yesterday Peggy grew very
angry when | mentioned Nell Forest.
Hadn't you better explain? Do it by
force if necessary; make her listenl
She deserves punishment for her treat
ment of you. And | am so tired of
having Ned and Bobby about! Sin
ccrely yours.
ELEANOR 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
We're complacently approaching her,
and-each other For as fate and poor
railway connections would have it.
Ned had to pass Bentonville by 10
miles, and change cars at Flat june
ton, where Bobby also changed cars
for the city of his lady-Iove The
trains of both men were late; they
missed connections, and met. aston
ished. but friendly, on the platform. It
was raining in floods, and there would
not be another train till morning.
They look 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 cau-
tiously they compared notes. 1t all
began by Bobby magnanimously re-
ance that he had not read it, by Ned's
astonished rcCiprOcation Of the com
pliment, and the perusal by each of
his own letter, which ne saw, with dis
gusled 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
eacl hoped to get her now that she
had broken with Burton.
finally they went to bed. having
agreed to give her thorough surprise
Together they would visit her. declare
their love almost in unison, and make
her choose between them; each was to
tbide by her decision, and to bear the
victor no iIl-will. They agreed that
they had been friends too long to
quarrel about girl. But in his heart
each man was sure that he would sue
CeeQ
They slept; so did Jack Burton in
BentcHville 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 Pe&gy'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.