Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-11-18

she calmly tore them to bits.
1--WE a notion to do it, she said to |
herself. Things are getting mixed. |
They ere ready to fly off the handle
each so jealous of the other! I've got |
to calm them down, till l can decide
which like"
Then she wrote to each man an hon
est, casual, friendly letter, with no
trace of Irritation, or any sentiment
beyond friendship. They were much
alike. She told the news, hoped she
might see each man sometime before
long addressed eacn as Dear MIR"
and signed herself, Sincerely your
friend Margaret Benton"
She deliberately but 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 I'M
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
| 4 hrtr
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
tiers 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 l thought it would do you any
good to come. 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 | 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 l am so tired of
having Ned and Bobby about! Sin
cerely yours,
ELEANOR BENTON"
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 Bentonvile by 16
miles, and change cars at Flat juno
ton, where Bobby also changed cars
for the city of his lady-love The
trains of both men were late; they
missed connections, and met, aston
: ished, but friendly, on the platform. 1t
, was raining in floods, and there would
: not be another train till morning.
l They took a room together at the
little place that called itself a hotel
and decided to make the best of it.
Thus it befell that gradually and eau
tiously they compared notes. 1t all
began by Bobby magnanimously re-
, turning Ned's 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
on OF Tod
, plicate of his rivals
. Then there we're explanations, and
= from being angry at each other. they
became angry at Peggy for the whole
= story came outflow each had been tc
=, see her every two weeks, and how
u eacn 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
y her choose between them; each was t.
abide by her decision, and to bear the
4 victor no ill-will. They agreed tina
q they had been friends too long t,
t quarrel about girl. But in his hear
= each man was sure that he would sue
/ ceed
, They slept; so did Jack Burton in ;
y Bentonville hotel; and Peggy in he
y dainty room at home. Saturday morn
g ing Ned and Bobby. immaculate. ant
not suspecting the surprise they wer
3, to spring upon themselves, sauntere,
out to Peggys. They went by the bacl
h road to the old orchard She might b
\ there, and they could take her entire
E. ly unaware She was there-and una
g ware of them with a vengeance.
D AS they came to a sudden turn IL
the winding path, they stopped an
t, stared. Beneath an old apple tree, he
lie sweet face upturned, was Peggy-iI
Ii the arms of John Burtonl Her prett
. laugh rippled out
u MIt,s all rinht q hnllt Mi aoa- q