Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-09-21
CONTRARIETY
DEFEATED
BY Margaret Richards

Martha closed her book with an i'm
patient little bang. II don't see why
you are forever talking about him."
| she exclaimed resentfully.
Aunt Clara, the long suffering. look
| eel appealingly at her pretty niece.
But, Martha, Mrs. Barry makes such
! point Of your meeting him. she pro-
| tested plaiptiycly.
And | make point of not meeting
| him." interpolated her rebelious niece.
But, Martha, he is
"Oh, | know them all," interrupted
Martha = unmarried, well born, good
| cooking rich. famous" she repeated
| gibly, checking Off the words OH the
| tips Of her pretty fingers.
''lIe IS al that and more" replied
Aunt Clara warmly. and why you
| should assume this unreasonable atti-
tude is more than I can understand"
| Her niece eyed her resentfully. II
don't see why l should be expected to
| put myself forward for this parag CONS
| approval" she objected.
Aunt Clara's voice trembled with
righteous indignation. Martha Jor-
dan, you talk like an IDIOT" she said.
| ''rEen why do you always throw me
| at hin!T demanded Martha.
| ''No one is trying to throw you at
| nim." continued her aunt with unex-
pected energy. HE probably wouldn't
take You if they did,
Indeed he wouldn't" murmured her
niece feelingly.
| Mrs. Barry has asked us to dine
and incidentally to meet her nephew
have had to make excuses for you
twice before. Martha. You will go this
tSaey she pleaded anEiously.
Not l." responded Martha. Il shall
not intict my unworthy presence upon
the Hon. John Clark Chamberlin.'
/ Il cannot understand this violent an
| tagoLism you seem to have developed"
demonstrated Aunt Clara, relapsing in
TO her usual state Of plaintive protest
"And what reason can l give"
| "Say l nm out of town. l will go
ON up to Stockbridge. 1t will be only
TWO days earlier than we were going
anyhow"
you would be alone" eXpostulated
Aunt Clara.
| "Only for two days. and Mrs. Reid Is
there-you don't mind, dear?" coax
fngly.
But
That's darling" Two warm arms
were around Aunt Clara's neck and
soft cheek pressed hers lovingly. And
now will make you cup of nice hot
tea and see If Mary has baked any Of
the cakes you like, and perhaps there
will be time enough for me to run
down to Smiths before dinner and get
that lace you wanted"
Poor Aunt Clara subsidized helplessly.
! 1t was two days later that a young
man, tall, broad shouldered, suit case in
hand, rushed up the steps of the sub
way at the Grand Central station.
dashed through the waiting room,
pushed past the guard at the gate, ran
toward the Pittsfield express and
leaped on to the steps Of the last car
as the train was pulling out of the
station.
"Reg'lar home run, mister" COM
mented the brakeman, who had watch
ed his flying approach with adIniring
interest
The young man laughed as he swung
himself up the steps and into the
crowded car. There must be a run on
Berkshires," he reflected as he walked
slowly along the aisle Every seat
was filled. The next car was no bet
ter, but IN the third his eyes lighted
on vacant place.
May sit here?" he asked perfume
torily, glancing casually at the other
occupant, then looking again with
growing interest as he realized that
his prospective neighbor was a decided
ly pretty girl But he was allowed
. only the briefest glimpse of pair Of
gray eyes as their owner vouChsafed
him formal nod, and he sank thank
fully Into the seat beside her He
glanced furtively at her as the train
left the tunnel. The survey was not
encouraging, Evidently the gray eyes,
the dimpled chin. the fair face turned
so steadfastly toward the window.
were not for him.
On and on sped the train Mamaro-
neck, Rye, Stamford glidcd swiftly by.
He pulled out his paper and forgot the
proximity Of the gray eyes until look
ing up suddenly, he surprised them
looking into his own. She flushed and
turned abruptly to the window, and he
bowed grayely and returned t. his
paper, but the article had lost its in.
terest. He found himself rebelllng at
the convention that prescribed his
speaking to her and then wondered Mt
his rebellion. He had never before
shown any symptoms of undue suscep-
tibility, he reflected dryly, smiling ut
the memory OF his aunt's frantic ef-
forts at matchmaking on his behalf.
One hour--two horrs-three hours
passed. On they went. through vii
lagos nesting I'm sht How valleys. past
fields white with daisies and on
through long. wooded slopes. as the
train wound in and out among the
bills. II something only would hap
pen. he thought, looking absently at
the panorama unfolded from the car
wlndow-and then something did,
The train went more and more slow
ly, halted. stood still: the passengers
tlrI1GT In irir dc