Smyrna times., 1907-12-11
O1ef Of the
Frying Pan.
By CECILIA A. LOIZEAUX.
Copyright. 1907. by C. H. sutcliffe.
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"Theres not much use in our plan
Oing anything" said Mrs. Halsted, a
rihe petulantly. "You don't know
Mary. She's too contrary to agree
with herself. and the minute she finds
out that we want her to meet Ben
she'll go off at a tangent and every
thing will be spoiled"
'There are more ways than one to
kill cat" replied Mrs. MaIlham sue
cinctly 'Why do you let her find it
out, then? Just let him take her by
surprise. I'll arrange it so that he
stops here on his way up to Wisconsin,
where he goes for his vacation. He
will just drop off for a day to see his
aunt, and then our troubles will be over.
| There is no doubt whatever that they
were made for each other, and they
might as well have it over with. If l
were you I'd have the wedding in Oc-
tober," she finished complacently.
"Well"- said the other doubtfully
And then: How does Ben feel about
it? After all. it mostly depends on
how he takes it. Is he interestedY
Indeed he is. He feels a little shy,
think, but he's willing to be shown
Says he's from Missouri l think he's
even anxious. But, as far as that goes,
Mary is interested, too, only she is too
independent to show it. Just give her
a chance to meet him accidentally or
Unexpectedly and everything will be
all right"
"Is that sor' calculated girl in
the dimly lit hall, though she sup
pressed her voice. $50 I'm to have a
blue ribbon tied about my neck and
be exhibited to this eager young man
from Missouri, am IT'
Once in her room she turned the
lights on at either side of her dressing
table and looked at herself in the glass
Her glowing dark face was anything
but meek, and she turned the light of
again with a little vicious snap anC
then sat down in the open window
She was angry-very angry, she told
herself.
"The very idea of planning to marry
me off to n man I've never seen anC
never want to see! It's positively me
diaeval."
But presently the humorous side O
it came to the rescue as was usua
with her. and she laughed as she un
dressed.
Early the next morning she wrote
long letter to her best friend, who wa
spending the summer at the lakes, ant
laughed gIeefully as she ran down
stairs to put it in the box. Early a
she was, however, some one had bee
there before her. 4 letter was stick
ing out, and, thinking that the pOst
man must have passed already, sh
pulled it out to see if it was hers.
"Mr. Ben Markham, Des Moine!
Ia.," she read and. rammed it viciousl
back into the box. ''They aren't was
ing any time at any rate. But it take
two to fall in love, Mr.. Ben Markham
and L can't get away to marry 70
today" she sang. NOR this Octobe
ether
For two days she watched the ma
closely. and on the third day the pos
man on his noon trip put into her Ou
stretched hand the letter for which sh
was waiting 1t was in masculiI
9 script and addressed to Mrs. Markham
She carried il up to the lady in hC
J. room and then went ON into her Ow
leaving the door open a crack 81
was rewarded by hearing the guest So
to her mother: Hes coming Thur
day. He has tried to write indifferen
ly, but And then she banged Il
door.
"He probably was Indifferent.
would he if he were anything but
Te petticoat man! l should think he
hate the sound Of my name as bad
as do his. Me would If he were an
thing but a mOllycOddle" And s.
wrote another brief note to MadG
telling her she would be down on
noon train Thursday.
On Wednesday while her mother a
Mrs. Markham were out driving s
e got a large trunk safely away frc
the house.
''There is no use going down the
without anything to wear" she phil
ophized. 81 shall probably see Ott
people quite as wonderful as Mr.. b
jamin Markham and a great deal me
interesting"
She thought she understood
amused glances which the older wo
en- gave her.
''They think they've got me trappe
she said to herself And she spent I
evening talking sweetly to Mrs. Ma
ham until her mother came out to
piazza and asked her to run over t.
neighbor's for something. When {
came back Mrs. Markham was at
telephone in the hall, and her mot
shut the door and kept her talking
til the other came out. Mary grim
in the dark.