The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-31
MIR. Williams Method.
Observation-Disclosures


Billy Williams" said a friend of
his, always lights on his feet. He's !
forever getting into trouble, but gets
out of it as easily as he gets into it.
Here is an explanation by example
of how Billy managed it, His best
girl was Emma Scott; his second best
was May Parkinson; his third best
But it doesn't matter about the others.
The two named are sufficient 10 show
the adroitness OF Mr. Williams in han
ding his love affairs. One afternoon
he drove up to Miss SCOTS home and
sent up word that he would be happy
to have her go to drive with him The
young lady came downstairs looking
like a thundercloud Billy was sur
prlsed
I'm much obliged for the invita-
ton" she said, but l don't care to
risk accepting any further invitations
from you"
why what can you mean?" asked
Billy wonderingy.
Were you not 10 come for me last
Saturday,"
For what purpose
ITO drive of course"
1t suddenly popped into Billy's head
that he had invited Miss Scott to drive
with him on that afternoon and for
gotten the engagement. Worse, be
had taken Miss Parkinson to drive on
that same afternoon. He said nothing
but looked the picture of abject repent
ance.
"WellT' said Miss Scott.
81 was so absorbed with another
matter that l forgot all about it,"
absorbed with what matter?"
"You know I'm on the house commit
tee of my club There's to be "a
Now, don't add falsehood to your
other sins. l happen to know that the
matter which absorbed you was Miss
Parkinson. You passed here with r.
was standing at the window with my
things on waiting for you. You gave
me a profound bow. swinging your hat
in the air as If you were the first gen
tleman in America"
Did II" said Billy, with eyes wide
open
YES. you did, and now you have
the assurance three days later to come
and ask me to drive. Do you expect
me to stand everything"
Billy hung his head.
Il have no objections whatever"
continued Miss Scott viciously, TO
your attentions to Miss Parkinson or
any other girl. but l do object to your
putting a positive slight upon me- 1t
was rude enough for you to forget
your engagement, but to take another
girl to ride and drive by this house
was positively insulting"
| Billy looked crushed.
"Now, l want you to understand"
| the girl ran on, that you are perfect
| iy welcome to devote yourself to May
| Parkinson all you please. / don't care
thatr' She snapped her fingers angrily.
! "Only so long as you continue your at
tentions to that kind of a girl l don't
| want you to come to see me-"
! Billy bowed himself out with such
manifest contrition, pain, disappoint-
ment, that the girl was half tempted
to call him back: but, since he had
made no promise to discontinue his at
tentions to Miss Parkinson, she suffer
ed him to depart without a reconcilia-
ton. He got into his buggy and drove
away with such a sorrowful air that
the lady who was watching him from
behind the window curtains half re
pented her severity. Still. till willy
( Willy promised to shake" her rival
she would have no more Of him.
Unfortunately for Mr.. Williams, the
next time he met his best girl-it was
at a chrysanthemum exhibit-he was
dawdling along in the companionship
of Miss Parkinson. Miss Scott gave
him a formal bow, and Billy took off
his hat with a melancholy expression
which might mean almost anything. 1t
might indicate that some dreadful mis-
fortune connected him with his second
best girl or that be was too gallant to
turn away from her At any rate, 1t
did not mollify Miss Scott.
From time to time Miss Scott con-
tinued to meet Mr.. Williams, and he
was usually attending Miss Parkinson.
He always greeted Miss Scott with a
melancholy smile If he had been SO
uDSdilanI as 10 Indicate pldIuIy Indb lie
was bored. Miss Scott would have de-
spised him. He did no such thing. He
simply grieved.
One morning the postman brought
Miss Scott a letter on which she rec
ognized the we'll known hand Of Mr.
Williams. Tearing it open, she read:
dy Dear Miss Parkinson-You must par
don ne for the plainness OF what have
to say to you. Your attentions to me are
not only irksome. but they are keeping
me from the society of another whose
good opinion I prize. 1 trust this frank
statement will not render you my enemy.
Yours, WILLIAM WILLIAMS.
1t didn't take Miss Scott long to SEE
that William Williams had addressed
his note to her by mistake. She was
pleased TO think that his mind was pre-
occupied with her own sweet self. She
waited for more definite information
The next mail brought a note from
Billy begging her TO return 4 letter