Middletown transcript., 1907-12-14
FcoxrISulrD FROM LAST WEEK

AtA%t4At y 10 y -.
Ideal My dear chap, ! may
Be d fool / dare say ! an-ouls
I'm NOT such an absolute IDIOT as
10 let myself in for ! three 5ear
lease Of a hovel like that, e 'en
to please Celia !!
Well, if you feel as strongly as
all that about it,
That's all very fine, but Aou
don't know Celia as well as de.
They say outsiders see most q
the game, but outsiders haven I
got to play the game. When
Celia makes up her mind about
a thing. you may argue and per,
suade until you're black in the
face, and she won't give way The
hundredth part Of an inch.
Why not try some other plan2
What other plan? Anybody
can
Why not try humoring her,
Land myself with a three year
lease of that rabbit hu,ch, d sou
mean?
Not necessarily Let her
think that you've. taken i.
Austin shook his head
I don't like telling lies TO
women. It's not done, old chap
OF course not I stopped, pick
ed up piece of stick that was
on the path, and threw it, with
some care, into the river. Still,
in such an excellent cause
I'd rather punch Oakshott's
head.
I'm afraid that would merely
have the effect of arousing SYM
pathy for Oakshott. Now look
here. If you can reconcile your
conscience to telling one lit g ID,
/ think I can guarantee that
Celia will not only change her
mind about living in that cottage,
but will absolutely refuse to set
foot inside the place.
I don't see
Never mind whether you see
or not. Just have a little con-
fidence in me, make your an.
nouncement as nicely and US
humbly as you can, and I'll qua
rantee to do the rest. Do you
agree !?
All right, said Austin dn.
biously.
That's good. Now let's make
our arrangements. ! suppose
she doesn't meet you at the
station just at present?
His face grew dark.
That beast Oakshott catches
one ten minutes earlier.
Oh, you needn't worry about
Oakshott. He's only being used
Can you be strolling casually il
the direction of the lock about
half-past six on Wednesday?
Right you are. What then
You'll see me approaching yor
in my boat. Celia will be steer
ing. She'll probably stare hare
at the other bank, but don't bt
put off by that just hail Us
and I'll pull in,
Well 2?
Say, briefly and simply. tha
you have taken the cottage
Then raise your hat and wall
away.
Walk away But
Celia will call you ba k.
How do you know ?
/ feel sure oft. Brace up
You know, you're net half
bad old sort, said Austin.
III.
It was a listless, fretful, al
most sad little Celia who da abblel
a hand in the water as we lappe
lazily upstream. | would not as
her, however, what it was tha
troubled her. For one thing,
was good for Celia (and not ba
for Austin) that she should b
lieve in the males poor, patier
fel1ows!-s standing by one al
other in times of stress.
looked at my watch. It wa
FIVE minutes past six.
We ought to beturning, | sale
suiting the action to the word.
It's quite early, isn't it aske
Celia, swaIloWinga q sigh.
have an appointment at
quarter to seven.
A pause. | rested On my scull
and the boat drifled very slu:
gishly homeward- The wins
Of Fate rustled overhead. Gel
cleared her throat " ice. blnshe
scrutinized my face from beneal
the brim Of her hat, and then, q
Gliding that looked ,ympath II
observed:
I say
Well /? / replied The careles