The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-26
oar offbe
Frying Pan.
BY CECILIA A. LOTZEAUx.
Copyright, 1907, by c. H. sutolifre.

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There's not much use in our plan.
ming anything" said Mrs. Halsted, a
trifie 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 tangent and every.
thing will be spoiled"
''There are more ways than one to
kill cat" replied Mrs. Markham sue.
cinctly. why do you let her find il
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 1t over with. II !
were you I'd have the wedding in DC.
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,
l 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 1t. Just give her
a chance to meet him accidentally OF
Unexpectedly and everything will be
all right"
rs that so!' calculated a girl in
the dimly lit hall, though she sur
pressed her voice. $50 I'm to have q
blue ribbon tied about my neck ana
be exhibited to this eager young man
from Missouri, am I?'
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 off
again with a little vicious snap and
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 a man I've never seen and
never want to see! It's positively me-
diaeval''
But presently the humorous side Of
1t came to the rescue. as was usual
with her, and she laughed as she IN
dressed.
Early the next morning she wrote a
long letter to her best friend, who was
spending the summer at the lakes, and
laughed gleefully as she ran down
stairs to put it in the box. Early as
She was, however, some one had been
there before her letter was stick
Ing out, and, thinking that the post
man must have passed already, she
pulled it ont to see If 1t was hers.
Mr.. Ben Markham, Des Moines
Ia she read and rammed it viciously
oack into the box. "They aren't vast
ing any time at any rate. But it takes
TWO to fall in love, Mr.. Ben Markham,
and / can't get away to marry you
today,'" she sang, NOR this October
either"
For two days she watched the mail
closely, and ON the third day the post
nan on his noon trip put into her out
stretched hand the letter for which she
was waiting. 1t was in masculine
script and addressed to Mrs. Markham.
sue carried it up to the lady in her
oom and then went on into her own,
easing the door open a crack. She
as rewarded by hearing the guest say
her mother: Hes coming Thurs
ny. He has tried to write Indifferent
y put And then she hanged the
oor.
ne probably was indifferent He
,olid be If he were anything but a
etucoat man, / should think he'd
-1te the sound of my name as badly
DO his. He would If he were any
lg but a moIlyeoddler And she
ro'e another brief note to Madge,
tihg her she would be down on the
1oon train Thursday.
on Wednesday while her mother and
us Markham were out driving she
large trunk safely away from
he house.
rt.. nie Is no use going down there
uncut anything to wear" she phIlos-
alIed Il shall probably see other
quite as wonderful as Mr.. Ben
Dt.L In markham and a great deal more
cue thought she understood the
o giances which the older WON