The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-04-29
Amateur
Strategy
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

youths PRIDE themselves. strangely
enough, however, though otherwise
complete, it lacked one of the essen
tinls-indeed, a vital essential-of a
Students room decorations. There
wire no photographs.
he other fellows had pictures of
girls in evening gowns, girls in street
costume, girls in golf garb, girls on
horseback, girls afoot-always girls.
Put not girls picture adorned Perez
vnls den except one lonely small min
lature and that stood far withdrawn,
hi, den on the back of his desk.
Randolph Chase hauled it out on one
occasion before Perceval could reach
hin with a OBTAINING hand.
What queer little grip Randolph
said.
Put it back" Perceval said shortly,
his face af1ame.
lut the other fellows crowded be-
hird Randolph and looked at the pic
ture over his shoulder.
Such a mop Of hair and such lit
ne facer' said one Of them.
lut it backw Perceval's tone rasp-
. ed with irritation. "Put it back, Ran
dophw
Randolph, after one glance at the
younger mans countenance, set the
miniature back on the desk hastily.
"oh, If you feel that way about it," he
apologized.
Put the next night when he was
alone with Perceval he said: II don't
want to be inQuisitive, but I was aw-
fnly interested In that girls face.
Who is she?"
ierceval was standing at the win
dow, looking out upon the elm Dor
dered street, where the big electric
lights cast great shadows.
That" he said without looking
around-"that girl, as you call her, is
Mrs. Perceval Moore"
"Whatw Randolph's tone expressed
extreme incredulity. you surely don't
mean
lerceval whirled around. THAT l
am married? Yes"
Randolph whistled. well, of all
ihingsp he said. And after that there
was silence.
Then Perceval came over and flung
himself into chair opposite Ran
dolph. owe simply got to tell some
body, Chase" he said. "Tm in an aw-
flu fix, and she's the dearest and truest
and best little thing in the world"
Randolph reached over and picked
W the miniature again. "She truly
looks it," he said after he had studied
it for long time.
l'erceval choked a little before he
aRF wered. "Sbe's an angel, Ran
dolph."
Then what's the matter?" Ran
dolph questioned.
perceval leaned forward.
I've deceived her. She doesn't know
that l am in college. She thinks am
earning a good salary in business"
We'll, son." said Randolph Chase,
''it seems to me that sort of deception
is Il kind that girl can forgive easily
enough. l guess she won't be wildly
indignant when she finds that next
year-it Is next year that you come Of
age. isn't it?-you'll have big pile of
money coming to you. Any girl would
be tickled to death to find that"
l'erceval shook his head. mot An
Mabel" he declared. isn't her name
dear and old fashioned, Chaser"
Yes" Randolph agreed But why
will she object to million, Perceval|
Because she will say that l lied to
her" Perceval said slowly, land An
mabel can forgive anything but lie."
Out with itr' Randolph probed.
TELL me the whole story. 1t must be
a queer one, and If you don't mind
my saying so, old man, she must be
queer girl"
That's just what she is" said Perez
val. Il met her last year at the beach.
She was such quaint, queer little
thing that she attracted me. She al
ways wore white, and l would find
her sitting on the sand singing little
songs to herself. There was an old
sea captain to whom she talked good
deal, and / got him to introduce us.
Wen, she had read lot Of books
on social equality, and she just simply
didn't have any use for the gilded
youth with money. What Annabel
wanted was man who worked, pref
erably with his hands, but failing
that, one who lived in the thick of
the fight for existence. And she meant
it too. And that is where fell.
Il was head over heels In love with
her." continued Perceval forlornIy,
"and simply wouldn't let her go.
70 let her believe that was work
Ing my way up in business. The first
lie was simple enough and looked like
Dne of those things that could be
squared easily enough afterward. But,
oh, Chase! l had to back that lie up
with details on details until / had lied
TO her at least ten lies to the hour
Well, we were married before l left
In the fall. / wasn't of age, and she
wasn't, and she wouldn't leave home
until could support her without ham
terlng my business career.
II knew l had to come back to col