The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-30
UNIMPRESS|ONABLE
HARRINGTON.
A Scheme That Did Not Turn Out
as Was Planned.
~ RICHARD BARKER SHELTON.
ECopyrlght. 1909, by Associated Literary
Press.l

Ted harrington blew out cloud of
smoke and smiled lazily.
Must |. now. AnnetteY' he said.
''Whyfore and whereforeT
"She's dangerous" said Mrs. Vain
wright, with the air of one imparting
select and exclusive condolences.
ssShe's disturbing element. rely
on you to keep the peace Of the house
while she's here. Fact is, Teddy, dear,
she's a most incorrigible and heartless
hirt The last time she was here she
left in her train a cohort Of heartsick
gwains that was positively appalling.
Its perfectly dreadful to have a jolly
little house party disrupted as that one
was
harrington squinted his eye thought
fully as he looked away to the great
blue bulk Of the hills rising in the dis
lance against a perfect sky.
"And so. Annette, am to be the sac
rihce. as 1t were. am IT' he chuckled
good naturedly. won't somebody else
do? I'm lazy. I'm having the time Of
my life here just being lazy"
II have come to you" said she with
deep conviction. because you are one
Of the few men know whom believe
can remain heart whole under all cir
cumstances. Oh, don't look so conceit-
ed about It. The ghastly truth of the
matter Is that you are much too In.
: dolent and self satisfied to fan In love
Therefore ! make this appeal"
"Oh, II you put It that. way now. :"
said he IN mock protest
II do" said she. "You must. as
say, monopolize her while she's here.
Make her think she has made a con.
quest Take her sailing and motoring
and riding, understand? Make her
think your case is very, very dcs-
perate"
"Oh, you women-you scheming, far.
sighted women" he complained. ''Set
your fiuttering heart at rest. Annette.
For old sakes sake I'll do my best.
When Is she coming7"
'"This afternoon. Hubbard has gone
down In the trap to meet her"
A rumble Of wheels sounded in the
roadway. A trap drawn by a smart
cob turned into the drive. Mrs. Vain.
wright nodded meaningly toward It
and withdrew. and harrington. turn
ing his lazy eyes toward the drive,
saw in the approaching trap n vision
OF wavy hair and pink cheeks and
flowing veil that was not at all unat.
tractive.
"Well. we'll" said the unlmpression.
able Darlington, ''lt's not such an aw.
ful thing to be the appointed sacriAce.
after nil"
An hour later Mrs. Wainwright was
presenting bin 10 the girl and some.
thing In the older woman's eyes warn
ed harrington that his duties were 10
begin at once. Therefore he stepped
nobly into the breach.
"Oh. ! say. Miss Gray" said he. are
you fond Of motoring? You are
Good. Wainwright has n little peach
Of car IN the garage. Suppose get
II out and show you how II can take
the hills round here"
"Oh. jolly she declared.
They motored until dinner time. and
at the after dinner bridge Miss Gray
was Barrington's partner. And the
following days he followed out Mrs.
Walnwrlghts injunctlons to the letter.
'"red. you are perfectly splendid" Z"
she declared one evening as he sat
smoking on the verandn.
always glad to obIige. Annette" he
drawIed.
"You do II so well | almost think
sometimes you're not at all averse to
the role I've assigned you she sald
musingly.
I'm much too indolent to fall In
love. Tm safe" he said in the same
queer voice
Mrs Wainwright leaned anxiously
toward him. "'red, do be careful"
she warned him. II didn't think for
a minute
''You are quite on the wrong tack.
Annette" he said composedly. your
suspicious are utterly without founda.
tion. Where on earth did you ever get
such childish ideas?"
Yet Mrs wainwright, once in her
own room. sat looking out thoughtful
ly. And at last. more perturbol than
she cared to ndmit. she tipped on her
husbands door.
Tom" she confessed uneasily as
her big husband. swathed in a gor-
geous bath wrap. opened the door. 81
believe I've made a mess Of things"
well he said cheerfully. you're
not without precedent in the matter,
Annette. How have you done It? I'm.
burden Yourself"
"lts Ted and Francesca Gray. l.
H.
"You mean you're afraid he's lost his
headY Tom Wainwright asked. mon
sense-nothing of the kind; not a
symptoms of It. Go to sleep, Annette.
He'll take care of himself"
Mrs. Wainwright felt decidedly
heartened but when, two days later
she found Ted harrington all alone by
the old sundial In the gardens behind
the house his hands cllnched and his
face hard q quick fear and an equal
ly swift contrition grlpped her heart
He had not heard her noiseless GO
proach. She hurried to his side. Al
the sound of her steps he looked up
and grinued rather sheepishly.
Ted" she cried, II know 1t now.
There is no use denying it."
"Why this commiseration spilled for
unworthy meT he said, with an at
tempt at nonchalance.