The Democratic advocate., 1909-04-02
Amateur
Strategy
Nv TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.


percevaPs den in Burkeley hall was
hung with the usual conglomerate col
lection of trifes on which college
Youths pride themselves. Strangely
enough, however, though otherwise
complete. it lacked one of the essen
+iols-indeed, a vital essential-of q
Students room decorations. There
were no photographs.
The other fellows had pictures of
girls in evening gowns, girls in street
costume, girls in golf garb, girls on
horseback, girls afoot-always girls.
Rut not a girls picture adorned Perce-
walls den except one lonely small min
iature and that stood far withdrawn.
hidden on the back of his desk.
Randolph Chase hauled it out on one
occasion before Perceva1 could reach
him with OBTAINING hand.
"What a queer little grip Randolph
said.
"Put it back" Perceval said shortly.
his face afiame.
But the other fellows crowded be-
hind Randolph and looked at the pic
ture over his shoulder.
"Such a mop Of hair and such a lit
tle facep' said one of them.
"Put it backw Percevals tone rasp-
al with irritation. "Put it back, Ran
dolphw
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.
But the next night when he was
alone with Perceval he said: "I don't
want to be inquisitive, but I was aw-
fullv interested in that girls face.
Who is she?"
Perceval was standing at the win
dow, looking out upon the elm bor-
dered street, where the big electric
lights cast great shadows.
s"That," he said without looking
around-"that girl, as you call her, is
Mrs. Perceval Moore"
"Whatr' Randolph's tone expressed
extreme incredulity. "You surely don't
mean
Perceval whirled around. 'grhat l
am married? Yes"
Randolph whistled. "Well, of all
things!" he said. And after that there
was silence.
Then Perceval came over and flung
himself into a chair opposite Ran
doIph 1--WE simply got to tell some
body, Chase" he said. ''Pm in an aw-
full fix. and she's the dearest and truest
and best little thing in the world"
Randolph reached over and picked
up the miniature again. "She truly
looks it." he said after he had studied
it for long time.
Perceval choked a little before he
answered. "She's an angel, Ran
dolph-"
Then what's the matter?" Ran
dolph questioned.
Perceval leaned forward.
'Tve deceived her. She doesn't know
that am in college. She thinks I am
earning a good salary in business"
"Well, son." said Randolph Chase,
sit seems to me that sort of deception
is 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"
Perceval shook his head. 'Not An
nabel,'' he declared. isn't her name
IL ThocnSS
"Yes," Randolph agreed. "But why
will she object to million, Perceval?'
Because she will say that lied to
her," Perceval said slowly, ''and An
mabel can forgive anything but a lie."
"Out with itY' Randolph probed.
"Tell me the whole story. 1t must be
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 Perce-
val Il met her last year at the beach.
She was such a quaint, queer little
thing that she attracted me. She al
ways wore white, and I would find
her sitting on the sand singing little
songs to herself There was an ole
sea captain to whom she talked good
DEAL and 1 got him to introduce us.
We'll, she had read a lot Of books
on social equality, and she just simply
didn't have any use for the g1lded
youth with money. What Annabel
wanted was a 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
1t too. And that is where l fell.
Il was head over heels in love with
her," continued Perceval forlornly,
and l simply wouldn't let her go.
30 | let her believe that l was work
Ing my way up in business. The first
LIE was simple enough and looked ike
one of those things that could be
squared easily enough afterward. But
On, Chase. l had to back that lie up
with details on details until had lied
10 her at least ten lies to the hour.
well, we We're married before L lett
In the fall l wasn't of age, and sne
wasn't and she wouldn't leave nome
until l could support her without nam
perlng my lsiness career.
knew had to come back to col
iege or get dad down on me, so tolu
4er to stay groaned Perceval. but
made her marry me for fear some
uihg might come between us, ana
couldn't St9n1 +het Randolph But