The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-03-19
SAUNDERS.
Son OF Strategy

Saunders, son of Strategy, did not
risk giving affront by seeming to flirt
with the girl in the Pullman section
across the way. She did not look like
a girl who would permit Irritation
in any shape or form.
She would probably call the porter
or appeal to the male passengers and
bring him into disgrace; a disgrace
which would be fatal to his plans. In
stead, he fingered behind when the
girl went into the diner for luncheon
and copied off the address of the Ia
bel pasted on her suit case.
1t was the sight of the label which
had induced him to cast aside schemes
more rash, for he argued that curios.
ity would lead the girl to read to its
end a letter, when she would not lis.
ten to the completion of the first
sentence of verbal approach.
Anyone knowing Saunders would
realize that he was very much in love
from the fact that he was at all inter-
Nted in the girl across the aisle.
She was no more attractive than a
score of young women whom Saund-
ers had adroitly lodged. Her brown
hair was no more sleekly soft than
the tresses of Mazda Vance,, her eyes
no more mildly soft than the soulful
Orbs of Bess Burton, nor her COM
plexion more clear than the olive tints
of Virgie Masterson's. 1t was her
glorious ensemble which had so APP
pealed to Saunders and had caused
him to assure himself that Miss Mari.
eta Manson, of Claverly, was the
most beautiful woman he had even
seen.
For years Saunders had foiled the
matchmakers and the maids with il
skill which mad won for him the
nickname Saunders, son of Strategy.
The debutants of dozen seasons had
smiled upon him without eliciting
more than non-committal smile in
return, but now Saunders had been
bowled completely over by young
woman of whom he knew nothing
more than her address.
He had left the train before the
girl returned, but he carried with him
a Photographic memory It lent in
SEPARATION Ito his pen in the compost
ton of letter in which he besought
her to grant him the favor OF her
acquaintance.
It was a tactful letter as befitted
/ a son Of Strategy. 1t sounded ex-
actly the proper note of respectful
admiration. 1t revealed discreetl7
the, fact that he was we'll to do. cul-
ftured and man of standing, it hint
red delicately of the mass of com
mandatory reference an inquiry might
evoke and closed with an apology for
the liberty he took, liberty which
found justification only in the charm
of the recipient
Having thus shifted the blame to
Miss Manson's slender shoulders,
Saunders subscribed himself respect
fully hers, and personally deposited
the letter in the box.
The next few days were spent in a
fever of alternate hope and despair.
The postman on the route was grad
uo1Ay winning " Inc OplulOn JnAC
Saunders was suffering from incipi-
emit paresis when dainty envelope
rewarded Saunders waiting and trans
lated him from the inferno of despair
to the seventh Aeaven OF delight.
1t was letter written as skillfully
as his own. Miss Manson expressed
( herself as flattered at the compli-
ments paid her and was not averse to
eventually granting Mr.. Saunders re-
quest. bot first she must be more full.
ly assured of his worthiness, and to
that end suggested probationary
period OF correspondence.
Saunders hasteRed to acquiesce and
in reply he filled dozen PAGES which