The Press., 1909-10-27
UNIMPRESSIOHABLE
 BARR|NGT TON,
A Scheme That Did Not Turn Out
 as Was Planned.
By RICHARD BARKER SHELTON. Icopyright 19OS by Associated Literary
 Press


 ECopyright, 1909, by Associated Literary
 Press.l | "You must be very nice to her, Ted" said Mrs. Wainwright thoughtfully. "Indeed, you must monopolize her while she's here."
 Ted Harrington blew out cloud ot smoke and smiled lazily.
 Must I: now, Annette?" he said. "W6yfore and whereforeY'
 "She's dangerous" said Mrs. Vain wright, with the air of one imparting select and exclusive condolences. "She's a, disturbing element. I 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 dirt. The last time she was here she left fin her train a cohort of heartsick swains that was positively appalling. It's perfectly dreadful to have a jolly little house party disrupted as that one was"
 Harrington squfnted his eye thought fully as he looked away to the great blue bulk of the hills rising in the dis tance against perfect sky.
 And so, Annette, am to be the sac rifce, as it were. am I?'' he chuckled good naturedly. "Won't somebody else do2 Pm lazy. I'm having the time of my life here just being lazy"
 'I 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 fall in love. Therefore I make this appeal.''
 "Oh, if you put it that way nOw," said he in mock protest.
 "I do," said she. You must, as l say. monopolize her while she's here. Make her think she has made con- quest. Take her sailing and motoring and riding. understand? Make her think your case is very, very des- perate."
 'Oh, you women-you schemins, far sighted women!' he complained. "Set your futtering heart at rest, Annette. For old sake's sake I'll do my best. When is she comingg'
 '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 1t and withdrew, and Harrington, turn ing his lazy eyes toward the drive, saw in the approaching trap a vision of wavy hair and pink cheeks and flowing veil that was not at all unat- tractive. -..., s. ..
 "WeIl, we'll" said the unimpression able Harrington, tits not such an aw. full thing to be the appointed sacrifice. after all.''
 An hour later Mrs. Wainwright was presenting him to the girl, and some thing in the older woman's eyes warn ed Harrington that his duties were to 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 a little peach of car in the garage. Suppose I get 1t out and show you how it can take the hills round here."
 "Oh, jollyw 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. Wainwright's injunctions to the letter.
 'Ted, you are perfectly splendid" she declared one evening as he sat smoking on the veranda.
 Always glad to oblige, Annette" he drawled.
 "You do 1t so we'll I almost think sometimes you're not at all averse to the role I've assigned you," she said musingly.
 "I'm much too indolent to fall in love. I'm safe" he said in the same queer voice.
 Mrs. Wainwright leaned anxiously toward him. '"Ted, do be careful" she warned him. "I didn't think for a minute"-
 "You are quite on the wrong tack, Annette" he said composedly. "Your suspicious are utterly without founda- ton. 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 perturbed than she cared to admit, she tapped on her husbands door,
 ''Tom," she confessed uneasily as her big husband, swathed in gor. geous bath wrap, opened the door, ''I believe I've made mess of things"
 "Well," he said cheerfully, you're not without precedent in the matter, Annette. How have you done it2 Un- burden yourself"
 "It's Ted and Francesca Gray. r. T'-
 ''You mean you're afraid he's lost his head?" Tom Wainwright asked. ''Non- acnse-nothing of the kind: not