Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-12-17
BY COMMAND
OF MRS. MAC

her something TO eat" commanded
the energetic little Mrs. Macpherson.
1.-THE poor child has been so busy
helping us that she didn't even have
her lunch"
Sadie stared blankly into Fallz-
mans eyes, as Mrs. Sadie MacPher-
son hurried away OF course, Mrs.
MACPHERSON could not be expected te
know that their engagement had
been broken the night before, but il
was decidedly embarrassing to be
placed In charge of a man who only
Is hours since she had dismissed
with an incoherent statement Of the
fact that she never wished to see
him again.
What Mrs. Mac says goes" re-
minded Falkman, laughingly. y
know that you'd rather not, but
never would dare look Mrs. Mac in
the face again II I had disobeyed one
Of her commands"
"Your devotion to Mrs. MacPher-
son is touching" was the girls sar-
castle reply. being more brave,
viii take upon myself the liberty Of
releasing you from the unsought
obligation"
BE warned in time," urged FalK.
man. "Shall we mere mortals seek
to overthrow the imperial dictates Of
the kindly little LADY who so oblig.
ingly runs this small world of ours?
Remember the fate of Mrs. Bissell.
and be warned"
Sadie Arnold smiled in spite oi
herself. Mrs. Bissell's discontinue
was so recent that all their set were
still laughing over the defeat Of tho
woman who had sought to wrest So
cial supremacy from Mrs. MacPher-
son and who had been forced to beat
an lnglorious retreat.
Falkman took advantage of the
smile to gently touch her arm and
guide her through the door into the
room where a buffet lunch was be.
ing served obviously he regarded
the crush around the tables
Il confess that my courage fails
me-" he announced
And you football captsini'
said Sadie. with q s9oIuful smile.
That's different" was the prompt
reply.
And your fear Of Mrs. Mac is"
began Sadie. jimmie held up
warning hand.
MY fear of Mrs. Mac IS as strong
as ever" ne declared, which leads
me to the second part of this prop
osition. Mrs. Mac did not say to
feed you. know a splendid tea
room only couple of blocks away.
A cup of tea and some toasted muf-
fms viii be better than the salad
that served for Mrs. Ridgeway's re-
ception last night, and Mrs. Bon
Sails musical breakfast yesterday
afternoon. The same caterer / know
supplied all three"
with the same salad?" asked
Sadie, with a laugh.
''They make it by the ton." he
declared. Lets slip out and have
a comforting cup of tea in peace"
For a moment Sadie wavered, but
Falkman's suggestion won. All the
forenoon she had assisted to prepare
for the opening of the bazar. Then
had come the matinee rush of pa
irons and for hours she had suffered.
the torment of headache in babel
Of small talk and sharp bargaining.
The quiet of the tearoom would be
very refreshing. Falkman read her
assent in her eyes and hurried her
away from the crowded room where
men fought for the refreshments for
which they had paid literally in pur-
chases at the booths.
This is nice" assented Sadie,
half an hour later, as her cup was
resplenished a second time and a
fresh supply of mullins was brought.
''rm glad you thought Of it, jim
mie."
The name had slipped out before
she realized II. In the relaxation of
comfort and quiet she had forgotten
tor the moment the quarrel Of the
night before.
Falkman wisely ignored the slip
as he nodded assent He was be-
yond his years in the ways of wo-
man, and no gloating exclamation
added to her confusion.
II am very grateful to Mrs. Mac
for turning me over to your Thought
full care" announced Sadie to reward
him for his action. This is so much
better than that tiresome crowd. Ny
head Is better already"
"You had no lunch" he reminded.
"I'm always headachy when I'm
hungry. That and the rest cure
combined will do the work. Have
some more OF these preserves"
At last, after all was over,
Sadie reluctantly rose from the ia
Bile, he walked down the avenue with
her, still eonversing upon safe and
impersonal topics.
The soft spring air completed
Sadle's course and as she paused be.
fore the steps leading to her home
she held out her hand.
You have something Of mine
gave you last night" she said "May
I have 1t, please?"
With a look that spoke volumes,
he drew the ring from his pocket
AMI placed It on her finger. Il was
a brute last night" be said softly
"I'l try not TO offend again, dear"
Il want you to be a brute some
tines" declared Sadie, with little
laugh, your penitence Is so perfect
WIN you take me back @ the bazai
this eyening?"
And report to Mrs. Mac?" amend
! Al ALTMAN stplese that vyouna n D
Sadie's glance was a earess. al