The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-07-28
COACHED AT
ACQUIRING
By HARRY VAN AhiBERC
By HARRY VAN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

overlooking the ocean. Mrs. Poland
was lounging beside me in wicker
chair. She is a good friend of mile.
Mrs. Poland. although her husband
and l were chums before they We're
married. She has never been at all
jealous of me-somethng nnusuai III
such cases. She invites me to her cot
tage every summer and is good enough
to say that she would not consider a
party complete without Inc.
tell her I'm never complete with
out party.
Mrs. Poland has hobby. 1t is
matchmaking. She tried to match me
several times and always failed. The
reason. she said. was that l did not
understand women
Il have Il girl for YOU" she said
Il thought you had given me up"
Il have SO far as your management
is concerned. This time l wish you to
leave your part of the affair to me-
Nov you're getting down to some
thing practical. Who is the lady,"
"She comes tornorrow-Mss Annabel
Vail. She is pretty. intelligent. stylish
and has some means of her own.
though not much"
Very we'll. SO long as you keep me
instructed III do anything you like.
But be it understood that I'm 10 have
no headwork to do Oh my own account
You understand"
Perfectly"
Miss Vail arrived as expected. She
was all Mrs. Poland had claimed for
her. On the afternoon Of her arrival
Mrs. Poland informed me that she eX-
pected me to drive with her guest.
, The carriage would be at the door at
O'Clock. told her | would be
charmed to drive with Miss Vail if she
thought the young lady could endure
| me without other company. We drove
| two hours and returned in time to
dress for dinner. During the evening
Mrs. Poland asked me how | liked
Miss Vail. and / told her L had hctn
much pleased.
Il doubt it," she said. "A man who
is much pleased with u woman can tinu
plenty to say to her Miss Vail has
told me that you didn't say anything
but Yes and No"
Il was always Il good listener"
| A sailing party was arranged for a
days outing on the water in Poland s
yacht Mrs. Poland instructed me be-
fore starting to devote myself almost
exclusively to Miss Vail My motto
! was ''obey orders if you break own
ers." Miss Vail was very seaSick. and
l escorted her to the side of the vessel
and held her head. She motioned me
| away, but 1 chung to the job. Then,
| when she sank lack into a reclining,
chair, considering that she was iii |
concluded that must do all the talk
ing myself. talked till she told me
If l would only go away aud let her
alone she would feel much relieved.
Mrs. Poland that evening told me
very impatiently that | didn't know
how to make myself agreeable to a
girl, but it was Impossible for any one
to teach me.
Haven't done all you have told me
to do"' asked. very much crestfallen.
"Goodness gracious. do you expect
your coach to follow YOU about to tell
you when to talk and when to keep 81
lent? Must you he worked like the
figures in a Punch and Judy show"
From what you say Miss Vail has
not been especially impressed with
me-"
Il wouldn't say SO. except that 1t is
all up with your suit. but she says
you're the most agGraVatinG man she
ever met
''Can't we wipe off the slate and be
gin all over:"
You'd be the same
Idiot?'
Mrs. Poland was silent. She was
scolding ME as she would Scola orle al
her own children whom she dearly
loved. There was nothing inore to bt
said by either Of us. SO We droprr,
the subject.
Bridge was the game for the even
ing and in order to show Mrs POLAND
that l was willing 70 so all in my POW
er to meet her wishes invited Mis-.
| Vail to be my partner She was very
stupid at cards, and when She trump
ed my tricks. although | said nothing
l could not help looking grave Ini
she interpreted as condemnation an,
after finishing Il rubber arose and LEI
the table. Mrs. Poland was watchin:
US and as soon as we. were alone sal,
to me:
What did You scold her.for:"
'Scold her. l didn't say word"
But you hooked it
l was discouraged. L made no reply
You'll never Win that girl in tn
world. You needn't try any rlore Il
please me. l give itsUp.''
The next day Mrs. Poland was VT
cross with me. L asked her if Iii,
offended further. She said that
had not. but Miss Vail was 50 offend
ed with me that she was Intending Z,
cut short her visit.
That's too bad" replied Not +"
the world would | consent 10 RENAL,
your guest after having driven Il cue-S
OF yours from Your house beg u
you tell Miss Vail that it is who an
| going Let her remain"
'Oh. tell her yourself. I'm tired q
the business
| | invited Miss Vail to go down OF
the beach with me. We remained Their,
all the morning. When we returned
Mrs. Poland asked:
| -