Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-05
The Best
Laid Plans
2eS;N1 &c a 2e1S.
BY
oARLorrA HDND1EA

~ -. 80, - -
would nave been Impossible.
Dinner was over ana Reta henni-
son sat IN cosey nook adjoining
the drawing room ana fdly watcned
Tue oiack-lrocNsa men s.roA m:
from ner hall-nidden position sne
couid see Ricnard Sardweli, Az ana
norid nervousiy nitting from group
20 group. .unmistaKably IN search 81
herself cardwel al length caugnt
sign. q ner, ana IN q rev strides
would nave Deen At ner side' wh lel
suddenly, Win an impatient grunt,
ne turned, and walked away IN tne
direction OF the billiard room. MRS.
ierreii, her hostess' nad borne down
on tne girl, one hand resting super
nuoasiy IN the arm OF 2 tail. bored
cooking young man. rushing along IN
tAe iead ana almost dragging ner
escort VINO followed helplessly In
.ner wake.
s. for heavens sake. she cried.
take TINS brltisher on my hands and
ma MN wiie. I've had an acci-
dent and must run. You may safely
present MIN to all the Riddles, they've
Al got money! she added. and with
. malicious little grimace at him, on
sne dashed.
me Two young people stared al
ternateiy at the precipitate flight OF
their hostess and at each other.
Neither spoke sfor moment, while
the amused look on the mans face
gave way to one OF intent wonder
ment ct the exquisite beauty Of his
companion. HIS gaze heightened for
her the embarrassment OF an already
Impossible situation. Finally he man.
aged to blurt out, Charming woman.
mrs. Tom. what r.
VERY, she replied. somewhat at
2 loss LOT words herself, She evil
IDENTIFY thinks we have met.
we nave, ne mumbled at last.
May Sit down." She made room
for him on the divan and he seated
himself beside her, lapsing again into
9 silence that made he EEL young
ish ana MIN rather foolish. Now as
all TINS commenced to SAVIOR q little
OF nlrtation ne became more at
ease ana sac. And SO you are TO
ma me wlle
Dei,eye MRS. Tom rendered me
the oeiicate commission. A rich girl
\ presume you-ah-require. she re-
pied. laughingly using the pointed
verb.
I'm a fourth son and fifth
wheel. ne replied, deprecatingly.
And you couldn't love a poor
strl!' she asked, banteringly.
"I-don't-know," he replied. hesi-
tatingly. with look at her So sim
cere In its honest, admiration that
the light in his eyes almost brought
its complement to her own. You
don't happen to be rieh?" he added.
In lighter vein.
No. am very poor" she replied.
ruesully. So poor that. while / eat
at recurring intervals, only dine
when some good. kind fairy like Mrs.
Tom asks me out. Men invite me. to
public restaurants, but, somehow, 4
never seem to go. Do you under
stand? ?" she added, wistfully.
yes" he replied. Il understand,
and ! am very, very glad. From
your remarks infer you are neither
married nor engaged" he added. the
rising infection in his tones indicat-
Ing question. believe me- he went
ON. y 90 not ASK through idle curios'
ity,' and his earnest manner contrast
ing strongly with his former badinage,
LED ner 10 reply:
am not engaged to he married
as yet. Why 90 you ASK" And she
fenced, wondering at her readiness
70 participate IN what her reason
told ner could pc nothing but fiirta-
ton
DO you believe IN love at first
stgnt ne asked.
NO. sne replied IN q too evident
attempt to ward ON his insistent at.
tack
And yet loved the sight OF you
from the first he said, vainly at.
tempting to bring her eyes into align.
ment with his own
But you don't even know my
name, she replied. weakly.
VIII you tell It me?"
She waited moment, and then
IN choky little voice said, 1T is
Reta-Reta Bennison. am the
widow Of John Bennison. the banker.
we were married two years ago. He