Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-05
The Best
Laid Plans.
oARnorr.A AnNp1EA.

would have been impossible.
Dinner was over and Reta Benni-
son sat in cosey nook adjoining
the drawing room and idly watched
the black-frocked men stroll in.
From her half-hidden position she
could see Richard Cardwell, 40 and
ford, nervously fitting from group
to group. Enthusiastically in search Of
herself. Cardwell at length caught
sight of her. and in few strides
would have been at her side, when
suddenly, with an impatient grunt.
he turned, and walked away in the
direction of the billiard room. Mrs.
Terrell. her hostess, had borne down
on the girl. one hand resting super.
fiuously in the arm OF tall, bored
looking young man, rushing along in
the lead and almost dragging her
escort, who followed helplessly in
her wake.
For heavens sake.' she cried.
take this Britisher OF my hands and
find him wife. I've had an acci-
dent and must run. You may safely
present him to all the kiddies, they've
AL got money" she added, and with
malicious little grimace at him, OF
she dashed.
The two young people stared al
ternately at the precipitate flight Of
their hostess and at each other.
Neither spoke for a moment, while
the amused look on the mans face
gave way to one OF intent wonder
ment at 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?"
Very" she replied. somewhat at
loss for words herself. sShe evil
IDENTIFY thinks we have met.
I'VE have, he mumbled, "at last.
May l SIT down." She made room
for him on the diyan and he seated
himself beside her, lapsing again Into
9 silence that made hes :eel young
ish and him rather foolish. Now as
all this commenced to SAVIOR little
of Irritation he became more at
ease and said, And so you are to
find me q wife,"
Il believe Mrs. Tom rendered me
the delicate commission A rich girl
I presume require. she re-
piled. laughingly using the pointed
verb.
.sJ,,, = fo,,rth son ord asth
Wheel" he replied. deprecatingly.
And you couldn't love a poor
girl?" she asked, ibanteringly.
don't-know," he replied, hesl-
tatingly. with a look at her So sin.
cere in its honest admiration that
the light in his eyes almost brought
its complement to her own. you
don't happen to be rich?" he added,
In a lighter vein.
mo. am very poor" she replied.
ruefully. $50 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, 81
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 a question. Believe me" he went
on, II do not ask through idle curios-
ity,,. and mis- earnest manner contrast
Ing strongly with his former badinage,
led her to reply:
II am not engaged to be married.
as yet, Why do You ask?" And she
fenced, wondering at her readiness
to participate in what her reason
told her could be nothing but flirta.
ton.
do you believe in love at first
I sight 4" he asked.
NO. she replied in too evident
attempt to ward of his insistent at.
tack.
"And yet I 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.
'sWill you tell 1t me?"
She waited moment. and then
in choky little voice said, ut is
Reta-Reta Bennison. am the
widow OF John Bennison, the banker.
We were married two years ago. He
was much older than /, hut, oh, SO
rich--and all the little luxurles that
he could give me, and that had been
denied me all my life, appealed to
me SO strongly. I made no pretence
Of loving him and he could not have
loved me. for-there was another
woman. l left him and he secured
q divorce on account OF my deser-
ton. He died shortly afterward. Do
bore your
NO. no. he replied. "and now?''
Now" and she braced herself for
the effort. Il am about to accept an
other man, a rich man, who be-
lieve really does love me. But why
do tell YOU all this99
Because l, too, love you, Reta,"
he replied, huskily. "Will you listen
I to me for momentg' And without
waiting for her reply he went on:
Il am Reginald Darrance:, the gov
ernor is Lord Northwood. I'm beast
" poor, too, as things are reckoned
in the land OF Pittsburgers. but with
my profession I'm an engineer. you