The Southern herald., 1910-11-04


wondered what had happened to
Madge's dinner; she usually knew
how to make a successful evening. He
was perplexed, but he saw that his
friend was rising to the situation.
After dinner, Wiltsie followed Miss
Tessie Gray into the parlor. and
thence to the porch. He was used to
being smiled at, and the change
amused him. She tried to escape, but
in vain. To whom could she fee!
The other men we're all engaged. and
she would never let herself fall pitt
fully back on the host or hostess. She
endured his assiduous attention. but
she did not thaw. He enjoyed bother
ing her.
After that there were parties. and
little dance, and a few picnics. and
many dinners. Drawn into the cur.
rent, Wiltsie could not escape-he
took II good naturedly, always paired
on with the girl. though Madge had
tried vainly to get some other salts
factory and unattached man.
i believe everybody in the world
but Tessie and Howard are engaged"
fretted Madge to her husband. I'm
worn to a frazzle. They hate each
other, and yet they have to stay to-
gether. There's no other way. And
he seems to take positive Joy in fol-
lowing her about and being raptly
attentive. She's horrid - and any
other girl would be wild with delight.
He's so good looking and clever, and
he'll be a partner next year, won't
he?"
Harris assented, but inwardly he
was greatly amused
A few weeks later on, after a
home dinner, and when the couples
had innocently enough lost them.
selves about the garden, the porch.
anywhere to be comparatively alone,
Howard Wiltsie took his banjo and
sat down on the front steps at Tes-
sizes feet. He began to strum and
sing odd little songs, and to
bV ally NlANCl luAulh6.
Don't try so hard to be nice to
me! 1t tires you, and is quite a
superfluous sacrifice Take 1t more
easily-you are not running half the
risk you think you are. There Is
nothing mesmeric about me and l
don't like matchmaking any better
than you do, and even II | wanted
to be married, can assure you that
you, of all men. are quite safe!
appreciate your bravery in thus COM
ing into the danger zone to help out
your cousin, but l assure you it's no
pleasure to me to be entertained SO
strenuously. I'm going back home"
Tears came to her flashing eyes,
and before he could find word to
answer to this crushing tirade, the
girl jumped to her feet and went into
the house. "You can tell Madge l
have a headache and don't want to be
disturbed. l dislike asking you to tell
lie, but since you act them so beau
tifully perhaps you won't mind!"
She was gone. The young man
stared a little; then he laughed.
When his hostess asked for Miss Gray
he coolly remarked that the young
woman had bad attack of temper
and had gone to her room. He HIM
self waited until he got a word with
Harris in the den. He went straight
to the point.
did you tell Madge what I said
about her matchmaking and all that
stuff that night coming home from the
Office"
"Why-yes, did. I tried to keep
still. but the night Tessie came
Madge was talking about you, and OF
course"
Being a good husband, you had to
tell. When and where did you tell
her?-and where was Miss Gray?"
Gone to bed Madge and | were
on the porch. Why?
Wiltsie said he only wanted tc
know" Then he went home-or pre-
tended to. He knew Tessie Gray pret
ty well by now. When he was sure
the others would be asleep, he went
back to Harris garden and sat down
, in the little summer house and waited
1t was very late, nearly twelve, but
very warm night. Would she by
chance come out? She was of course
too angry to sleep. Howard Wiltsie
/ was a good guesser.
Evidently she had recovered from
p her rage, for she was coming dowr
the path, occasionally holding hel
, handkerchief to her eyes. When she
was almost at the summer house, he
went out to meet her. She jumped
, but she did not scream. She looked
, as angry as she could. He faced her
looking straight into the tear-fillet
. eyes.
! Are the tears for me, Tessie? oi
. are they--for yourself"
, She stared, not understanding him
her rage and resentment giving wa!
before that new thing she saw in hii
eyes-a new and welcome thing.
Hasn't is dawned on you, Tessie
that Tm-in love with you? All tha
idiotic stuff told Harrles and whicl
|, YOU heard him drivel over to Madg,
was before knew you. Dear, dom
: you see that?"
. She nodded, and then he took cour
aoa-and hoth her willing hands