The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-15
The Result of a Ruse
BY M. c. ENGLAND
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary Press

friend? Somehow she couldn't bea.
the thought of that.
Friday afternoon, as she sat up-
stairs in her room, looking out over
the warm spring landscape, the maid
brought her a card.
"Mr. Paul Ormstead."
Her heart beat tumultuously. What
could he have come for, now? She
had not seen him since the night of
the dance, and she was very angry
with him. She hesltated.
Very well, Annette" she said, final
ly. 'Ill be down."
When she came into the room Paul
Ormstead met her with an assured
smile. 81 Just ran in." he told her,
ito see II you had changed your mind
about tonight"
and then will send somebody to re-
pair It,"
Yes; but know mother will be
disappointed. She said We ought to
sell within an hour"
Mr.. Bamford had seen several good
looking girls before. In this ase. how.
ingenious ones. In this case. how.
ever, thing were different If they
hadn't been he wouldn't have coughed
and blushed and stammered out:
"Why-why, l am a real estate
Changed my mind?" she repeated
coldly. Certainly not! Why should
l do that?"
He seemed nonplussed.
Now don't be angry. Lillian" he
protested. Il thought maybe you
would decide to let Saunders come
some other night and go with me-"
DO you suppose" she asked, with
increasing hauteur, that even if Tom
to go with you after-the other
night?"
oh, that!" He laughed compla-
Gently. Il knew you would be put
out about Leah. But couldn't you see,
dear, that l only did 1t to make you
jealous?"
"Jealous?" An angry light stole into
her eyes.
"Why-er-yes." he stumbled. less
assuredly now. you know girls
never do know their own minds till
something like that opens their eyes.
If they think they're losing a chap,
why, then"
And so you believed that when
thought | was losing you l would dis
appoint Mr.. Saunders at any cost and
accept your invitation?" Lillian 5
voice was dangerously soft.
Paul Ormstead fidgeted uncomfort
ably. "Oh. come now, Lillian. don't
be hard on a chap. There's no harm
In little ruse like that. Lots of fell
lows do 1t. And, honestly, you've no
idea how hard it was to keep away
from you. Why, when / saw you go
out In the garden with that Saunders
chap i just couldn't stand it. l fol-
lowed along to make sure he wasn't
trying to flirt with you. You saw me
do that, so you know ! was thinking
of you. even If l didn't appear to be"
Lillian rose, and there was no ef-
fort now to conceal the scorn and
anger In her voice.
"Mr. Ormstead," she said, 81 have
never really known you until today,
and ] must confess that the acquaint-
anceship is one which l have no de-
sire to prolong." And she turned and
left him.
From her window, she watched him
stride angrily down the path and out
of sight. Some minutes later another
form swung into view. coming up the
road toward the house. 1t was Tom.
dear Tom, for whom she cared very
much. but whom she must hurt.
Must she hurt him? AS she thought
of Paul-the contrast-Tom's big,
warm. generous nature, strange
sweet emotion surged through her
heart Suddenly her head dropped on
her arms. She buried her face deep,
revealing just the tip of a very pink
ear.
oh, what little fool I've been,"
she murmured. What stupid little