The Colorado statesman., 1911-06-03
An Even Game
BY JOANNA SINGLE
(coprright. IpII. By Associated Literary Pres.)

tween them, but ] must have Imagined
it, | ought to tell you that Mary Is
flirting in a refined but constant way
with Percy Kaylor-I wish / hadn't
asked him. And Fred does nothing
but moon and watch the mail bag. He
gets daily letter addressed In
womans hand from Kenosha, some
western place. What shall l do? And
Il don't want to tell you this. but it's
my duty-the other night when Edith
was In Mary's room and they were
chatting and hair-brushing. Edith saw
that Mary had a slender chain around
her neck with a solitaire ring hanging
from It. She seemed unaware that
Edith had seen II. or course Edith
told me-she's dear child-and
bade her say nothing to anyone else
Supposing you come on for a Few
days? told Mary I should ask you.
Mrs. Sumner came on with exceed
ing dispatch. She dared not question
her daughter, but could discover no
chain no ring, and no change In the
girl, save that, IL anything, she was
prettier. sweeter. more dutiful- Sne
had even taken to rising early for the
walks her mother had SO long wished
her to take, and came to BREAKFAST
glowing and happy.
Meantime, in the mornings dewy
FRESHNESS, Mary and Frederick Denton
were having beautiful meetings. He
told her how he had a man friend out
west send him letter addressed ny
a stenographer on lady-like envelopes
filled with circulars. She gleefully
told him about the So fake diamons,
and how Edith's eyes had bulged
while she, Mary. brushed her hair
and looked innocent. They walked
into the country. they went on the
river in a little canoe, they read mag
azines, and always they escaped be-
ing caught together, and approached
breakfast from different directions.
Frederick usually from his room as II
he had just risen.
But a time came when. without
either knowing why, sort of restraint
fell upon them. The young man re-
doubled his efforts to be interesting,
wondering meanwhile If she were not
tiring of his company. One morning
walk, a little languid and silent A
few happy mornings would ensue' and
then the constraint again. He thought
of asking If he were demanding TOO
much of her, but feared she would
think he were tired of it himself. IL
bacame uncomfortable, and both were
less frank. But, In public. they were
still Just on the polite side Oh pelng
disagreeable to each other. Mary's
mother casually asked her why she
disliked Fred Denton. The girl looked
at her, wide-eyed
"Whatever put that into. your dear
head? He seems very nice, m sure.
And she put another pin into her soit
brown hair and went downstairs.
Coming down to the porch a little
later her mother found her in gale
of merriment over something Percy
Kaylor was saying And, with queer
look in his eyes, Frederick Denton
watched her. What did the look mean
And Mary's gayety seemed somehow
not quite spontaneous.
A few mornings later Mary did not
go into the garden at all and said at
breakfast that she had headache'
she was pale All day Frederick
watched for her. but had only word
alone.
.Jm sorry you were not WELL" he
said.
.It was nothing-it soon passed..
she answered.
II missed you,' he said, puI she was
m
He went angrily away by himself
and with his pipe in ms mouth ne lay
fat on the grass in distant spot and
discovered what allied him. VI course
ba had loved her from the first mo
ment and had been fool. and had
lost her, He should have openly
wooed her from the first second-of
course 1t was Kaylor! Men like that
always fascinate girl just out Oh
school He hated himself Vigorously
Frederick was up at dawn the next
dav and out with last hope. Surely
sba would come this last time! l-e
waited in the usual place. but she did
NOT annear. 1t seemed Impossible. he
searched his memory for any Word OF
look that might have onended her'
And. looking vaguely about. he saw at
come distance beneath the trees OF
I,ttle wood. a CLEAN of blue dress In
an instant he was almost running TO-
words II It must be she-it was! But
sbe was walking swiftly away from
him. He called to her, and she
stopped.
Il don't blame you for hating me"
he qravely said, "but why hurt me
more than you must? You know
love vou-Mary Why can't you at
,oast he kind-as you were until lit
tle while ago? Does it amuse you to
-burtq" Then he saw that tears were
running down her cheeks and that
sba held out both hands to him
After a long time he held her OFF the