El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-10
"a Game OF Chaff"
By Fortesque Montgomery

rHE great house doomed darkly
before the young man, VINO
- paused for moment al tho
iron gates. Then he stepped FORWARD
briskly, and passing round the MAJ
sion. rang the bell at the SIDE door;
II was almost Immediately answered
nv young woman who put her mn
gers to her lips as she ushered MIN ~
"Please be very careful she salo-
'sThe family is so fussy- come tniS
way" ~
she took him into an apartment Una :
might have been the breakfast fo0Ai1'
and motioned him towards chair
cant 1 shake hands with you
he asked. TT seems quite like an age
since we parted" -.
.oThank you" she said, and gave MN
ha~ hand at was just two weeks
ago today--if that can be consioereO
an age" the
day" he gravely said ., =
az will admit" said the girl, with q
little blush, that it was quite an ep,L
sode in my life. I'd never nao suci'
an opportunity before
mo" he said with a slightly rislns
inf1ection He looked at her with
cnriously incredulous expression she
was pretty girl-a very pretty glr,
and though her hair was smootneo
into plainness and surmounted py
simple little white cap, its beauty anu
Ius+ar seemed frightened by this at
temnt AT concealment- Her gown was
nlatn. too. and over it she wore
fresh white apron
eyes she said, and her inflection
took the opposite direction Ana she
in turn looked at him. He was man MAJ,
worth looking at. Well knit Men
featured and well spoken some
49, 40 shortly added. ARE easily
deceived" 90
some receptions are preferable 10
the truth" he said But pray go on
you have something to tell me-
yes" said the girl. NO doubt you
have guessed it. You saw me at the
seaside for those few days. The gla-
NOR of the place dazed you. You TOOK
appearances for realities
They were such charming appear
ances," he softly said
please don't interrupt, she crleu
with another little blush GU sa"
me with Miss Ainslies aunt You
+oo1x me for issM Ainslie-and I let
Won deceive yourself. l was only the
dear old lady's companion am only
Miss AinsIie's companion One mo
ment Miss Ainslie showed me your
note asking the privilege Of calling
She suspected I knew what II meant
I confessed I told her the whole
storv-how I let you think me great
heiress. and how 1 led you on. Then
she advised me to write and tell you
to call"
cat the side door," said the man.
"Of course. at the side door. e4-
claimed the girl 81 couldn't ask you
NJ
guests. I wouldn't have asked you
here at all, but Miss Ainslie advised
it. She said it was my duty to unde-
ceive YOU. That is all, I think. Good
night"
She stood up as she spoke the last
words and moved towards the door,
But the man did not stir
THE evening is young yet" he said,
and short calls disagree with me-
PRAY sit down. I, too. came here this
evening to make a confession was
not the only one deceived"
What do you mean?" she asked as
she resumed her chair.
at mean" he replied. that 1 repre-
scented myself to you in what you must
have regarded as a rather favorable
Il think" she said. that you gave
me the impression that you were
person of some Importance.
There was a silence.
at fancy there must be something
in the air of the average watering
place that encourages these fanclrul
deceptions," he said. I'VE seem to
long to be something other than what
we really are. And yet 1 am very
glad tonight to know the truth.
May 1 ask why?" said the girl
at was about to tell you." he re-
pIied. YOU see that as the petted
heiress, Grace Ainslee. you seemed as
far above me as a star / was mad
to write, you today. But now it's diff
ferent You are nearer my social level
I do not have to storm the bastion
OF wealth to reach you"
That's rather pretty said the girl
"And you are not disappointed?
NO" said the man, Il am glad"
Glad that am dependent instead
Of a heiress?'
"Glad for my own sake, yes. And
now may I ask your manner"
M-my name?" stammered the girl.
''why should 1 tell your"
do as you please about it," said the
man ct will be easy to give you
another"
"And may I ask what yours is?"
queried the girl demurely.
"A truce to Names" he said. They
count for nothing tonight
"And yet I'm foolishly particular
regarding them" she said with
smile.
.You are thinking of the possible
change" he thoughtfully remarked. II
don't blame you for being a little fas-
tidious It does you credit. You
wouldn't fancy a name like Hoopen-
looper would you ?"
MO- she gravely answered. 'T
wouldn't like any name that ran over
the edge of a visiting card"
But, after ALL" he cried. 1T is the
man. not the name"
Then" she said, you leave me to
infer that your name is an atrocious
one"
MY name is all right" he said.
But let it go. There are other things
to hold our attention In the first
place, how do we stand socially and
financially? Wait, please. I am about
to tell you something concerning my
self"
Not the story Of your lifeI'
Not exactly. But pray do not inter-
rupt. 1 am 81, in good health, no
serious habits, fairly good looking,
measurably ambitious and something
Of a favorite where 1 am best known.