The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-07-07
An Even Game
BY JOANNA SINGLE


one or two knowing looks pass be-
tween them. but must have imagined
II. | ought to tell you that Mary Is
flirting in a refined but constant way
with Percy Kaylor-l wish | hadn't
asked him. And Fred does nothing
but moon and watch the mail bag. He
gets daily letter addressed in a
woman's hand from Kenosha, some
western place. What shall | 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 slender chain around
her neck with solitaire ring hanging
from 1t. She seemed unaware that
Edith had seen it OF course Edith
told me-she's a dear child-and |
babe her say nothing to anyone else.
Surprising you come on for few
days? told Mary 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, If anything, she was
prettier, sweeter more dutiful She
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
81 ~, H.. f,.,D ~
west send him a letter addressed by
a stenographer on lady-like envelopes
filled with circulars She gleefuliy
told him about the S. fake diamond.
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 If
he had just risen.
But a time came when. without
either knowing why, a sort of restraint
fell upon them. The young man re-
doubled his efforts to be interesting,
wondering meanwhile II she were not
firing of his company. One morning
she was late. another. too tired to
walk, a little languid and silent A
few happy mornings would ensue, and
then the constraint again. He thought
of asking II he were demanding too
much Of her, but feared she would
think he were tired Of 1t himself. 1t
became uncomfortable, and both were
less frank But, in public, they were
still just on the polite side of being
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, I'm sure"
And she put another pin into her soft
brown hair and went downstairs.
Coming down to the porch little
later her mother found her in a 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 a headache.
She was pale All day Frederick
watched for her, but had only a word
alone.
I'm sorry you were not WELL" he
said.
1T was nothing-it soon passed
she answered.
81 missed you," he said, but she was
already moving away from him.
He went angrily away by himself
and with his pipe in his mouth he lay
fiat on the grass in distant spot and
discovered what allied him. OF course
he 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 seconded
course 1t was Kaylor! Men like that
always fascinate a girl just out OF
school! He hated himself vigorously
Frederick was up at dawn the next
dav. and out with last hope. Surely
she would come this last time! ICE
waited in the usual place. but she did
not appear. 1t seemed impossible He
searched his memory for any word OF
look that might have offended her
And, looking vaguely about, he saw al
some distance beneath the trees Of
little wood, a CLEAN of blue dress. In
an instant he was almost running to
wards it. 1t must be she-it was! But
she was walking swiftly away from
him. He called to her, and she
stopped.
II don't blame you for hating me-
he gravely said, but why hurt me
more than you must? You know
love you-Mary. Why can't you at
least be kind-as you were until lit
tie while ago? Does 1t amuse you to
-hurt?" Then he saw that tears were