Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-10-13
His Rival
By FRANK B. STANTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

IoSAS AVA hleldluie. sue was u VOlu-
minous reader and, like many such
persons. tried her hand at writing.
There was no necessity for Miss
Henderson to take up any profession
since John Martin, self made man.
some twenty years her senior, was
ready to marry her and take care Of
her in good style. Miss Henderson
appreciated Mr.. Martins worth, but
regretted his lack Of education. Never
theiess he was recognized sutton
and great deal at the Hendcrsons
He realized the differenr plane from
his own on which education had
placed Miss Henderson. and the terror
of his life was that some college grad
uate would come along and rob him
of the girl on whom he had set his
heart.
One day when he called on Miss
Henderson and was waiting for her
to come down to receive him he
heard ring at the telephone. Pres
emily there was click as Of some one
taking up u receiver, and Miss Hen
derson said:
"Well?"
Inaudable response.
"Can't hear you. Are you saying that
Adam Bede is waiting for meY'
Inaudable response.
mot now; tomorrow"
Inaudible response, after which Miss
Henderson entered the drawing room,
where Mr.. Martin was waiting for her.
He was sure that some one in Mr..
Bede's interest had telephoned Miss
Henderson asking her to meet him.
but that she had put him off. Never
theless Mr.. Martin suppressed an ex-
preston Of jealousy and resolved to
await developments. He was tempted
to speak of Mr. Bede with view to
drawing out of Miss Henderson some
Information with regard to the fellow.
but he had the instincts of gentle
man and shrank from making any
mention of what he had overheard.
AS luck would have it, on this same
afternoon some Of Miss Henderson's
friends. also with taste for books.
called her up to ask her to recommend
something for her to read. Miss Hen
derson, hearing the bell, asked Mr..
Martin to excuse her a moment while
she answered the summons. He could
not help hearing the conversation.
Eyes. I'm Lila"
Inaudible response. "a.
II adore him." -. .as;
Inaudible response. ~ i:
"He thrills me- ,,.;'s :: u
Inaudible response. .
"Goodby. I'll see you tomorrow"
When the green monster captures
mans mind he directs that minds eye
toward one particular person. Mr..
Martin, having heard that Adam Bede
was waiting for Miss Henderson. in
ferred that he was the man that she
adored. He was sick at heart. but kept
an unmoved exterior Miss Hender-
son on. her return from the phone
found him mentally wandering and
making irrelevant observations, but
she had noticed before that he was
usually thinking about his business,
and a woman is not likely to condemn
man wrapped up in groveling pur-
suits, provided they are profitable
Mr.. Martin had made his money
largely from possessing the faculty Of
entering market about which others
had not made up their minds and buy
ing what he wanted before his COM
petitors were ready to compete. It oc-
Cured to him to jump in and carry
off Miss Henderson while this man
Bede was learning what splendid
chance he had So he said to her:
"Miss Lila. know that should not
aspire to so superior woman as you,
but I can at least enable you to cult
vate your tastes and in that way at
least make you happy. wish that
you would make me happy by con-
senting to marry me-"
This was the beginning of 1t. The
end did not come for some time, during
which Mr.. Martin considered himself
trembling in the scales with Adam
Bede. However, Mr.. Bede went up
In the air, and Mr.. Martin got the girl.
It was not until after the honey
moon that Mr.. Martin ventured to re-
fer to his wife's old flame. One day,
after a generous dinner, while partak-
ing of his coffee he said:
"My dear, am very happy. thanks
to you. My happiness is more COM
plete since it is the result of victory.
l am aware that you came pretty near
marrying my rival"
"What rival?" asked the wife, sur
prised
"Oh, that fellow Bede."
"Bede! don't know any such per-
son."
"Oh. come; it's all right now since I
have won. Own up"
II protest that I have not even an
acquaintance of the name Of Bede.
What's his first name?"
"You know well enough
II don't. indeed. Give me his first
name"
"Why. ADAM"
"Adam Bede" A singular look came
into the wife's eys. What do you
know about Adam Bede?"
"Well, overheard you the day some
one telephoned you that he was wait
ing for you"
"At the library?"
II don't know where"
"My dear. Adam Bede Is a novel.
The librarian had been requested to
reserve it for me when returned, and
she telephoned me to tell me it was
ready for me-"
If Mr.. Martin had been inclined to
jealousy this would have cured him.