Middletown transcript., 1911-05-27
Her Own Petard
BY HARRIET GAYLORD

GAdO SAC AdN U0Su p1Of1OSAL1oAly
frustrated in her plans on the
other side in order that she might
now bag the greater prize?
Ny dear Bertha, she said in a
stentorian whisper after her
maneuvers had resulted in sue
cess, and their chairs we're plac-
ed on deck next to the one, bear
ing the card of Ramsey Scoville;
the gentleman next US at-lunch-
con I know very well by name
and reputation. He is charming,
l believe.
Is he +? said Bertha casually,
her eyes on her magazine. An
Americana
Yes, a New Yorker and enor.
mously rich. Poor chap! Iun-
derstand why he is so sad.
His wife proved a fiighty, un-
reasonable person and divorced
him.
Divorced him exclaimed Ber.
tina meaningly.
Oh, it was western divorce,
my dear, and he was a chivalrous
gentleman and putu no defense
I understood it was all her fault,
however. He told me he had
been abroad two years-so he
must have gone under the sting
of his trouble. Probably she has
married again, long ago. We
will have a chance to know him.
Here he comes now.
Scoville had walked off his en-
otion for the present and sought
his chair.
All, we are neighbors on deck
also {! he said, courteously y
acknowledging Mrs. Rodney
Jackson's bow.
Then he subsidized into his book
until tea-time.
But he was lonely. His mis-
anthrophy had nearly worn it.
self out, and these were country
women of his own class. After
tea he escorted Miss Rod
ney.Jackson to the upper deck
THE scene of his retrospect ano
readjustment-and promenaded
with her for two hours.
He found her sensible, femin
inc, unaffected, not too brilliant
and possessed of a certain gentle
; charm. She found him attrac
lively cynical, careful in little
attentions, and distinctly fascina
ting in dark blase fashion.
During the remainder of tht
voyage, mama sat in her corner
and purred, stroking her own fu,
complacently. Her kitten wa
: managing this mouse with NOR
deadly accuracy than those chas
ed into a corner for her manipu
lation on foreign soil.
My dear Bertha, she queries
: archly, the day before they land
ed, aren't matters bit serious
: between you and Mr.. ScoVille?
Serious! exclaimed the girl
suddenly arrested. What
d matchmaker you are, mama b,
r nature and instinct, and I fea
d by training as well.
: But I've never known you t
= go on like this before. Your
: together morning, noon an
J" night.
- He's lonely. He likes me be
cause I'm not a husband-huntel
He has been by himself almos
entirely over in Europe.
But don't you like him ?
Immensely! All the more be
cause I don't think of him as
matrimonial possibility. I don
approve of divorce.
=. FiddlesticksP If you war
" Ramsey Scoville, he's yours fc
;. the acceptance! Hei is beginnin
.. to take notice again, and you al
as very attractive to him-any or
,r can see that. I'd advise you
Or regulate your own affections a
g, cordingly. He is lonely, as yc
m say, and you can make him ha
#. py. I have rarely seen two pc
d pie so adapted to each other.
Bertha blushed.
% You dear, foolish, old mate
Sc maker she cried, don't spoil
nd all I shall be so embarrass,
m with Mr.. Scoville now.
,r Not at all. You must remel
ba Der it is natural for me to wa
nd to see you well placed. Has
no ever talked about his wife to 20
lie Not directly. Last night he
le. she.laughed consciously well,
you must know, mama, he said
o . hadn't believed any woman cor
~ make him forget the past as
have during this voyage.