The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-06
Two Flirts
By RUTH GRAHAM

ciaily well cOstumed on railway Train.
II see by your ticket that you are for
Hording Station. Possibly you may
give me a bit of information / am 60
ing to the place Of Mr.. Winfield Reck-
ling. Can you tell me about where /
shall have to go?"
"Oh, yes; know the Recklings very
well. They live two miles from the
station"
Indeed. | was to have gone by an
other train, but came In advance, and
there will be no one TO meet me. l can
easily walk that distance"
at will not be necessary. I am go
ing in that direction. My carriage will
meet me, and | shall be happy to take
you to your destination"
That's very kind of you-to stran-
ger"
I'm only too glad to be of service to
any friend of the Recklings."
81 am very old friend of Win Reck-
ling. We were college chums."
"He has brought wife home with
him from abroad, believe"
Eyes. am going to make a short
visit with the express purpose of meet
ing her"
Il trust you'll like her"
whether ] shall or not remains to be
seen. Is she nice?"
"Mr Reckling doubtless thinks so.
She is rather straitlaced'
why, heard she was just the OPP
posite"
"Oh, you did? Please define what you
mean by the opposite"
"I heard she was a great flirt before
Win married her"
The lady looked aside at him, then
east down her eyes. He remarked to
himself that, whatever Mrs. Reckling
might be, this person was inclined to
Indulge in bit of flirting herself.
Before the two left the train his hand
had come in contact with hers on the
seat between them; he had clasped It,
and 1t was not withdrawn. At the sta
ton they entered her carriage and were
soon bowling along a road lined with
fine country places.
How would you like TO pay me
brief visit. before going to the Reck-
lings?" said the lady. You'll find 1t
duh there Your host never comes out
until the Z o'clock train. and there'll be
no one to entertain you. know they
would be obliged to me for taking care
Of guest Of theirs"
81 shall be delighted. But Mrs. Reck-
ling win be at home. will she not?''
mo. | met her in the city while
shopping"
The gentleman was driven with the
lady to her home. After brief alb
sence for a change from street TO din
ner dress she reappeared. afternoon tea
was served and they sat chatting.
$50 you heard Mrs. Reckling was a
fiirt, did your
"Only before marriage"
"And you think marriage terminates
all that?'
"Oh. that's as one feels about it,"
I'm married"
"Indeedg'
yes. liked a good time when sin
gle, and now that I'm married | don't
object to an innocent Irritation"
"Of course, innocent"
He felt for her hand, but she arose
and asked him to go with her into her
garden. He followed and, plucking the
choicest flowers. she handed them to
him.
81 shall have these preserved" he
said with fervor.
Mrs. Reckling will give you another
and you'll say the same thing TO her"
Not at all. This meeting has rem
dered any possibility OF Mrs Reckling's
attracting me impossible"
She smiled. he thought. ironically.
He was bending over her while she
was pluclzing a rose and was about to
say something tender when there was
rattle Of wheels on the road. aud
the lady, looking up at a coming two
wheeled cart driven by gentleman.
said:
Here comes my husband; LEI us 60
in. will Introduce you"
my name is Forsythe"
THANK you"
They went inside. The lady left
Mr.. Forsythe In the drawing room and
soon returned with the man from the
cart.
The guest started II was Winfield
Reckling who burst into the room with
outstretched hand 10 welcome him.
"win," said the lady. "this is your
friend. Billy Forsythe. He says he
heard I'm a tiirt. All | have to say is
that If can beat him at the game I'll
have to get up, pretty early in the
morning. He squeezed my hand on
the train"
Forsythe stood horror stricken. his
face red as a lobster.
ooh. don't mind her. Billy. She
can't help &C. She was born so"
As soon as the guest could recover
himself. turning to Mrs. Reckling. he
said:
THAT YOU are a witch. I'll admit:
but don't see how even a witch can
know the name Of man she meets
casually in railway car without some
one telling her"
Dear me: and Win always said that
you're so bright"
How did YOU find Il out. Bessy'
asked the husband.
"why. it's In great big black letters
m his suit case"
a