The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-09-05
A MOTHERS
RUSE
BY HELolsE BRAYroN

Amy said Mrs. Stringfellow to her
daughter, "Walter Barnard has been
paying attention to you now for six
months. If you were engaged l pre-
sumo that you would tell me But l
wish to know surely whether you are
or are not
II am not" replied Amy dolefully.
"That evidently means that Walter
hasn't spoken"
81 think he will, mamma"
Not without being brought to the
point"
Mamma, you wouldn't wish me to
tell him that ! am expecting him to
propose to me, would your"
Certainly not. That would not be
the part of girl. But girl has her
privileges, and one of them is to indi-
cate to young man paying her atten-
tion that she wishes him TO discon-
tinue doing So"
But | don't"
The mother bit her lip. but said
pothing more. Nevertheless she deter
mined that since her daughter had not
the spunk to bring her lover to pro-
posal she would make the attempt her
self. To interfere in such a matter is
always a great risk. and the LADY real
lied that by doing so she might make
breach between herself and her
daughter that might never be healed.
But Mrs. Stringfellow was naturally
diplomatic and determined that she
would pursue a little game of her own
which might mean great deal OF
might mean nothing
Not long after this little dialogue
| Mrs. Stnugfelow arranged that Amy
+, should go away on visit Amy oh
| jected, not heing willing to leave Wal
ter even for day, though she did not
see him oftener than once week. But
the mother prevailed, and Amy de
parted with fear and trembling that
the man she wanted would during her
| absence fall into the tolls of some other
girl
! One day during Amy's absence Wal
ter Barnard called upon her mother to
| pay his respects and ask how her
daughter was enjoying herself. He
was ushered into the library, where
he usually visited with Amy. On the
table lay a bill from a prominent dry
goods store. 1t was so plainly exposed
that the caller could not help seeing it,
but he did not make himself acquaint-
ed with its contents till an unrolled
package on chair attracted his atten-
ton. It was white and of a delicate
!; fabric Near 1t was a box, in which
I. some white gauzy substance so loosely
!: rested that part hung over the side
I There was still another box with the
cover on.
Barnard while waiting for Mrs.
Stringfellow had nothing to occupy
him, so his mind became fixed on these
articles. He examined the fabric, and
it seemed to him that there was about
enough of It to make dress. Then
it occurred TO him that the gauzy stuff
might be intended for brides veil
Having gone thus far in his surmises,
he was naturally curious to know what
was in the covered box. He lifted the
cover and saw that 1t was filed with
orange blossoms.
! Evidently some one was about to be
married.
But who? There was only one single
woman in the house. and that was
Amy.
terrible thought entered the young
mans brain. Could it be possible that
while he had been putting off his pro-
posal some other man had come in and
occupied the vacant place ahead Of
him? His heart seemed to stop beat
ing. Perspration stood out on his fore
head.
He paced the floor till Mrs. String
fellow came down. When she saw the
dry goods she looked displeased, called
maid and directed her in sharp
tone to take them upstairs Then she
turned her attention to her visitor.
Barnard was too disconnected to talk
connectedly. He jumped from the
warm weather to the news from
abroad and from the news from abroad
to the last bit of social gossip. Then
he asked If Miss Strlngfellow was en-
joying her visit and was informed that
she was having delightful time. He
asked when the young lady would re-
turn, and his hostess informed him
that certain events that had happened
since her departure would necessarily
alter the time of her homecoming, but