News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-04-16
What Could
She Do?
By HARRY VAN AMBERG

friend John Truesdale is coming VI
from the city to spend some time will
me. wish to warn you against play
Ing any of your pranks on him."
why, papa! What can you mean p
Mean! You little mink, you know
very well what l mean. Every maj
who comes into this house you senC
away all muddled up. am very font
Of Truesdale He served in the regi
ment commanded in the Spanish war
and don't wish anything to come be
tween him and me to cause restraint
If you go for him he'll keep away from
here forever after"
IF Mr.. Truesdale is a friend OF
| yours how can he"-
Nonsense In the first place. he's
ten years younger than |; in the sec
ond, if he were ten years older it woulC
MOI make any difference to you. Now
go. You understand what i require
behave yourself"
How do you wish me to treat Mr.
TrueSdale?
Let him alone"
"Al right, papa. I'll do just as you
say"
Mr. Truesdale appeared. or, rather
| Captain TrueSdae, for he had com.
manded a company in Colonel Board
mans regiment in Cuba and had dis.
tinguished himself for gallantry. He
was thirty-two years old and a fine
man hence the warning the colonel
had given Gwen. A few days after
his arrival a second interview occurred
between father and daughter.
Gwen" said the father sternly, 81
thought | told you to do nothing to
get Truesdale balled up."
For heavens sake, papa. what have
doDe?"
Done? You have done a lot. One
can often work more mischief by doing
nothing than doing great deal"
Didn't you tell me to leave Captain
Truesdale alone?"
81 did, and you have left him so Sc
verely alone already that | can see
he is piqued. What wish you to do
is to treat him just as you would treat
any guest of mine"
yes papa"
In spite of the obedient tone in which
the words were spoken Colonel Board
man looked at his daughter with mis-
giving as she meekly left the room.
Another brief period passed, and the
colonel again thought it necessary to
speak to his daughter about her treat
ment of his friend.
""Gwen!" She knew by the tone in
which her name was spoken that more
fault was to be found with her and
bowed to what was coming.
"Tcan't understand" the colonel re-
sumed after a pause, why you can't
treat friends of mine who come into
this house more naturally. asked you
to let Captain Truesdale alone. and
you let him so severely alone that
your treatment of him attracted his
attention. Then | asked you to- be
more cordial to him, and you must
needs be too cordial Don't you know
that's the way to get a man in love
with your"
"Y0u don't mean it! Isn't that fun
N.Y.
Funny! 1t isn't funny at all; it's
serious"
what do you wish me to do next,
papa?"
what do / wish you to do? Why,
confound it, l have mind to send you
away ~4ar,..s2,
"Shall | pack?'' ~'' NJ .r.4a
The colonel thought a few moments
before replying to this last question.
Yes be said at last, you may pack.
Go to your Aunt Margaret's till Trues-
dale leaves here. Then you may come
back. If ! had any confidence in you.
which l haven't, | wouldn't object to
but this mania of yours to
bring every man down for mere sport |
IS execrable, and in the case of Trues- |
lale ] won't have it, Pm extremely |
fond Of him and will not permit you |
% embarrass our friendship"
Eyes, papa"
The same afternoon Gwen was pack
ID off to her aunt's. While she had |
,een at home. Truesdale especially I'M
Ter his recent treatment by her. had
,een the life of the house. He talked
'ver their campaign with his host and
made no mention of any time of de
,arture. But as soon as Gwen had
zone be became dull and listless. The
olonel tried to enliven him with "a
Iorn" once in awhile, but it did not
ppear to do him any good The day
fter Ovens departure he told his
ost that his presence was needed in
he city. The colonel protested, but
ielded. since his guest had ceased to
e companionable. So they parted
hen the colonel, who must have COM
wrote his daughter:
"You may come home-the tempta-
lon is now out of your way"
When Gwen drove I'D to the house
be colonel ran out to embrace her.
Who should get out of the carriage
rst but Captain Truesdale. He hand
d out Gwen!
"Vhat does this 2" asked the