The Adair County news., 1913-12-31
A SHREWD
MOVE
By SAMUEL E. BRANT

said my fiancee to me soon after We
became engaged. IF she approves /
don't care what any one else thinks Of
you"
The remark occasioned the first chill
that ran through me after receiving
and would be mine.
Ellen Thornton and / had met in the
summer at a mountain resort. and our
engagement occurred in the winter.
We lived in cities, and all l knew
about her and her antecedents was
that she came of an excellent family
and was generally liked. l had never
heard of her bosom friend, Mary Blake.
But when we are congratulated upon
the taking Of a partner all our friends
speak well of the person selected.
can remember congratulating a friend
on his engagement with girl | de-
tested.
1 was not so infatuated with Ellen
but that / would be glad to hear the
truth about her, whatever that truth
might be; but, realizing that no one
would tell me the truth. L was quite
willing to keep my eyes open that l
might learn it by observation. The
moment l met Miss Blake / saw by
her manner that the approval hoped
for by my betrothed was wanting. As
love is spark easily enkindled, so is
antagOnism. though in this case the
antagOnism came from Miss Blake to
me. 1 was Indifferent TO her
How do you like herr" asked Ellen
of me when we were again alone to-
gether.
Every much" l replied with the
usual untruthfulness in such cases.
Glow does she like me?'
''She thinks you are splendid"
"You don't mean itI''
Eyes, and she predicts that we will
be very happy together"
"Indeedr
''Only possibly for one thing"
What's that?"
"Well, she says you have aSvery
firm look about you. and she predicts
that you'll lead"
This was the tiny hole in the apple
through which the worm had crawled.
1 made no reply. Indeed, no reply was
needed. Miss Blake had thrown up
her first line of defenses. She had
prepared Ellen against transferring
the influence eXerted by her bosom
friend to her lover. l resolved to
lock horns with my enemy, but in such
a way that Ellen would not realize
that l was doing so. But l proposed
TO put Ellen in such position that she
must decide between me and her bos-
ON friend.
L found an opportunity at the whist
table. If one desires to pick a quarrel
with a woman an excellent way is
TO secure her for partner. then point
out her misplays. One evening when
Ellen, her bosom friend, my chum, jim
Baxter, and ! were together / propos-
ed whist and insisted on having Miss
Blake for my partner. BY simply point
ing out to her in the most delicate
manner possible her bad plays ! final
~ sent her out of the room in a huff.
What have you dOneY' exclaimed
Ellen, aghast
Nothing Of Importance. She should
be very much Obliged to me for teach.
ing her the game"
You must undo what you have done
at once"
There is nothing to undo. She will
soon get over her tiff. l shall pay no
attention to it. treating her just the
same as ever hereafter
Ellen was much troubled. A few
nights after this a dozen of US young
persons We're to have a little dance at
Mary Dlake'S home Before going
there Ellen informed me that it would
be better if did not invite Mary to
dance, since she had said that if did
she would refuse
Indeed" was my reply. I'm very
sorry to hear that
On the evening in question when
lhe piano began to discourse music for
the twostep | stepped up to Mary
Blake and asked her to dance. She
bowed. said nothing and turned away.
This was the end of my part Of the
little comedy. | knew that her refusal
to dance with one who had invited her
in her own home was an objectionable
breach Of good manners However, ]
remained for the evening, dancing
with all the other girls in turn.
what have you done" exclaimed
Ellen as we walked home together
Didn't ! warn you not to ask Mary to
dancer"
you wouldn't surely have had me
seaTe her out, inviting the others. and
that tGo, in her own home"
"she Was perfectly right to refuse
vour invitation till you had apologized
for your rude treatment of her atahe
card table"
"Refer that point to some elderly per-
son with a fair knowledge of good
manners. If the decision is in your IA
yor I will at once apologize to your
friend. though l admit / don't know
what for"
ssro whom shall refer it,"
-cYour mother. and if she decides in
my favor you are to ask Mary to do
ANYTHING your mother may suggest. If