The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-07-31
Two Flirts
By RUTH GRAHAM


Il see by your ticket that you are 70
Hording Station. Possibly you ma,
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; l know the Recklings yer,
we'll. They live two miles from til
station"
Indeed. | was to have gone by an
other train. but came In advance. an
there will be no one to meet me. col
easily walk that distance"
1T will not be necessary. am sc
ing in that direction. My carriage viii
meet me, and | shall be happy to TAX
you to your destination"
That's very kind Of you-to stran
ger"
"Im only too glad to be Of service t,
any friend Of the Recklings."
lam very old friend Of Win Reck
ling. We we're college chums."
HE has brought wife home witt
him from abroad. believe"
Eyes. l am going to make shor
visit with the express purpose Of meet
ing her."
Il trust you'll like her,"
whether shall or not remains to b<
seen. Is she nice?"
mfr. Recking doubtless thinks 90
She Is rather straitlaced."
"Why. l beard she was just the op-
posite."
"Oh. you did? Please define what you
mean by the opposite"
II heard she was great 6irt before
Win married her."
The lady looked aside at him. then
cast 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and it was not withdrawn. At the sta
ton they entered her carriage and were
soon bowling along 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 it
dull there. Your host never comes out
until the o'clock train. and there'lI be
no one to entertain you. know they
would be obliged to me for taking care
of a guest Of theirs"
II shall be delighted But Mrs. Reck-
ling will be at home. will she not?''
mo. met her in the city whils
shopping"
The gentleman was driven with the
lady to her home. After brief alb.
sence for change from street to din.
DER dress she reappeared. afternoon tea
was served and they sat chatting.
80 you heard Mrs. Reckling was
dirt. did your
"Only before marriage"
"And you think marriage terminates
oil that?"
"Oh. that's "a one feels about It,"
"1'm married"
"Indeed?"
Eyes. I liked a good time when sin.
gle. and now that I'm married I 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.
II shall have these preserved" be
said with fervor.
Mrs. Reckling will give you another
and you'll say the same thing to her."
mot at all. This meeting has rem.
dered any possibility Of Mrs. Reckling'y
attracting me impossible
She smiled. he thought. ironically.
He was bending over her while she
was plucking a rose and was about to
say something tender when there was
q rattle Of wheels on the road, and
the lady. looking up at a1coming two
wheeled cart driven by gentleman.
said:
Here comes my husband; let US 20
IN. l 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. 1t was Winfield
Reckling who burst into the room with
outstretched hand to welcome him.
"Win," said the lady. this 10 your
friend. Billy Forsythe. He says he
heard I'm dirt. All i have to say is
that II 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 az a lobster.
"Oh. don't mind her. Billy. She
can't help It She was born so.''
As soon az the guest could recover
himself. turning to Mrs. Reckling, he
said: