The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-29
"A GAME
OF BLUFF
BY ESTHER vANDEvEER

!
HI Ashurst, butterfly. Oglethorpe wal
III much in love with his fiancee, but on
III thing about her troubled him yer,
III much. After settling his affection!
H upon one girl he had no desire what
III ever to pay any attention to any othel
HI and could not see why Lucy mus
III needs accept the attentions of othel
HI men.
III One day he demonstrated with heI
II upon what he called flirting after heI
II engagement to him and told her that
H If she continued 1t he would break the
II engagement. A young girl-Lucy, al
/ any rate-7is like child whose ruling
passion is to carry disobedience as far
as possible without getting whipping.
Lucy let her lover 'scold," as she
H called 1t, to his hearts content without
making reply. While he was "laying
down the law to her"-this was also
an expression of hers with regard to
his lectures-she was laying plans for
breaking his injunctions.
During the next few weeks after this
laying down the law" Lucy firted
more than ever. Adrian bore 1t stoical-
ly till he had made up his mind to car
ry out his threats. then wrote her a
note breaking the engagement
Lucy. who had expected something
Of the kind and was prepared for 1t,
paid no attention to bis note whatever.
That which a child most breads is
4 the dark" On the same principle
that which an adult most breads is I'M
certainty. II Lucy had pleaded with
him. upbraided him, even scorned him.
to be left without any notice whatever
Of his discarding her was like the child
in the dark-it appalled, him.
| But Oglethorpe was methodical
/ chap. ana as soon as he got on his
thinking cap he solved the problem.
Either Lucy was ready to break with
him for some other man or she was
blufflng. II it was for another man
the fact would soon be apparent: If
she was bluffing that was game at
which two could play, Moreover, II
she had replaced him In her affections
be was not likely to win her back
again. for. he argued, women who
crave multiplicity of lovers are not
apt to return to an old one. They must
have something new
Adrian waited for developments !
Lucy when under his observation at |
functions would look lovingly upon her |
attendant, but Adrian thought she over |
did II, that she was doing ii for his |
benefit. Time passed. and he did not /
hear OF her encouraging any particu- /
lar man. Then. beginning to tire Of
the estrangement, he began to lay his
plans to bring about more definite /
situation. He had thus far treated her
as an acquaintance. friend He now
began to bow to her when he met her
with extraordinary politeness. Lucy
retaliated by out-Herodine Herod II Il
he bowed low to her she returned his
civility with a cordiallty that might
have been gratifying to a stranger.
but not to a man to whom she had
been engaged
Then came period Of self reproach
to Adrian for his sudden and decided
pACdnAhN Oh VI Ant GnEdEGiutAlts I1da
he not placed an insurmountable bar
rler between him and the girl he loved?
She could not seek him. If they were Id
to get together again he must go to +
her. And what would that involve? lie
Nothing less than an apology for bis Io
action and begging her forgiveness
This is the usual outcome between {
anA A,tt a.. L. III
usual case. II he succumbed 1t would
mean that, provided he was forgiven.
he would marry woman whose love /
for admiration would outweigh her l
love for her husband
The panic induced by the thought r
that he had raised an insurmountable n
barrier between them having been al A
aged. Adrian determined to play a Ii
.ard that up to this time he would a
have scorned to play. Indeed, he had 81
never thought of playing 1t till it had :
been suggested TO him.
What is the matter between you
ind Lucy Ashurst?'' asked an attrac-
i've widow of him one day.
Adrian told her the story. u
! That is very easily settled" she
aid.
"How?"
'You believe the lady is blufingf" OF
81 am sure of it, J,
Very well. We can soon find that ca
ut. Be my cavalier for awhile. II IN
he has turned from you TO another a.
he will not mind your devotion TO u
ne. II she still loves you she will i,
make peace at once tv
at will require some time. ! sup dr.
ose?" be
mot IL / know my sex"
During the next function at which %
hese three conspirators met Mr.. Ogle- :;
horpe devoted himself to the widow.
r. rather. the widow devoted herself Va
, Mr.. oglethorpe
"Did you see that scared look on her st,
ice?" she asked him when they pass is
1 Miss Ashurst
"No. Did your" OF
Certainly. She may not be afraid =
you. but she is deathly scared Of
lie. You will hear from her very :
,on.' n
And he did The next day he re-
lived a note from Lucy begging him
come and see her He went and