Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-05-21
ADiaboEical
Plot
By MARGARET c. DEVEREAUX

A lady and gentleman stood on the
deck Of an ocean liner about to depart
for the Mediterranean.
Upon my word" said the latter. III
there isn't my old chum Dick Thurs
ton coming aboard loaded down with
hand baggage. / haven't seen him in
four years. He's going across, sure.
| wish l were going.'
Introduce him. He'll serve TO light
en- the ennui during the voyage"
"I'll do it on one condition"
"What condition."
THAT you go for him. I'll let him
think you're my wife instead of my
cousin, and you must keep up the de-
ceptiOn. He's always prating about
honor in not making love to a friends
wife and all that sort of thing, while
claim that If woman can get a man
in love with her she can turn him
over to Satan. body and soul. Do you
agreeT' p
Miss Katherine Maryweather in her
heart snapped at the idea. but she Oc-
cupied the few minutes to spare in de-
claring that she would do no such
abominable thing. ThurstOn was
brought up and introduced TO her
Frank Waters having given him the
impression that he had been married
since they had met and he wished him
TO take charge OF his wife for the voy-
Iage.
Remember" said Dick. giving his
cousin parting kiss, much TO the
envy OF Thurston.
"I1l remember nothing" was the re
ply.
Miss Maryweather was an uncon
scionable fiirt, and this request Of her
cousin especially appealed to her. She
had brought many a man to her feet
as Waters we'll knew. but she had moi
experienced the zest attending making
man a traitor to an intimate friend
AS to deliberately stating to Thurstor
that she was Waters wife. she re
PEELED such n sin with horror: she
would merely suffer him to suppose
she was.
The voyage consumed twelve days
during which the weather was delight
full, the sea smooth, and all were OF
deck every day and moonlight nights
from start to finish. Before the vesse
reached the Azores Thurston's con
: science was troubling him dreadfully
I At Gibraltar he made a weak effort t,
leave the ship and do the rest OF tn,
journey by land. The night befor,
reaching Naples he seriously contem
plated jumping overheard. He ha,
not offended. indeed. against his oil,
, friend, but he had been criminal II
word and thought up TO his chin. Mis-
Maryweather had bewitched him.
> Once ashore, he Tighted himself an,
fied-hed to Rome, where he had in
tended TO remain n month. But, fear
ing that the supposed Mrs. Water
would be coming UP that way, he II
e out for Florence. Indeed. he neve
y stopped till he reached Lucerne.
n Frank Waters had made arrange
K ments to join his cousin ut summe
, resort on Lake Thun, and they me
there In July.
"Well?" said Frank inquiringly.
We'll whatT
Did you break down Thurston'
4 self respectg"
Y Certainly not. Mr. Thurston is
I very honorable man."
e Since you don't seem disposed /
Y tell me what happened I'll ask Dick"
Hell tell you nothing"
Wont he? Do you mean that h
will lie about it?"
HE needn't lie. He can simply II
fuse TO talk"
81 won't ask him. I'll charge hir
{ with all sorts of dishonorable things
$ and he won't deny them"
e Such as
; "Fll say, Dick. you've been maxim
. love TO my wifeT"
what elseT'
I'm a moment Of weakness yo
proposed 10 her TO leave methnd TAX