The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-01
She Set a Trap
For Him

BY r. a. mitchell.

A gentleman alighted from rail
way train, took a cab and was driver
10 a suburban residence. His sum
mons ut the front door was answered
by maid In white uniform, trimmet
far more deliberately than is usual fol
servants. Indeed, had it not been FOL
the cap on her head he would not have
taken her for such
is Miss milford at homer"
No, sir; she's not She's gone tt
the city,
That's too bad. I've come LONG
distance to see her" The gentleman
seemed much put out. He stood think
Ing what he would do next.
BEG pardon, sir. Are you Mr.. Fit
hugh?o
Eyes"
"Please come in. Miss milford left
Z message for you"
Mr.. Fitz Hugh entered the house
and the maid showed him into very
pleasant reception room. On table
he found note addressed to him. Ii
read:
My attorney has advised me that you
Will visit me for conference upon the set
Element of our interests in the Ormsby
estate in the hope that we may come to
m agreement whereby litigation may be
avoided. / have been called away today
and have instructed my maid to Keep you
I'LL my return this evening. Annie will
wovide you with whatever viii enable
you to pass the time so far as she can
The maid stood by demurely waiting
while the gentleman read the note.
When he had finished he looked up at
her admiringly and said;
Miss Milford assures me that you
will do what. you can to keep me till
her return. The way for you to do
that is not to give me books to read
or pictures to look at, but to entertain
me yourself
"How could | do that. SIR protested
the girl, you being an educated gentle
man and | only lady's maidT'
You can do it better than the lady
herself. Heaven protect me from these
intellectual women. They know just
enough about a subject to show their
want Of depth and think all the while
that they are showing their brains.
In my opinion woman is intended for
motherhood and has no business with
IDEAS.
Z "Oh. sir. you're very hard on us poor
women"
Not on your hnd-on women who
know everything. Doubtless IL you
had left Miss milford to entertain
me she would have bored me with a
!. lot of opinions that wou interest no
one but herself"
What kind of woman Is your idealT
ITO me amiability and beauty are
the only requisite traits"
Then you don't care for smart wo-
men at all!'
Il don't wish one OF them to come
near me-"
Not even woman who Is capable
OF taking care Of her business affairsi
Miss Milford wouldn't suit you, sir,
for she's all of that"
The maid entertained Mr.. Fitz Hugh
during the day by listening to him
talk. BY the afternoon mail came
note from Miss milford asking him to
leave proposition with Annie since
she would be delayed in the city for
several days. He submitted a basis
for settlement, and Annie picked out
several points in 1t that would lead
to trouble. He saw and corrected
them at once and complimented her
on her foresight. Then he left her and
returned to the city.
In few days he received note
from Miss milford that she was sorry
TO give him another journey. but she
would be pleased to have him call
again. He went wishing that he
might find the lady again absent and
be turned over to the care Of the maid.
"That girl" he said to himself, SIS just
what I'd want for wife-that is, IL
she were in the same social class with
myself"
On reaching the house he was adj
mtted by butler, which was a great
to him. He had intend
ed to say few nice things to the maid
before seeing her mistress. He was
ushered into the same room as before, |
and in due time Annie came into the |
room dressed like a lady. Fitz Hugh !
looked at her surprised.
"Mr. Fitz Hugh" she said, pardon |
me for playing maid the other day. l
desired before entering upon discus
sion with you as to business affairs |
of great Importance to both of us to
learn what kind of man / had to
deal with. | found you, am happy |
to say, gentleman of sound ideas,
liberal and capable OF understanding
your own interest as well as mine.
You know that it is in your power to
deprive me of my interest in the estate
Il | go to law. In other words, / am
1t your mercy. Can you blame me