The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-02-20
A SFIREWD
MOVE
By SAMUEL E. A

II wish Mary Blake to like you,"
said my fiancee to me soon after we
became engaged. IF she approves I
don't care what any one else thinks Of
you"
The remark ~OccasiOned the first chill
that ran through me after receiving
the announcement that Ellen loved me
and would be mine.
Ellen Thornton and I had met in the
at a mountain resort. and our
engagement occurred in the winter.
lived in cities. and all l knew
about her and her ~antecedents was
that she came of an excellent family
and was generally liked. had never
heard of her bosom friend. Mary Blake.
But when we are congratulated upon
the taking of a partner all u friends
speak we'll of the person selected. l
can remember congratulating a friend
his engagement with a girl I de-
l was not so infatuated with Ellen
but that l 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
to keep my eyes open that I
might learn it by observation. The
moment I met Miss Blake l saw by
her manner that the approval hoped
for by my betrothed was wanting. As
love is a spark easily enkindled. SO Is
though In this case the
antagonism came from Miss Blake to
me. I was Indifferent to her.
How do you like herr" asked Ellen
Of me when we were again alone to-
Every much" l replied with the
usual un~truthfulness In such cases.
''How does she like met"
"She thinks you are splendid"
"You don't mean it,"
Eyes. and she predicts that we will
be very happy together"
"Indeed!
"Only possibly for one thing"
whats that?"
We'll. she says you have a very
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.
I made 10 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 vas doing 50. But I proposed
to put Ellen in such u position that she
must decide between me and her bos-
ON friend.
l found an opportunity ut the whist
table. If one desires to pick a quarrel
a woman an excellent way is
to secure her for a partner. then point
out her misplays. One evening when
Ellen. her bosom friend. my chum. Jim
Baxter. and l were together l 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 DON in a hui.
What have you done?" 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
ut once"
There is nothing to undo. Size will
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
after this Al dozen of us young
persons were to have ii little dance ut
Mary Blake's home. Before going
there Ellen informed me that it would
be better II I did not invite Mary to
dance, since she had said that il l did
she would refuse.
Indeed" was my reply. I'm very
sorry to hear that"
On the evening in question when
the piano began to discourse music for
the .twostep ! stepped up to Mary
Blake and asked her to dance. She
said nothing aud turned away.
This was the end Of my part Of the
little comedy. knew that her refusal
10 dance with Que who had invited her
IL her own home was an unpardonable