The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1915-12-22


alone in Mrs. Jernegan's runabout, Ed
car Beverly accompanied her
A few days later Nh. Coolidge was
Informed that Miss Dudley had acced-
cd to his request, and Mrs. Jernegan
suggested that he call upon the young
lady for the purpose of talking the
matter over. He lost no time in MAX
ing the call and found Miss Dudley in
a very complaisant frame of mind.
81 was much pleased with your neph-
EN-, Mr. Cooledge,'' she said, "and since
our mutual friend, Mrs. Jernegan, has
appraised me of your intentions, we
may as well begin where she left off.
If am to win your nephew / can only
do it by being thrown q good deal in
his company. This, of course, cannot
be without management. Now, | pro-
pose that we make up a little party
for the balance of the summer to go
to the mountains. That there may be
two men and two women | propose to
invite lady friend of mine-for chape-
ron if you like-and l feel great conf
dcnee that your plan Of marrying your
nephew will succeed before the end Of
the summer.
Mr.. Coole lge fell in with the plan,
ana in due time u party Of four was
dOmeSt:catcI in Il mountain hotel. Mr..
Cooled e was somewhat surprised to
find the lady who was added to the
party to lie several years younger than
Miss Dudley, but the latter explained
that she was the only one of her
rrilnds whom she could get to make
up the party. She was scarcely ont of
her teens and Il very attractive young
W oman. She was introduced as Kate
Willard, and the name Kate is often
synonymous with the word fascinating
Ihc quartet passed Il very enjoyable
month together. But from the first
the plan to marry Beverly to Miss Dud-
ley went awry, because he preferred
Kate Willard. Coolidge was much put
out at the turn the affair had taken,
for he approved very highly Of Miss
Dudley, but considered her friend Of
very light calibcr. Instead of his neph-
ew being attentive to Miss Dudley he
was devoted to her friend. This left
Coolidge and Miss Dudley in constant
companionship. Coolidge after awhile
instead of Icing troubled at this turn
of his intentions was so delighted with.
Miss Dudley'S cOmpanionship that
her from his friend he showed his
spleen perceptibly.
Not only did Beverly notice his I'M
cle's being ruffled by his attentions to
Miss Dudley, but Kate was immensely
delighted with it. The two younger
persons were evidently out for frOlic,
and if they could get any fun at the
older mans expense they were quite
incline to do so. Beverly would for a
time leave Miss Dudley quite free to
receive the attentions of Mr.. Coolidge,
then he would vCer about and appro-
pirate her to himself. To make mat
ters worse. Miss Dudley made no OBJ
lection to being monopoliZed by the
young scapegrace, and when he was
devoted to her his uncle was left out
in the cold.
And so the game went Oh. Mr.. Coo
ledge when his nephew was devoting
himself to Miss Du, ley declared that
the plan was working out admirably,
but lie felt Ike throwing thu Young raS-
cal over Il precipice. Then when Bev
erly swung back to Kate Willard and
left the field to linn he voted the boy
a fool. but in his heart was d. lighted.
When the autumn came round and
the party returned to the city Mr..
Coolidge one day received message
from Mn Jernegan asking why he
khad kot &Eed upon her. He at once
put III an appearance, and the follow
ing dialogue cnsued:
"How did the plan for marrying
your nephew work?" asked the lady.
at didn't work at all Miss Dudley
invited IL friend of hers, chit, to be
of our party in the mountains, and the
chit got away with Edgar"
"Indeed!' said the lady. THAT was
very hard on Laura, wasn't it? Who
was the friend that Laura invited to
complete your party?''
"a Miss Kate NIillard."
"YOu mean Mrs Kate Willard"
"Nhat?"
'Kate Willard is widow"
Mr. Coolidge was thunderstruck
"You wished to marry off your neph-
ew. and I wished to give you wife.
I got up this PARTY for a summer out
ing myself 1t was all arranged be-
fOrehan1 that Kate Willard should win
your nephew and Laura Dudley should
win you. The plan has been success
full in both its parts. Edgar Beverly is
engaged to Kate Willard. and you are
engaged to Laura Dudley"
''Well. I'll he jingedv exclaimed Mr..
Coolidge. How did you learn that?''
"I'rom both Laura and Kate. 1t was
too good to keep