The Parker post., 1915-08-14
MRS. WADHAM' SCURE
Her Failure as a Matchmaker
Sent he Blue Book to
the Fire.
BY WILLIS STRONG.

duQ Curu0u Cu0m COWdTu Ln0 COOl1u6
green of the golf links.
Her glance sharpened as she rec
! ognized her husbands portly form.
Mis- face famed with heat and his
white clothes looked limp. Over one
shoulder bag of clubs sagged heavily.
| II wonder who that man is-he
looks like the one who arrived this
morning; I wonder if Edith" Her
thoughts became chaotic as her hus-
band came up the steps and sank into
a chair beside her
clustering hot, Meg" he pulled,
hopping his brow.
"Who is that man, Jim?" she asked.
"What MANI" he stared.
| "The one you crossed the links
with-the tall man with fair hair"
"Oh-that's Denway."
zone Of the Denways?" she de-
manded, wide-eyed.
He nodded carelessly.
Zone of the Denway twins, be-
lieve."
(Which one?"
| Search me! I didn't ask him.
Seems to me heard someone call him
Cecil"
"Cecil Denway!" Meg Wadham
grew pink with excitement. Her black
eyes flashed.
Her husband recognized the signs,
and smiled inwardly.
They've got all kinds Of money"
he egged her on.
| 'I know film, I've been thinking
of Edith-you know she is too good
for the best man on earth!"
"Right-for that reason she'll prob
ably marry some good-for-nothing
scamp who will expect me to support
them both. I'm so sure Of it that I'm
setting aside certain sum of money
for the purpose"
"Jim, you're too absurd. Fancy a
Denway expecting you to support
him!"
"a Denway-hey? Say, Meg, how
long has Edith been acquainted with
Reggie Denway?"
81 thought you said it was Cecil
she countered
"Well = Cecil = Reginald - any old
names that suits you. How long has
she known any of the Denways?"
''Not at all-she has never met
them"
"Then why worry about my sup
porting him! l think women are the
most eccentric critters on this foot
stool" James Wadham beckoned to
| a hotel servant, and was presently
served with two tall, cool glasses OF
orange juice One of these he pushed
across the table toward his wife.
He buried his aggressive nose in the
other.
"Of course, James," said Mrs. Wad-
ham imperturbably, you will arrange
for Edith to meet Mr. Denway-it's "a
chance in lifetime. Cecil Denway is
one of the richest men in the world
and above the ordinary in character.
The other Denway twin, Reggie, is
married; he married one Of the Evans
girls-Beulah Evans married Count
Ignace Spattico."
Mrs. Wadham ratified off these
, names with great complacency. She
knew her social blue book from cover
| to cover Although not of the social
set whose doings she watched from
| affair and envied, her husbands mil
lions often brought his wife and daugh-
ter in touch with the charmed circle.
Mrs Wadham's one object in life
was to marry her daughter to some
one within the magic circle. Edith's
Indifference to the project and her
husbands open amusement at her re-
peated failures nettled her into
greater action.
! Edith shall marry this Denway,' .
she said between her clenched teeth,
and she fell into brown study, plan
ming, scheming, plotting to bring about
| the desired end.
With Edith married to Cecil Den
way she would be relative by mar
| riage to the Countess Spattico, a
triumph indeed over the old ac-
| Quaintancs who looked askance upon
Meg Wadham's social ambitions.
Her husbands voice broke in on
| her thoughts.
81 saw Dick Ainslee this morning
and asked him what he was doing
down here Said he was private secre-
tary to Denham."
Mrs. Wadham shrugged impatient
1y. "It does seem as though Dick
Ainslee was always appearing in the
most unexpected places. 1t will be
very disagreeable for him, when Edith
marries Mr.. Denway to occupy meni-
al position in her household"
James Wadham grinned broadly.
He did not tell his wife that when
q had recognized Dick Ainslee on
le beach a few hours ago Edith had
| been with him. The memory of Edith's
| face as she looked at Dick sealed her
fathers lips. But he could not help
| saying with little sigh:
Money isn't everything, my dear.
We used to be mighty happy before
struck oil"
Were happy now" insisted Mrs