The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-03-19
STRATEGY OF A WIDOW
BY GEORGE MUNSON.

That Miss Elsie Davis is charm
ing girl and | congratulate you highly,
Mr.. Norton" said Mrs. Benton. But
what pity that she seems so Jealous"
Warren Norton flushed deeply. He
resented Mrs. Benton's words, but he
knew that they were true.
Elsie and her mother were summer
Ing at the Glen Pass hotel, and War
rem Norton was spending his vacation
there.
That evening Mrs. Benton made
overtures to Elsie, who had regarded
her with sullen aversion from the mo-
ment of their introduction However.
the accomplished woman of the world
soon managed to thaw the heart of the
undisciplined, inexperienced girl.
Yes, Warren is a dear boy" she
said, but like most men, ! am afraid"
What do you mean by that?' de-
manded Elsie, flying to arms at once
on Johns behalf.
Il mean, dear, that a pretty face
would turn his head. A mans heart
may be loyal, but the best of them
cannot resist passing attraction"
1T is not true!" cried Elsie, turning
scarlet
Unfortunately it is true, my dear
replied the widow, laying one hand
caressingly upon her arm. ut is only
too true, and | can prove 1t to you"
Glow 2" demanded Elsie
by bringing your Warren to my
feet within two days" Mrs. Benton an
swered.
you can't do It," cried Elsie scorn-
fully. But l will let you try, Mrs.
Benton, and, II you succeed. | will
have nothing more to do with War
rem"
The next few days were wretched
ones for Elsie. True, Mrs. Benton did
not succeed within the period that she
had allotted herself, but 1t was evident
that Warren was strongly infatuated
| with her. There were angry scenes be-
! tween the engaged couple. To Elsie's
establishment Warren, who had always
| been so penitent and self-exculpatory
| on former occasions, now appeared
| brazen.
Elsie, Mrs. Benton is the sister OF
John Benton in the Philippines" he
| said Il have told you often how
| John is my best friend. We have not
seen each other for years, and it ie
natural that l should like his sister
Come, be friendly with her, Elsie, and
| let US all be happy together"
20, | hate her and | hate you'll" ex
claimed the jealous girl; and, pulling
off her ring, she flung it upon thu
table.
Elsie was not the type of girl VIII
dominates over her mother. The eide
woman had seen how things were &c
ing; perhaps she thought that Warrel
was giving Elsie lesson, for she OF
fered no consolation when Elsie an
nounced that the engagement wa
broken of and that they would star
home on the morrow.
Elsie did not go down to dinner tina
night But afterwards feverish dc
sire to see Warren again forced her I
dress and go downstairs. She knew h
was with that odious Benton woman
and she could not go away without tol
turing herself by seeing them together
Poor Elsie reached the veranda jus
in time to see the couple disappearin
together along the most secluded c
the many beautiful walks of the Gle
Pass. They were walking slowl
side by side, and it was evident the
did not dream that Elsie was an.
where near them.
At the eIfd of the walk was hedg
Of box, round which the road woun
into a pretty little summer hous'
Taking her stand behind the hedg
Elsie heard the conversation.
Poor Elsie!' said Warren in To-
voice.
Poor Elsie!" said Mrs. Benton in
very meaning one, and Elsie, standin
behind the hedge set her teeth har
To be pitied was the last thing tn;
she could endure.
81 feel guilty of disloya'ty to her
having permitted you to- plan thi
Mrs. Benton" said Warren.
My dear boy, it is the best thing
the world for her." replied the eld'
woman. "A sharp lesson was nece
sary, and as the sister of your be
friend, feel that it is my duty to gi'
, her that lesson"
"She thinks | am in love with you
said Warren.
Mrs. Benton laughed merrily. "Wht
my fiance, Mr.. Boyd, arrives tomorro
she viii be undeceived," she sal
Now, Warren, word of advice.
am going to tell her that 1t was all
plan of mine in order to bring her
reason and cure her absurd Jealous
You stay there till come back, and
shall bring her with me-
And she stepped of along anoth
path toward the hotel, while Els
, heard herself sob in the darkness.
: What fool she had been! She SO
it now, she remembered all Warner
misery in the past, caused by h
= doubts OF him. She was not worthy
him. She-She-