The Spectator., 1915-01-26
STRATEGY OF | WIDOW
By GEORGE MUNsoN.

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 ren Norton was spending his vacation there.
 That evening Mrs. Benton made overtures to Elsie, who had regarded her with sullen aversion from the mo- me2t 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, 1 am afraid
 What do you mean by that?" de- manded Elsie, flying to arms at once on Johns behalf.
 T 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"
 Tt is ncs true!" cried Elsie, turning scarlet
 Unfortunately it is true, my dear" replied the widow, laying one hand caressingly upon her arm. Tt is only too true, and I can prove it to you"
 How" 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 I will let you try, Mrs. Benton, and, if you succeed, l will have nothing more to do with War. ren."
 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 astonishment 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. T have told you often how John is my best friend. We have not seen each other for years, and it is natural that I should like his sister. Come, be friendly with her, Elsie, and let US all be happy together"
 70, I hate her and I hate you!" ex- claimed the jealous girl; and, pulling off her ring, she flung it upon the table
 Elsie was not the type of girl who dominates over her mother. The elder woman had seen how things were go- ing; perhaps she thought that Warren was giving Elsie lesson, for she of fered no consolation when Elsie an nounced that the engagement was broken off and that they would start home on the morrow.
 Elsie did not go down to dinner that night But afterwards feverish de- sire to see Warren again forced her to dress and go downstairs. She knew he was with that odious Benton woman, and she could not go. away without tor turing herself by seeing them together
 Poor Elsie reached the veranda just in time to see the couple disappearing together along the most secluded of the many beautiful walks of the Glen Pass. They were walking slowly side by side, and it was evident they did not dream that Elsie was any where near them.
 At the end of the walk was hedge of box, round which the road wound into a pretty little summer house. Taking her stand behind the hedge, Elsie heard the conversation.
 Poor Elsie!" said Warren in low voice.
 Poor Elsie!" said Mrs. Benton in a very meaning one, and Elsie, standing behind the hedge, set her teeth hard. To be pitied was the last thing that she could endure.
 "I feel guilty of disloyalty to her in having permitted you to plan this. Mrs. Benton.' said Warren.
 My dear boy, it is the best thing in the world for her." replied the elder woman. "A sharp lesson was neces- sary and as the sister of your best friend, feel that it Is my duty to give her that lesson"
 "She thinks am in love with you" said Warren.
 Mrs. Benton laughed merrily. When my fiance, MT. Boyd, arrives tomorrow she will be undeceived," she said. Now, Warren, word of advice. am going to tell her that it was all plan of mine in order to bring her to reason and cure her absurd jealousy. You stay there till come back, and shall bring her with me- 1 And she stepped off along another path toward the hotel. while Elsie 1 heard herself sob in the darkness. What fool she had been! She saw it now, she remembered all Warren's misery in the past, caused by her doubts of him. She was not worthy of | him. She--she-
 Suddenly she felt two arms about her. Very niserably she raised her head Warren stood beside her.