The Washington herald., 1915-10-14
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A BORROWED FIANCEE.
by LOUISE OLIVER.

Tommy Harvard lounged sulkiIy in
the doorway Of a Fifth avenue jewelry
shop. He had beaten his aunt to the
rendezvous by nearly a half hour-not
that he was anxious for the meeting, but
because 1t had just happened that he
was, passing and it was easier to stop in
than to come back. Tommy. having too
much money and leisure, had the habit
of doing the easiest thing.
While he sulked he unused: IT wish to
thunder the family would let me alone
I'm no baby! Some day I'll mend my
ways, but some of my precious aunts
| and uEcles are forever lecturing me about
the future and hunting up girl whom
, ought to marry in order that she may re-
form me. 1 don't want to get married,
and Aunt Elizabeth can trot her candi-
date home again. the one she is to bring
along to luncheon. Say" He turned
| around and looked after 4 girl who had
| entered the shop, leaving a trail of ex-
| quisiteness behind her she passed
That's just the prettiest girl / ever saw
in my life! Wonder if know her. No
I'd have remembered her If I did. 1
| may as well wait inside, / guess" And
Tommy sauntered in.
Suddenly he conceived the brightest
idea of his life. small room at the
back Of the shop. with its black velvet
| topped tables and chairs for customers,
| would make 4 splendid setting for the lit
\ tie drama he was arranging. Any one
there could easily be seen by persons en-
tering the store.
| A chime clock struck the quarter hour.
| Fifteen minutes until his aunt was due
| with her protege! Ample time for his
| plan if-he glanced uneasily at the girl
| If the other half of his cast was willing
to perform.
| The girl turned away from a counter
! and found a good-looking young man in
her path. He lifted his hat and bowed.
She returned his bow coolly.
II beg your pardon: may I speak to
you for a minute?' asked Tom.
The girl hesitated and ran her eye rap
idly over his clothes from shoes to collar.
and then for an instant studied his face.
Treasured, she smiled and nodded. why.
yes, l guess you may. But l don't be-
| lieve 1 know you"
That's the trouble. You don't. Won't
You sit in the next room with me while
tell you something. 1t Is more COM
Portable and better place to talk
They sat down at the little table and
Tom pitched in with n queer feeling that
he was getting in over his head.
Il want to ask a favor-a very great
favor of YOU
"Yes?"
DO You think you could be engaged
to me for five or ten minutes?''
He was very red The girl looked seri-
| Gus in spite of a gleam in her eyes. rs
| 1t as bad as that?'
Indeed it is. I'm in for a bad day II
! you don't. Perhaps for life. if am not
careful and let myself be caught by an
overzealous aunt who insists on my get
| ting married. and who has a new kind
of bait to try on me tOday."
The girl nodded. Il see. So you are
going to hang out a sign Gone" and I'll
| to be the owner for a few minutes"
Exactly! II you'll do 1t it will help
| me out of a deuce of a mess. I'll get one
of the statesmen to bring in some diamond
solitaires and spread them all out in
plain view. All you have to do is to look
, them over and try them on your engage
ment finger. holding your hand well up
so it can plainly be seen by any one en-
terng the store. and-and-you might
look a little sweet at me If you think you
could manage it,"
well, might manage part of 1t at
least. The look, Thoughts that abso-
lutely necessary
Looks are convincing, you know. to
outsiders. They might not just notice
the ring"
II see. Very well. then. I'll do my best
to help you out"
The clock chimed the half hour and
Tom could see his aunt's limousine stop
ping at the curb. She was always pune
tual! Then she came into the store
alone. Tom pretended not to see. but he
knew that his aunt was eyeinG him and
his companion through her lorgnon.
A little later she left the store. to
Toms relief, without speaking to him.
The plan had indeed worked beautifully.
We'll" said the girl, pushing away the
rings, It's over. Was 1t success?"
Great, How can I ever thank you?
Won't you please pick one of the rings
and really like and keep it,"
Thank you, no." drawing of an inn
mense diamond, Il don't care to be paid
for doing any one favor. Good morn
ing
Her departure was inevitable. Tom
had no excuse in the world for OBTAINING