The Press., 1915-01-13
inding Out the Truth An Engaged Couple Try to , Impose on Each Others
 Relatives
By DONALD CHAr1BERLIN

When Edith Lambert and I becam
 engaged, on comparing notes we foun
 that Edith had an uncle whose forum
 she expected to inherit, while had al
 aunt whose heir I was to be. Edit
 gave me the impression that her uncl
 was a very dignified old gentleman
 whose ideas concerning the man sh
 should marry were that he should wall
 a chalk line. This did not indicate tha
 my chances for pleasing the old mal
 were very good, for, if ever a young
 ster was full of Old Nick, was tha
 youngster.
 Per contra, my aunt had been in hel
 youth society girl, a firt, fond O
 horse racing, yachting, and had ever
 been so vicious as to play cards fo
 money. Edith was just the reverse O.
 this: young woman of reserve ant
 dignity and. withal, very religious.
 Naturally it was essential that
 should be acceptable to Edith's uncle
 and that Edith should please my aunt
 for neither Edith nor I had any for
 tune and had both been brought up il
 luxury. Edith's uncle was worth $500, 900 in 6 per cent bonds, while my aunt
 had something more than this in wei
 rented real estate. The problem be
 fore me and my fiancee was to make
 her uncle believe that I was very
 steady and well behaved young man
 and to make my aunt think that Editl | was woman of the world.
 After long conference in which va rious plans were discussed we decided that we would begin with my aunt. | was to introduce Edith to her. and Edith was to put on as much sporti- ness as she could. though I had mis- givings as to her deceiving my aunt for it was born in Edith to be dignified and she had no sympathy whatever with that license which pertains to people of the gay world. However, it was arranged that my aunt was to call on my fiancee, after which we three were to pass an evening together at | my auut's house.
 The evening after this call I went to see Edith and found her in very dis | tressed state of mind.
 Why did you tell me that Miss Mar l tindale was woman of the wOrld?'' l she said. T commenced soon after she appeared to talk freely and kept it up. while she listened to me without betraying any sympathy with the ideas expressed. and she finally arose. evidently very much disgusted with me. and took her departure" , What did you say?"
 "Why. I began by cracking jokes a out our forthcoming marriage, say ing that I hoped when you were out late at poker parties your companions wouldn't have to set you up against the front door and ring the bell"
 What did she say to that?" "Why. she scowled."
 What else did you say?"
 "I said I had lost $500 on the last races and expected to make 1t up at the meet next week. Then I said hoped you wouldn't feel that you must be tied down to me all the while. You were welcome to fiirt with other wom- en and get yourself talked about all you liked. provided there was nothing criminal in it. As for me, while l could get on with one husband. must have attention from other men, She looked at me as if she would bite my head off and whisked away without even saying goodby."
 Perhaps 1t was because you said 1t all instead of doing 1t. Aunt Kate was probably shocked at the bare state ment. while she would not have mind ed the acts mentioned"
 'I am afraid you don't understand your aunt. At any rate, I have an- tagonized her, and I think you'll find that if you marry me she will not leave you a cent of her money"
 I went straight to my aunt to hear what she had to say about the matter. but she locked her tongue and would give me no satisfaction. 1 judged, however, that she had not been over pleased with my fancee. Doubtless Edith had overdone the matter.
 The next thing to be done was for me to make the acquaintance of MT. Springer, Edith's wealthy uncle. He wrote Edith that I was to stay with him at his house and desired her to in- form him what train I would come on, that he might send his car to the sta ton for me. She gave him the desired and one bright morning I boarded the train, resolved to make better impression on Edith's uncle than she had made on my aunt. One thing I determined to guard against-that was, overriding 1t.
 I had not been long on the train when a gentleman asked me if would make one of four to play whist. Glad to while away the time, I consented. I was the partner of the gentleman who invited me to play, and the stake, beginning at quarter corner, was gradually increased to a dollar. But ,nr antagonists got the idea that and my partner were pair of professional gamblers who were intending to "do'' them and soon retired from the game
 This threw my partner and myself together. he assuming considerable DonhOmie. He had a flask with him md invited me to join him in emptying t. I hesitated, fearing that when I net Mir. Springer in the evening he would smell my breath. But my new found friend was so urgent that l at last consented, Then he brought out some fine Havana cigars and proposed that we go into the smoking compart- | ment of the car for smoke. Again I | objected, for if a whisky breath is bad | a whisky and tobacco breath is worse. But smoke after drink is especially enjoyable, so again yielded.
 After our smoke my companion pro- posed game of vingt ct un, to which l assented, and the luck, being on my side, when the train rolled into the station where we were to alight had ,aken $76 from my antagonist. He 1idn't complain, nor did he ask me to meet him again for his revenge, being lust as cheery at the parting as he had been at the meeting.
 l found MT. Springer's car at the