The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-09-09
ARMSBY'S
CAPTURE
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

it for granted that you are fancy free.
1 would not for the world force you to
wed any one you don't love. There is
a girl who l am sure you would love
if You only knew her us l do. I wish
you to become acquainted with her.
and if. after Il certain time, you don't
fancy her | shall not insist OH your
yielding to my Wishes
II don't wish to marry and | won't"
But you are not so unreasonable as
to avoid the girl l have mentioned?"
"Yes, l am"
Perhaps it was the fact of her neph-
ew's indifference to her fortune, per-
haps her great affection for him, per-
haps a desire to have her own way.
At any rate, the old lady resolved to
conquer. She talked of other matters
for awhile. then'said carelessly:
How would YOU like a trip abroad"
II should be delighted. but it would
cost several thousand dollars"
II will furnish the amount necessary
on II co%ndition-that OH your return
you spend Il week with me-"
The conditions were accepted. Arms
by Ven abroad and on his return
went directly to his aunt's country
house, where she was at the time. At
dinner he vas presented to Miss Lucy
Ellison. He saw at once that be had
been drawn into n trap. He had
agreed to spend a week in the house
and was to be besieged by this young
woman.
This was true, and there was more
that he was not aware of. Miss Eli
son had a way with her that was very
taking with nem. No one could find
out exactly why, but they tumbled
over II another in endeavoring to
win 4 smile from her. Sometimes she
was coy. sometimes aggressive. She
knew when to be the II and when to
be the other.
Armsby vas indignant at the trick
his aunt had played him. After din
ner. finding her alone. he said to her:
Aunt, you have brought ME here in
order that this girl may get me for a
husband. l will keep my contract. l
will remain with you u week, but you
may tell your friend that l will have
nothing to do with her. | shall expect
you to order my meals served in my
room"
Certainly. Bert; anything you
WISH"
The next morning Armsby sent
downstairs for The morning paper and
sat himself down by his window to
read the news. CHANGING up from it,
there in a hammock swung between
two trees was Miss Ellison in a pure
white summer costume, a dream of
loneliness. There were no windows in
Armsby's room that did not face in
that direction, and the only way he
could shut out the view was to draw
the shade. This he did, but the in
terror of his room soon grew tiresome.
and he raised it again.
He stood looking down on the
charmcr. trying to c%onjure up some
plan for freeing himself from the
siege to which lie must be subjected
for a week. He was free to spend !;
portion of each day elsewhere. but he
had no friends in the neighborhood. and
how can a man muse himself alone:
He began to realize. to speak in com,
monplace language. that lie was III !:
hole.
He went down to the library, select.
cd a book. returned and sat himself
down to read. But somehow in spite
Of all he could do his eyes would wan.
der from the book and out to the girl
in the hammock. Surely it was 8
Of the skirt hung gracefully over
the side Of the hammock: the point OF
a dainty white slipper peeped beyond
IL fringe Of lace.
Armsby sent down word to his aun'
that he wished his room changed tt
the other side Of the house. Aftel
luncheon he went for a walk. but he
did not so far-the' day was too warm
Returning. he took a sieSta and. wlel
he awoke. went to the window. Their,
sat or, rather. reclined Miss Ellison OF
a rustic bench. propped by half a doz
Ell pillows. She saw him. waved he
hand to him and smiled.
Lie billie wis IL lclliliS SuOl. tAllIlS
by couldn't forget it. He rubbed hi!
eyes to get rid Of 1t. but it would no
be downed. There was something S,
unusual in this barefaced attempt. t.
capture him that it began to interes
him. Barefaced or not. its very ag
g~ressiveness c%aptiyated him. He hat
a mind to let theagirl have her wa.
just to see what she would do will
him. Besides. how was he to live TO
a week by himself? The first da,
seemed interminable. What would b
the last? An eternity. Anyway. Ii,
would rather stand siege. with til,
freedom Of the house. than shut up ii
his room.
So he lowered his flag so far as thi
was concerned. went downstairs an,
thereafter took his meals with the 9th
ers. Miss Ellison for five days con
tinued her aggressive tactics. the
changed like a south wind hauling t
the north and froze him. The remain
ing two days of the time set for hi
visit she kept him in tortures. relent
cd on fine sixth. and on tho seventh II