Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-11-09
The coUNTERPloT
Bv KEITH KENYON.

potiently while Bob went on pleading
Nv. "You used to care, Sue. I'm posi-
tive YOU did. At least you were a"1ul'
Nv nice to me, and at the washington
ball YOU didn't mind bit when TOOK
six dances, It's all l can do now TO
get one"
Bob, you're greedy! Just because
It happened that you got more IMAM
your share of dances once you expect
the same thing forever
"You are begging the question, sue.
If one must use plain English, mere
goes: You know l love you. l told
YOU so two months ago, and you prom
ised to answer my question in week.
That was the week Bert Ewing came,
and YOU scarcely looked my way once
while he was here. | guess you Tor
get that I'm still waiting. l cant stand
this suspense any longer. What Is 1t
to be-yes or no, SueF
She temporized. suppose it's no.
ITS Just about what l expected! J.
bitterly.
1t was the spark needed to send the
finder into flame.
"You're iealous-that what you
are, and I'm sure it would be anything
but bliss to spend the rest OF my days
with you. SO I'll say NO since you ~
50 anxious to hear it,"
Bob made no answer. The music
had stopped and the return to The
house was made in silence.
Susy convinced herself that she had
done exactly right in refusing Bob. IF
l had said Yes to him tonight, that
would have meant slavery for the rest
of my days"
But that night, after she got into
bed, somehow things looked different.
TIE despair in Bobs eyes had gone
straight to her heart and stayed there.
So she cried herself TO. sleep.
Daylight lightened her remorse, how
ever. She realized now that although
she was sure she loved Bob, she was
Just as certain that he was unduly
Jealous And so her busy brain
Matched II plan that was calculated to
set everything right in the future.
SO she wrote the following letter to
Bert Ewing sid dispatched it forth
with:
Dear Bert: You told me to count
upon you when / needed Il friend. |
do need one now. and | want you to
do me an unusual favor. | don't want
to be engaged to YOU for two reasons
first, because | don't love you, and
second, because you don't love lite
bur would it be convenient 10 let pco-
pie think we are for II little while?
You see q may rs well tell YOU'D its
Bob. He's so jealous and | want to
cure him before | take him for good
and ILL., l refused him last night
BEAUTIFULLY,
SUE"
To which letter Bert replied in the
affirmative, declaring his intention of
spending the next two weeks in town
anyway and saying they could fix
things up
So Bert arrived and, by paying Susy
constant attention and acting the part
of the devoted lover, the rumor soon
got abroad that they were engaged.
But, to SuSy's CONSERVATION, the eff
feet upon Bob was not all that could
have been desired.
His spirits had risen like Il barometer
on bright sunny day, the cause be-
ing apparently pretty Isabel Fleming,
whose brother happened to be Bert
Ewing's host.
Secretly SuSy ragged. "Bob's making
q perfect goose of himself. The idea
of pretending to be 50 completely an
initiated when | said No
Errl had to leave finally, and Susy
Went with him to the station. There
they met Isabel and Bob waiting for
the same train. SuSy'S heart sank
when she saw the travelling bags. 1t
looked like honeymoon! But, to her
relief, Isabel said gOOd-by to her escort
and turned to Bert as the train came
in.
Take good care of her." called Bob.
You bet | Will!" returned Bert as
he and Isabel disappeared inside.
Bob faced Susy. MAY | drive you
homer 1t was the first time he had
spoken since the night she had refused
him.
YES" she answered. And then with
a catch in her voice: "Oh, Bob, when
you can't get Isabel you want me! Do
you think it's fair! You've scarcely
looked at me lately"
1T works both ways, l think" he
said grimly. You haven't had much
time YOURSELF
But l. didn't mean anything, Bob
Really there was nothing in it all"
"All right. I'm glad of it, but
don't see why you're telling me-
"Be--bccause | don't love anyone
but you, Bob, and I'm sorry said No"
They were in the motor now and had
taken the long way home. The road.
walled in by trees ON both sides, was
quite secluded.
You're sure you mean that, are you
Sue?"
Yes I'm sure! Very sure!"
he dleW long bfSatl. IL y Soou
to hear you say So dear. I've always
loved you devotedy and | do this min.
ute, dear little Susy."
But why were you so nice to Is;l.
bel?"
He hesitated. 1--WE were good
friends; that's all. Just like you and
Ewing, | suppose. Do you know where
they are going?"
"They? No."
ITO be married. They've been en-