The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-18
THE couNTERPLoT
By KEITH KENYON.

ly nice to me, and ut the Washihs'on
ball you didn't mind a bit when 1 y
six dances. It's all l can 10 now "
get one"
bob, you're greedy! Just because
1t happened that you got more thua
your share of dances once you expect
the same thing forever
"You are begging the question: sue
II one must use plain English, mere
goes: You know 1 love you. l told
YOU so two months ago, and you prom
ised to answer my question In a week.
That was the week Bert Ewing came'
and you scarcely looked my way once
while he was here. l guess you Tor
get that I'm Still waiting. l can't stand
this suspense any longer. What Is II
to be-yes OF no, Sue?"
She temporized. Suppose It's no"
"It's just about what ! expected
bitterly.
1t was the spark needed to send the
finder into flame.
you're jealous-that's 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're
80 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 a
done exactly right in refusing Bob. IF
I 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.
I've despair in Bob's 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
lust as certain that he was unduly
Jealous. And so her busy brain
hatched a plan that was calculated to
yet everything right in the future
So she wrote the following letter to
Bert Ewing and dispatched it forth
with:
"Dear Bert: You told me to count
Upon you when l needed a friend. I
DO need one now, and I want you to
do me an unusual favor. l don't want
to be engaged to you for two reasons
first, because I don't love you, and
second, because you don't love me
but would it be convenient to let peo-
pie think we are for a little while?
You see Il may as well tell you) it's
Bob. He's so jealous and I want to
cure him before l take him for good
and all. / refused him last night.
Faithfully,
"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 ef-
feet upon Bob was not all that could
have been desired.
His spirits had risen like a barometer
on a 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 81 completely an.
initiated when I said NO."
! Bert 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 a 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 I will" returned Bert as
he and Isabel disappeared inside.
Bob faced Susy. MAY I drive you
home" 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, / 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-because I don't love anyone
but you, Bob, and I'm sorry I 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 surew
He drew a long breath. TITS good
Fro hear you say SO, dear. I've always
loved you devotedly and I do this min.
ute, dear little Susy.",
But why were you 80 nice to Isa.
belT
He hesitated. 1--WE were good
friends; that's all. Just like you and
Ewing, l suppose. Do you know where
they are going3"
"hey? No."
ITO be married. They've been en-.
gagged oil along"