The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-15
A Game Of
Twenty Questions
By F. A. Mitchell

travelling In parlor car, l swung
my chair around from the window
through which l was looking, and my
gaze fell upon young woman whose
face was partly turned toward me.
She looked up and bowed to me.
returned the salute, so far as was
able, without betraying the fact that l
mad no more knowledge of her than Of
my grandmother. who had died before
l was born. Rising from MY seat,
walked toward her and said cordially:
This Is an agreeable surprise"
There was an amused look on her
race as she made some commonplace
remark. l judged that she did not be-
neve recognized her, but there was
just enough uncertainty in her eX-
preston to tempt Inc to continue my
pretense. A gentleman sitting in the
next chair to her kindly offered to ex-
change seats with me, an offer l ac-
cepted, and sitting down beside my
new found friend, began to pour
forth such words as would not give
me away while I was racking my
brain to place her.
| 1t soon became apparent to me that
she was aware of what / was trying
to do, but she did not bring the matter
to head. Evidently she enjoyed my
perplexity and was willing that /
should have plenty Of opportunity to
remember her. In the course of our
i chat she said:
when l saw you last you were sim
gle. Have you married SINGER
II am a bachelor. And your"
Il am engaged"
A look of regret must have crossed
my face, for she greeted the look with
an amused smile CHANGING at the
third finger Of her left hand, where
engagement rings are worn, l saw
that it was bare. l looked up at her
inquiringly.
| "You would like to know why l do
not wear token Of betrothal" she
said.
II would"
Il will tell you before we part"
"Why not now?"
Because 1t does not suit my pleas
ure to do So" she replied, with the
I same tantalizing smile.
1t was so evident to me that she
knew that had no remembrance of
her that l concluded to confess with q
view to satisfying my curiosity.
Come" l said, you know very well
that l am unable to recall who you
are. Let us have an end of this fenc-
ing. Tell me when and where have
met you before"
She leaned back and chuckled.
Have you ever played the game of
twenty questionsw she asked.
MANY time"
| Every well, I'll reply to twenty in
quiries you may make as to where we
were when we last saw each other
expended half q dozen questions
In fixing the place Of this last meet
ing In a summer house on the grounds
of my fathers country place Then
we began a new game as to the time
Of this meeting, and l learned that In
eight questions. 1t was ten years
agone. In another game for learning
the lady's name l asked all the ques-
tons permitted without success.
/ l was no nearer what l wanted to
know than before and was getting i'm
patient, my condition being evidently
simply delightful to my tOrmentOr
asked her what we were doing In the
summer house, and she replied that
/ she would give me twenty questions
to find out l got at this very easily.
"What was l doing?" was the first
question.
Holding my hand"
"What was sayingf"
"Telling me that you loved me and
would always love me; that you would
never forget me-"
At this her mirth was excessive.
Memory now came in to do the rest
1t carried me back to that summer
house when / was youth Of seven
teen. My companion there was then
| fifteen.
II have at least been more true than
you," / said II am still fancy free.
You are engaged"
"Of course | am engaged. And now
l will tell you why don't wear an en-
gagement ring"
smiled sickly smile. In the first
place, / had then not possessed funds
for ring; In the second, / had forgot
1 exnN n