The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-11-23
A Game of
Twenty Questions
BY F. A. Mitchell

ace WIS partly tutlcu toNuih Ah''
She looked up and bowed to me.
returned the salute, SO far as ! was
,ble, without betraying the fact that
bad no more knowledge Of her than "
my grandmother, who had died before
[ was born. Rising from my seat !
walked toward her and said cordially:
This Is an agreeable surprise
There was an amused look on her
face as she made some commonplace
remark. judged that she did not be
lieve | recognized her. but there was
Just enough uncertainty In her cx'
preston to tempt me to continue my
pretense A gentleman sitting'in the
next chair to her kindly offered TO ex-
change seats with me, an offer ] ac-
cepted, and sitting down beside my
new found friend, began to pour
forth such words as would not give
me away while was rackins 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 a head. Evidently she enjoyed my
perplexity aud was willing that /
should have plenty Of opportunity to
remember her In the course of our
chat she said:
when saw you last you were sin.
gle. Have you married slnceT
81 am bachelor. And your
81 am engaged"
A look of regret must have crossed
my face, for she greeted the look with
an amused smile. CHANGING Mt the
third finger of her left hand. where
engagement rings are worn. | saw
that It was bare. looked up at her
inquiringly.
you would Ike TO know why l do
not wear token of betrothal?' she
said.
IL would"
IL will tell you before we part"
"Why not nowf"
Because 1t does not suit my pleas
ure to do So" she replied, with the
same tantalizing smile.
1t was so evident to me that she
knew that / had no remembrance of
ueT tldl L CullCluueu " tpuifSs WIN n
view to satisfying my curiosity.
Come" l said, you know very well
that / 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 questions?" she asked.
"Many time"
every well. I'll reply 10 twenty In
quiries you may make as to where'we
were when we last saw each other"
expended half dozen questions
I'm fixing the place of this last meet
Ing In summer house on the grounds
OF my fathers country place. Then
we began new game as TO the time
Of this meeting, and | learned that in
eight questions. 1t was ten years
agone. In another game for learning
the lady's name ] asked all the qucs-
tions permitted without success.
was no nearer what ] 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. got at this very easily
"What was | doingf' was the first
question
Holding my hand
"What was'l SAYING
"Teling me that you loved me aud
would always love me; that you would
never forget me"
At this her mirth was excessive.
Memory now came la 10 do the rest
1t carried me back to that summer
house when was Il youth OF seven
teen Ny companion there was then
fifteen.
81 have al least been more true theu
you" | said. II am still fancy free
You are engaged"
"Of course | am engaged. And now
1 will tell you why don't wear an ell
gasenEnt ring"
smiled a slckly smile. In the first
place, | had then not possessed funds
for ring IN the second, | had forgot
ten my love before could get the
funds. A shadow must have crossed
my face for her mlrth changed to sym
pathy.
Don't worry about It," she said. IN
all the things we do that we shouldn't
do and all the things we don't do that
We should do in youth came up to
mock us when we are older we would
be very much ashamed"
"Some OF those things may be un-
done" replied, cor at least may be
repaired"
She understood me, for she cast down
her eyes.
I'm very much mortified about that
engagement ring continued. II had
used up my allowance and was IN debt
for the next quarter. Better late than
never Wear this till can get some
thing appropriate"
I took snake ring from my finger
and made a motion TO put II ON hers,
She drew away her hand, but saw by
her expression that the act was not
prompted by her neart.
"When we last met, you say. ! held
vour hand OF us resume where we