New Britain herald., 1916-08-16
NIadge Plays the Game of COquetry.

Madge Plays the Game of Coquetry.
 Far be it from me to spoil any 1 sport, but might I suggest that if l we're going on that motor boat trip , tomorrow we ought to break up this i little gathering.''
 l Lillian Underwood arose and ] stretched her arms in ostentatious l laziness.
 ''Why, what time is it?" Grace l Draper asked, startled.
 Nearly IT, returned Lillian, con-
 sulting the little jewelled wrist watch 1 she always wore.
 Then I think I will say good-
 night" Miss Draper returned, rising. Much as I disliked the girl I could | not help but admire the poise with
 which she met everything. There was | no furry or hurry about her deter
 imitation to go home as there would
 have been in the case of most girls 1 of her age similarly reminded of the
 lateness of the hour. | T suppose 1 ought to say the con- l ventional thing, and urge you to stay | longer" I said smiling at her, "but
 as you are going to be one of our party tomorrow I shall send you
 home so that you will be fresh and 1 rested for tomorrows outing. Dicky, of course, you will take Miss Draper home ?''
 I do not think even Lillian knew
 how much it cost me to smile at Grace Draper so unconcernedly, and utter l the nonchalant friendly words. The knowledge of my husbands infatua- ton for the girl the memory of the
 seductive dance which she had per formed but a little while before with
 the scarcely yelled purpose of making her hold on him more secure were tOrturingly fresh.
 "You are very kind," the girl re- turned formally.
 Again I paid her an unwilling tribute of admiration. Almost any other girl would have made a con- ventional demur, but not Grace Dra- per-
 'T know a better scheme than that" Lillian said, with an enthus- iasm that I knew was assumed, but for which I also knew she had some good reason. Well all go home with 1 you. It's just the night for a walk, 1 even if it is a bit dark. I know I for ] one shall sleep better after it. Speak for yourself, Lil," growled 1 her husband. NO wonder you want some exercise, lolling around all af- ternOon. Let me remind you that Mrs. Graham and l played pretty
 strenuous game of tennis while you were taking your ease in that arm chair. TrOt along with Dicky if you
 want to, then he won't be lonesome either stretch of the road, but I'm going to sit right here and sing bal lads to Mrs. Graham. You love to hear me sing, don't you, little one?" Ia f111n11p tn r1yjr no A Question of ''NIust.' No you don't!" Dicky retorted. That's a very nice lazy little ar
 engagement you've got cooked up, but
 it won't do, my bucko. You'll just stir
 your stumps along with the rest of
 us. You want to go along, don't you
 Madge?"
 "surely, if the rest do,' an-
 swered.
 I was really grateful to Dicky for suggesting our addition to Miss Dra- per's homeward escort. It was one thing to listen to Harry Underwoods banter to firt discreetly with him | lr order to arouse Dicky's jealousy; 1 1t was another thing to be left prac-
 tlcally alone with him in the big
 house. All my old unreasoning fear 1
 me when I heard his proposition to ] stay and sing ballads to me while his 1 WlIe and Dicky went home with Grace
 Draper
 Ill not take your say,'' Harry Un- 1 oerWood declared impudently. 'FrMs.
 1rallam IS the only one who may tell
 lle what l shall do around here.
 Whlch shall it be lady fair, will you
 stay With me or fly with them 2" 1 Dlcky,s head was turned away from ~ rt' Ill answer to question which Miss
 Di @per mad just put to him. But
 Iao a curious little impression thai l he was listening. The knowledge gave
 me reckless brayado to answer
 Harry Underwood in a manner that
 never otherwise would have dared to l do. N" 'o
 It isn't a question of rather but 1 of must, y I said softly. CT don,+ thlnk Dicky would like me to stay 1 but you shall walk with me-if you l like" 'ON This game of coquetry was new to me. I felt awkward, unslzilled, but |. Harry Underwood turned to me with a look of newly awakened interest in his eyes. "You're comine on" he whispered
 As Dicky went farther away from ] us still holding the curious little ef- rect of listening, he added: T told you the way to make Dicky sit up and take notice was to be nice to me-"
 "Nonsense!" I retorted sharply,
 and moved away from him, uncom- fortably aware even as I did so that he was smiling maliciously at my re-
 treating back. As I passed Lillian she squeezed my hand.
 Keep it up," she whispered. "What?' 1 murmurcd back al- though 1 felt that l knew what she ' meant.