Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-01-26
A Game Of
Twenty Questions
By F. A. Mitchell


Travelling In a parlor car. ] swun,
my chair around from the window
through which 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 |
had no more knowledge Of her than OF
my grandmother. who had died before
| was born. Rising from my seat,
walked toward her aud said cordially:
This - an agreeable surprise"
There was an amused look on her
fscc as she made some commonplace
remark. / Judged that she did not be-
licye | recognized her. but there was
just enough uncertainty IN her ex-
preston 10 tempt me to continue my
pretense. a gentleman sitting in the
next chair TO her kindly offered to cx-
change seats with me, an offer ac
ceptcd, and sitting down beside my
new found friend, ! began to pour
forth such words rs would not give
me away while ! was racking my
brain TO place her.
Ii soon became apparent to me that
she was aware of what / was trying
to do, but she did not bring the matter
to n head. Evidently she enjoyed my
perplexity and was willing that |
remember her. In the course of our
chat she said:
when / saw you last you were sim
gle. Have You married SINGER
II 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 like to know why | do
not wear token of betrothal?" she
said.
II would"
81 will tell you before we part"
"Why not now?'
Because It does not suit my pleas
ure to do So she replied, with the
same tantalKing smile.
1t was so evident to me that she
knew that | had no remembrance of
her that | concluded to confess with
view to satisfying my curiosity.
Come" said. you know very well
thot I m frfaaln1o m ranalI WIN
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 questlons?" she asked.
MANY a time"
every well, III reply TO twenty In
quiries you may make as to where we
were when we last saw each other"
| expended half a dozen questions !
In fixing the place of this last meet
Ing I'm a summer house on the grounds |
Of my fathers country place. Then
we began a new game as t0sthe time
Of this meeting, and | learned that in
eight questions. 1t was ten years
igone In another game for learning
The lady's name l asked all the ques-
ions permitted without success.
| was no nearer what wanted to
Know than before and was getting i'm
my condition being evidently
simply delightful TO my tormentor. i
,sked her what we were doing in the
summer house. and she replied that
The would give me twenty questions
o find out. | got at this very easily.
what was doing?" was the first
question.
Holding my hand
"What was | saying?"
Telling me that you loved me and
would always love me; that you would
ever forget me-"
At this her mirth was excessive.
Memory now came In to do the rest
I carried me back to that summer
Iouse when | was a youth OF seven
cen. My companion there was then
fifteen.
II have at least been more true than
ou," | said II am still fancy free.
ou are engaged
''Of course l am engaged. And now
will tell you why | don't wear an en-
agement ring" $
! smiled sickly smile. In the first !
lace. l had then not possessed funds F.,
Or a ring: in the second had forgot ,
an my love before | could get the
unds. A shadow must have crossed
" face, for her mirth changed to sym
athy.
Don't worry about it," she said. III
II the things we do that we shouldn't c
D and all the things we don't do that
e should do In youth came up TO 4,
lock MS when we are older we would
Q very much ashamed"
"Some OF those things may be I'M
,ne." | replied. "or, at least may be
'paired."
She understood me. for she cast down
sr eyes.
I'm very much mortified about thar
.ra .rorto,f f.fptr I continued 81 hoI