Smyrna times., 1917-07-18
THE MEDDLER
BY EARL REED sILVERs.


Miss Mary Robinson looked squarely
into the eyes of Ruth Hampstead, her
niece, when she asked the question,
and the younger girl blushed.
: "Of course we aren't" she answered.
What makes you think sO?"
I'm only thinking what everybody
else in town is talking about" Miss
Mary remarked bluntly. eff you aren't
engaged, you ought to be-"
Cant two young people just be
good friends without bringing in the
question of marriage?" she parried.
"GOOd friends, yes!' Aunt Mary
snorted. 'But it's got beyond that
point with you two"
swell, what can do?' There was
hint of helplessness in the girls
voice, and the older woman softened.
Il don't suppose you can do any
thing" she answered. "If he intends
to propose at all 1 can make him do it
in two days." she announced.
an what way?"
II want you to have a friend of mine
come to see you tonight"
'Oh, can't; divers comingw
swell, phone him tonight and tell
him you have another engagement"
"But 1 haven't" Ruth protested.
"YOu will have. I'm going to bring
Dick Slower up to see you"
"WhO's hep
/ Hes young newspaper man from
New York who's spending a few weeks
in GlenwOOd, getting material for a
story. I've met him number of times
in the office, and I've always intended
to have him up for supper. So we'll
make it tonight"
"All right, I'll phone to Oliver"
There was a note Of excitement in
Ruths voice. ''My, but he'll be sur
prised!" she added.
That afternoon Aunt Mary paid a
visit to the office of the GlenwOOd
Record, the only newspaper in town.
AS society editor, it was her duty to
write the personal news items.
She remained at the Office until four
o'clock, when a young man with smil-
ing eyes and curly hair entered.
''HOw are you, Miss RObinsOn" he
asked pleasantly. "Hard at it?'
"Yes." She smiled back at him. 81
want you to come home to supper with
me tOnightr
"Pd be delighted. What timer"
"Six o'clock"
At six o'clock to a dot he presented
himself at the Hampstead front porch.
He acknowledged Aunt Mary's intro
ductiOns to Mr. and Mrs. Hampstead
and then turned to Ruth.
"Pve seen you so often that l feel
as If 1 know you already" he said
~rve been here for a week, now"
The girl liked the way he spoke
she liked his smile and many Other
things about him; and as the evening
wore away, she forgot about Oliver
Crowley and the i'll grace with which
he had received her telephone call.
"You must come again." she urged
when Dick took a rather reluctan
leave. "Tll introduce you to some o.
GlenwoOd's young people"
Ruth thought about him quite Otter
during the next day, and deep down II
her heart she admitted that she wa
sorry that it was Oliver, and not he
But Oliver came, carrying under hi
arm the weekly edition of the Glen
wood Record, which had just been is
sued.
'There's something I'd like to speal
to you about" he said.
4 Ruth's heart leaped. He was probe
bly, going to say the words she ha
wanted him to say for the past ST
months.
] "Have you seen today's copy of tn
RecordY' he asked.
- "No," she answered. 81 haven't ha
time yet"
"Then read this"
She took the paper from his hand
r and read the item he indicated.
"It is rumored that a certain youn
IL newspaper man from New York hS
been visiting one of our young ladiC
- on Maple avenue" the paper state
n. "HOw about it, Ruth?"
"a The girl blushed scarlet.
-, 'Tm glad that you are having OthC
- men come to see yOu. have been m
DIX nopolizlng you for the past year or s
he and 1 feel that 1 ought to stop 1t.
:. have a mother who wants me to liz
with her always, and Tm-rm nj
ready to get married yet"
"Oh!"
Ruth was taken back by his fraI
r statement. She didn't know what
say.
$50 1 won't be over so much aft
this" he finished. II hope you'll unde
standw
"Yes, understand" The girls vol
was cold, and Oliver, recognizing da
N ger signs, soon took his departure.
In the library Ruth went directly
| Aunt Mary.
"Wen," she announced. "your neN
item worked, but not in the way "
thought it would. Oliver has throw
me over"
"Do you carer Aunt Mary's ey
were troubled.