The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-24
lncognito and
lncognita
By ELINOR MARSH

swered his call at the front door OF
handsome country residence.
I'll see. sir"
The gentleman dropped card on
the salver the maid held to him, bear
ing the name of Alonzo Tewkesbury.
and she took 1t upstairs. while the gen.
tleman stepped into a reception room.
Mr.. Tewkesbury had complained to
his friend Mrs. SAMSON that he had
neglected to marry during the youthful
mating period and had before him the
prospect Of living all his life without
a companion or home. Mrs. SAMSON
had replied that she had woman
friend who had similar prospect be-
fore her.
"You are both well off" she said, "in
this worlds goods and would make
good match
This led to an arrangement made by
Mrs Sansom, with view to bringing
the parties together, and Mr.. Tewkes-
bury was making his first call on Miss
Watriss.
Presently woman. plainly hut neat
ly dressed. came down with the card in
her hand and said:
"Mr Tewkesbury. | am Miss Watriss'
houSekeeper. Mrs Hawkins. Miss Wa
triss has been unayoidably called away.
She has commissioned me 10 say 20 you
that she may return any time during
the day and If you will await her COM
.,I,. t,+f1l h., ,rla1 IN |
directed To do what | can To enable you
to fiji in the time. We have fine Ii
brary, and | can furnish you with the
late magazines
HIN :" said Mr. Tewkesbury thought
fully. Are you in Miss Watriss' con-
tidenceg'
Somewhat"
"Are you aware of the object of this
call?"
II am"
"Then | know Of no better way to
pass the time than for you to tell me
something about Miss Watriss."
Miss Watriss is simply woman
like any other woman. She Is neither
very good nor very bad. She has a
good income. but finds it difficult to
live within It,"
Then you think she desires to add
to itY"
Most assuredly Miss Watriss Is
practical She knows that much more
can be done with union of two III
comes than with one. The party of
the second part would share In this
advantage
"She Is right In that This romance
OF marrying without giving due con-
sideration to such matters pertains to
the young and foolish"
1T is well that you look at it in that
light. This proposed marriage is. |
take 1t, ON the same order as European
marriages where romance Is made sub
servient to common sense"
That's it, There is too much ro-
nance and too little sense In Ameri-
can marriages Besides. a man of for
ty and "A woman-you say thirty five?-
can't go about u courtship as couple
in their teens"
Are there any other questions you
would like to askf"
"You are very kind to furnish m,
with this information"
Not ut all. Miss Watriss told me
before she left to answer truthfulll
any questions you might ask and t.
tell you especially that which sh,
would not like to say herself; that one
of the considerations in making tn,
proposed match would be a matter o
money. Her income Is six thousant
year.
That will be satisfactory to me
You may say to Miss Watriss for m'
that my income from my business an'
other sources varies from five to tif
teen thousand. a business income be
in. rearly always uncertain"
Don't you think that it would be
good idea for you TO see Miss Watris
without her knowing that you are MI
Tewkesburyf"
a splendid idea, But how could
be accomnlishedT
Men are very stupid about sue
things. You have only to tell som
friend who knows Miss Watriss t
introduce you as Mr.. Jones'"
Good, Thanks for the suggestion
Perhaps Id better not wait for Mis-
Watriss to return. I'll have a look a
, her. as you suggest You won't Civ
me away in this matter. will your"
"Oh. no. | think you are entitled [
see the lady you think of proposing I
incog before proceeding in the ma
ter"
And Miss Watriss should see n
! incog. too. shouldn't sheg'
"0h. Miss Watriss is perfectly alb
to form and carry out her own plan
:. I wouldn't think of suggesting an,
thing TO her"
:, We'll. I'll bid you good mornin
Much obliged for the idea you ha,
given me
Mr.. Tewkesbury took his leave al