The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-09-05
A Game of
Twenty Questions
By F. A. Mitchell

through winch / was IOOhlHS, uuu LILY
gaze fell upon a young woman whose
face was partly turned toward me.
She looked up and bowed to me.
returned the salute, so far as l was
able, without betraying the fact that l
had no more knowledge Of her than of
my grandmother, who had died before
I was born. Rising froI my seat, I
walked toward her and said cordially:
This is an agreeable SURPRISE"
There was ar. amused look on her
face as she made some commonplace
remark. judged that she did not be-
Neve l recognized her, but there was
Just enough uncertainty in her ex-
preston to tempt me to continue my
pretense. A gentleman sitting in the
next chair to her kindly offered to OK
change seats with me, an offer &C
copied, and sitting down beside my
new found friend, l began to pour
forth such words as would not give
me away while l was racking my
brain to place her.
It soon became apparent to me that
she was aware Of what I was trying
to do, but she did not bring the matter
to head. Evidently she enjoyed my
perplexity and was willing that l
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 since?"
II am bachelor. And your"
II am engaged"
i A look of regret must have crossed
my face, for she greeted the look with
an amused smile. CHANGING at the
third finger of her left hand, where
engagement rings are worn, I saw
that it was bare. l looked up at her
inquiringly.
, You would like to know why do
not wear a token Of betrothal?" she
said.
II would"
II will tell you before we part"
"Why not now?"
because It does not suit my pleas
ure to do &c." she replied, with the
same tantalizing smile.
1t was 30 evident to mo that she
knew that had no remembrance Of
her that concluded to confess with a
view to satisfying my curiosity.
"Come," I said, you know very well
that am unable to recall who you
are. Let us have IN end Of this fenc-
ing. Tell me when and where I have
met you before"
She leaned back and chuckled.
Hat! you ever played the game Of
twenty questions?" she asked.
Many time" @ .'g a.. B. +.
.tte every well, I'll reply to twenty In
'quiries you may make as to where we
were when we last saw each other
I expended half dozen questions
in fixing the place Of this last meet
Ing in q summer house on the grounds
of my fathers country place. Then
We began a new game as to the time
Of this meeting, and learned that In
eight questions. It was ten years
agone. In another game for learning
the lady's name l asked all the ques-
lions permitted without success.
was no nearer what I wanted to
know than before and was getting i'm
patient, my condition being evidently
simply delightful to my tormentor. I
asked her what we were doing in the
summer house, and she replied that
she would give me twenty questions
to find out. 1 got at this very easily.
'What was 1 dolng?" was the first
question. -e
"Holding my hand"
"What was saying?"
"Telling me that you loved me and
would always love me; that you would
never forget me-"
At this her mirth was excessive.
Memory now came in to do the rest.
It carried me back to that summer
house when I Twas a youth of seven
teen. MY companion there was then
fifteen. -, ,r--@'
II have at least been more true than
you," I said. II am still fancy free.
You are engaged"
"Ofg course am engaged. And now
I will tell you why don't wear an en-
gagement ring"
+ I smiled sickly smile. In the first
place, I had then not possessed funds
for q ring; in the second, had forgot
ten my love before l could get the
funds. A shadow must have crossed
nv face, for her mirth changed to SYM
patty. - 't-.5
Don't worry about It," she said. III
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 DO IN
DONE" replied, "or ut least may be
Repaired"
She understood me, for she cast down
her eyes.
'T'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 I can get some.
thing appropriate"
took a snake ring from my finger
and made a motion to put 1t on hers.
She drew away her hand. but saw by