Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-24
lncognlto and
lncogniita
By ELlNOR MARSH


middle aged man of a maid who an.
swered his call at the front door Of a
handsome country residence.
I'm see, sir"
The gentleman dropped card on
the salver the maid held to him, bear
ing the name Of Alonzo Tewkesbn-y,
and she took 1t upstairs. while the gen.
tlcman stepped into 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
companion or home Mrs. SAMSON
had replied that she had woman
friend who had a similar prospect be-
fore her.
You are both well off," she said. lin
this worlds goods and would make q
good match"
This led to an arrangement made by
Mrs. SAMSON, with view to bringing
the parties together. and Mr.. Tewkes-
bury was making his first call on Miss
Watriss.
Presently a woman, plainly but neat
ly dressed, came down with the card in
her hand and said:
"Mr. Tewkesbury, I am Miss Watriss'
housekeeper, Mrs. Hawkins. Miss Wa
triss has been unavoidably called away.
She has commissioned me to say to you
that she may return any time during
the day and II you will await her com.
Ing she will be glad to see you. am
directed to do what can to enable you
to nil In the time. We have fine H.
brary, and can furnish you with the
late magazines"
Him." said Mr.. Tewkesbury thought
fully. Are you In Miss Watriss' con.
idence?"
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
Ike any other woman. She Is neither
very good nor very bad. She has
good income, but finds 1t difficult tc
live within It."
Then you think she desires to add
TO NJ"
Most assuredly. Miss Watriss Is
practical. She knows that much more
can lie done with union Of two In
comes than with one. The party Of
the second part would share In this
''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 1t In that
light. This proposed marriage Is. !
take It. on the same order as European
marriages where romance is made sub
servient to common sense"
That's 1t. There is too much ro-
nance and too little sense In Ameri.
can marriages. Besides, man Of FOR
ty and a woman-you say thirty .hye?-
can't go about a courtship as a couple
in their teens"
Are there any other questions you
would like to ask?'
You are very kind TO furnish me
yith this information"
Not at ALL Miss Watriss told me
before she ieft to answer trnthfully
any questions you might ask and to
tell you especially that which she
would not like to say herself; that one
OF the considerations In making the
proposed match would be a matter OF
money. Her income is six thousand
a year."
That will be satisfactory to me.
You may say to Miss Watrlss for me
that my income from my business and
other sources varies from Ave to If
teen thousand, a business Income be.
ING nearly always uncertain"
Don't you think that 1t would be
good iden for you to see Miss Watriss
without her knowing that you are Mr..
Tewkesbury?"
"A splendid idea But how could 1t
be accomplished"
MEN are very stupid about such
things. You have only to tell some
friend who knows Miss Watriss to
introduce you as Mr.. Jones'"
Good. Thanks for the suggestion.
Perhaps I'd better not wait for Miss
Wa,riss to return, I'll have a look at
her. rs you suggest You won't give
me away in this matter. will your
"Oh. no! think you are entitled to
see the lady you think Of proposing to
Incog before proceeding In the mat.
ter"
And Miss Watriss should see me
Incog. too. shouldn't she?"
"Oh. Miss Watriss Is perfectly able
to form and carry out her own plans.
I wouldn't think Of suggesting any.
thing to her" "as
well. Ill bid you good morning.
Much Obliged for the idea you have
given me-"
Mr., Tewkesbury took his leave and
straightway went to Mrs. SAMSON.
"Do you think you could bring Miss
Watriss here to meet ME as Mr.. Jones