The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-09-11
The Fisher Caught
~
By LINCOLN RoTHBLUM
1915. BY the Mcclure Ne
paper Syndicate.)

(CopyEighG, 1918, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicats)
In the parlance of matchmaking
mothers Victor Lawton was a ''catch"
worth angling for-aIl the more desir-
able since he exhibited no inclination
to be caught. Divers were the schemes
mothers of daughters. ready to con-
slider a career" invented to entice
the wary fish into the matrimonial net.
For indeed Victor Lawton was a
most desirable specimen of prospec-
tive husband. He was tall. but not too
tall to seem towering with short
companion.
He was stocky, but by no means
fleshy. He was of good family, but
came from neither blue blood nor yell
low. He was a lawyer of sound repu-
tation and good business acumen,
while the defniteness of his income
from a few select clients compensated
for their lack of number.
And that he had personality is at
tested when the fellows dubbed him
"a bully chap" and the girls-weIl, the
girls thought him "too handsome for
anything"
"And So" Mrs. Van Dusen, leader of
the towns upper set, cOmplimented
herself, 81 have done well to squeeze
from his good-looking lips a promise
to be present at your debut tonight
The rest, my darling daughter, is up
to you" And she extended her hand
toward a pretty and sophisticated
thing of twenty in an "Ive done my
share manner.
o,
came the reply with a rolling of big,
hazel-cOlOred eyes in the prescribed
fashion commonly known as "vamp-
ing" So saying she tripped across
the soft rug on tiptoe and impaired
q slight smack on her mothers cheek,
making a pretty application of pow
der.
II hope So" answered the elder
woman in a tone that did not reflect
her daughters confident assertion !;
''but we must keep Madge out of the
way as much as we can"
"Your fault again." chided Cecile,
who. modern-like, never lost an oppor-
tunity to cenSure her mother. when
we thought she was going to get mar
ried a month ago you shouldn't have
it was"
''Hush, Cecile," chided Mrs. Van
Dusen gazing quickly at the door to
see if they had been overheard. 81
promised your father when he died to
care for the child of his first wife
And shall do my duty"
However painful it may be-" fin
ished Cecile, "Only as relieved by the
appropriation of her inheritance"
Mrs. Van Dusen cast an appeal for
silence as Cecile laughed out loud.
bad thing to have conscience, moth
err" she stated, wagging her head en-
phatically, but if catch Victor Law
ton on my line" she added, materializ-
ing the hope by the execution of a
dizzy pirOuette, "IIl-why, I'll let you
come and visit US sometimes"
Mrs. Van Dusen took the seat be-
fore low dressing table and gazed at
herself from the triple-reflecting mir
ror. A new wrinkle near her lips
brought another to her forehead.
"I'm afraid we may have to take
Lawton into our confidence. AS he
WAS a warm friend Of Mr.. Van Dusen
he might be willing to quietly straight
K 1
managed as well as"
And further condolences were
drowned in the buzz of preparation.
Such hustle and hurry as the Van
Dusen household saw! Such a sour
rying around and multiplicity of or
dersI The telephone never ceased
with instructions to caterer, florist and
musicians. The doOrbell sounded one
continual alarm as delivery after de
livery was made of mysterious bags
and boxes of endless size and shape
whisked away to various rooms as
rapidly as they came.
The great grandfather clock in the
hall had scarcely chimed nine as Mrs
Van Dusen, respondent in an evening
gown of black satin, brocaded with
giant figures of black jet. descended
the stairway to take her stand near
the entrance. Cecile followed, hel
daring costume of garnet-tinted voile
hoped with bands of similar toned
velvet, setting off strikingly white
shoulders, exquisite as chiseied marble
The stream of guests commenced tC
flow and kept up a steady influx until
the huge house threatened to become
inundated with the flood of people.
Mrs. Van Dusen had already begun
to feel a pain in her right arm similar
to writer's cramp. but, undaunted, she
held her post until she heard the but
ler's Stentorian voice:
mfr. Lawton."
All the social training Mrs. Van Du
sens mother had instilled in her anC
all that she had in turn transmitted t.
her daughter was brought into play
and it would have required far more
worldly wise young man than Victor
Lawton to have penetrated the
thoughts behind the hostess engaging
smile.
To Cecile he offered his arm, anC
they passed into the drawing room
the center OF which had been cleared
for dancing, and to the strains of &
soft, mystic melody emanating from {
Stringed orchestra cIeVerly concealed