The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1920-11-18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MARY'S STRATEGY
BY CHRISTINE HAYES.
Observation-Disclosures
1919, by the McCIure me
paper Syndicate.)

warm interest III cdSH oliiSi y "
being characteristic of 1t.
"You don't mean that Jacks aunt
has come to her senses7" demanded
Airline. -,
mo-" Mary replied cheerfully. i
simply mean that she's going to.
"What!" exclaimed the entire
group. ,.o +,a
ayes" said Mary, dropping into the
morris chair and unfolding the news
naner she had been waving Listen
to this:
acknowledgements Must be
ladvlike and congenal. Musical edu'
cation preferred. Agreeable speaking
voice required. Apply Tuesday after
three.
".M1ss EUcRETIA B., %
Road"
Interesting" admitted Tom; but
don't quite see the connection"
"Well, Mr.. S." began Mary e'aoo'
rately, II trust that you are fam'liar
with the synopsis-namely, that Mr'
lack B., favorite nephew OF the r'ch'
hut eccentric Miss Lucretia, Is man'y
IN love with one Mary S., but perVerSe'
| ~ refuses to marry her because she IS
endowed with more worldly goods tnan
he Miss Lucre.ia might easily rem.
sdy this deplorable state OF ailairs' ,u'
she has taken an unaccountaO'e uio-
Ike TO Mary S., whom she has never
even seen, and vows to change her
will II Jack marries her. You are,
I presume, acquainted with THESE
facts7" .oa
"You lust bet am" returned
Tom, with a comical air Of patlence e;
"but what has the ad to do with "'
"slmply that if Aunt Lucretin were Is
~ really know me, I just know she'd
love me-" said Mary with mock com,
n,.cency. Furthermore, I think Ia
make her an admirable companion
And" she finished seriously Jack
has told me 50 much about her that
I know I really will love her, 50 T
won't be toadylng. And, anyway. II
isn't for the sake Of the money. It's
inst that the assurance that he IS
heir to the filthy lucre will overcome
Jacks scruples." q,
. Good xirl." cried Tom admiringly'
you'll do it, all right"
"Huh, that's just like you! be
perfectly lovely to her, after all th :;
trouble she has caused you and jack
Airline scolded.
"rhe truth is" replied Mary, II think
e she worships Jack and Is jealous a.
n the thought Of his marrying anyone
OF course" she laughed, 81 can under
j. stand ahyones being jealous OF Jack
D and forgive It,"
f I'm glad you feel that way, dear
said Mrs, s., "and I think perhaps YOU
idea Is a good one. Are you going II
y tell Jack now, or walt to see nov
things turn out7"
g "Well. JAG. is dear, Of course, bu
g he's rather a worrier. Guess lll wh''
O So long, folks I'm of to prepare 10
y the siege-clothes, and music, etc"
y And q few minutes later her clea
sonrano foatcd down from the SEWN
room. ;, !,
IN Whereat the family smiled to itself
IS for this was, inconsistently, the son
Of Mary's merriest mood, rendere
with trlll TINT bclied the text.
Re On the appointed Tuesday. Their
j. were several applicants, but Mar
~ neatly gowncd. and with her unmistal
=" able air Of good breeding was conspi
nous among them. Miss E.ucretia s
cretly loved golden hair, too, an
Mary's hair was golden. She had 4
WAYS liked clear blue eyes, and Nary
eyes were clear and blue. Furthe
w. more, Mary's musical talents were II
SD above mediocrity, and her speaker
RI voice, Miss Lucretia noted, was mus
oa IN itself.
eo In short, the fastidious little o
70. lady fell in love with the girl at fir
sight, and in the months that follow'
she did not regret 1t. Mary BEGAN
her conhdant, and In her turn becar
50 much attached to Miss Lucretia tn
she concluded one Of her letters hor
with q humorous: II can't bear tn
;. Mary s."
La. TO Miss Lucrstia she was Mary
J. and Jacks letters were forwarded
p her from home under that name.
, il my nephew Jack is coming hol
the on leave, Mary" announced Miss !
.h;s cretia over her knitting one moi
ico ing.
va "a, Mary already knew, but her bel
" skipped a beat at the thought OF
sec. surprise that awaited him, for she h
IL not been blind to the purpose of M
the Lucretia's loud praises OF her nephe
ons and knew that victory was assured
acts The little old lady's sharp eyes no
her Mary's heightened color approving
-. and she congratulated herself as
80 matchmaker.
''no "Jack may think he likes Mary
loh' she purred inwardly, "but Just "
'een till he sees my Mary"