The north Mississippi herald., 1920-06-18
AN IMPLACABLE
WARDEN
BY EDGAR WHITE
(Copyright.)

soldler-llke aunt, who was a SpinSter,
and who. it was said, had ordained that
the fair-haired orphan should travel
IN her own austere footsteps. 1t was
a matter of common knowledge that
quite a number of eligible young men
of Prairie Valley had visited the True
man mansion in the suburbs, and then
had, from unknown causes, lost inter-
est.
No one ever hinted that the object of
their visit was at fault-not at all. She
was admittedly the prettiest girl in
town. and the most popular The amaz-
ing thing about it was that she didn't
drop away and lose her buoyancy I'M
der the rigid blockade her grim aunt
seemed to have established against all
mankind.
AT church, at social gatherings, and
on the streets her blue eyes sparkled
with good nature and seemed to invite
confidence.
One night when the subject of Aunt
Naomi's reprehensible conduct was be-
ing quietly discussed by several young
men in the Prairie Valley club room
Robert Compton, a newcomer. who
was assistant superintendent of the
local electrical machine works, cas-
ually remarked that he had been in
troduced to Miss Martha that day, and
had been very courteously invited to
call.
Better not CO." said Lloyd McPhcr-
son, with an impressive look at the
other members of the party; 'it only
means trouble for you"
"How SOP" inquired Compton.
Mcpherson shrugged his shoulders,
and laughed bitterly.
you've had fair warning" he said
"and all the boys here will bear me
out"
They promptly echoed the doleful
statement.
Compton was sitting with his f4st
on the edge of the window. He med
1tatively knocked the ashes off his
cigar, and said:
"Well, my heads set on being initi-
ated. Then l can be one of you. I'm
going out"
Compton was a city man, having
been reared in Chicago and there
learned his calling. The trip was made
the next evening.
Martha received him graciously and
showed him into the parlor, where
Aunt Naomi was sedately awaiting
him.
Compton decided she couldn't be as
black as some had painted her. Mar
tha sat dutifully beside her, and let
her aunt do most of the talking.
The visitor was enjoying quite
pleasant evening ana was beginning
to wonder where the baleful influence
came in. While he was conversing in
terestingly with the master of cere-
monies, the fair-haired girl quietly
arose and began stirring the fire in the
CRATE. AS she did so tiny cloud of
smoke was waited toward her and she
coughed slightly, but hastily covered
her mouth with her apron. Aunt Ma
omi requested her to get the check
erS and board before she sat down
again.
You play checkers, I presume, Mr..
Compton," inquired Aunt Naomi.
Il can though l DON'T" said the
young man, boldly"
You won't play checkers with me?
demanded Aunt Naomi, in astonish-
ment.
Lets talk; that's nicer" said Comp
ton. overwhelmingly.
1t was nearly eleven when Compton
arose to leave, and as he did so he
remarked apologetically to Aunt Ma
omi:
you mustn't think hard of me be-
cause | didn't play checkers. It's n
great game and some other time you
and will have bout"
"Oh. that's all right" she said; al
enjoyed your talk better, anyway"
They accompanied him to the door
and Martha's bright eyes warmly sec
onded her aunt's invitation to repeat
the visit.
"Well. Miss Martha met him with
smiles at the door" remarked McPher-
son DREAMY, when Compton joined
them in the cozy corner of the club
room, next evening,
And she ushered him into the lit
tie parlor, where Aunt Naomi received
him like a captain of the old guard"
added Harry Guthrie, reminiscently.
you've guessed right" returned
Compton, smiling.
"You all sat down for a quiet little
chat" Mcpherson said, "and just as
you began feeling you were glad you
came. and that you would be still
gIadder if her royal and somewhat an
cient highness would get sleepy and
go to bed, she challenges you to play
a game of checkers"
"She did that very thing" said Comp.
ton. easily.
"Of course, and you being gentle
manly sort of fellow, and naturally
wanting to get into the good graces of
the old dame, said you would be de-
lighted"