Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-07-28
REFUSING BARTON
BY MoLLIE MATHER.
q. iSii. western Newspaper UniOn.)

DAc HcLNAtOH VI NAS kACob moh OmSS'
Old Armstrong, as the office force
privately dubbed their head, and who
was not old In years but in the I'M
abated seriousness Of his demeanor,
had long been a grudging friend Of
Barton's-grudging in his approval of
work well done and In natural pleas
antry. Yet, Armstrong had formed a
deep liking after all, for the syste-
matte sensible bachelor. For Barton
gave no thought to marriage. And had
his weekend invitation been offered
from a less pretentious home, Barton
would have refused In self-defense.
He would take no chance Of meeting
on a footing Of equality some charm
er fair.
The young women to whom he
might be presented at Avon Arm
strong's, would be Of wealth and po-
sition above possibility Of considering
his humble self with matrimonial In
tent.
SO In anticipation Of a happy day
or two Of freedom, the favored young
friend Of old Armstrong, opened his
paper and settled back to read In the
train that bore him on toward Arm
strong Park. He had barely begun,
when a feminine creature Of sweet
scents and frills, crossed the aisle to
deliberately seat herself at his side.
Barton. half turning, found himself
looking into a young woman's excited
face, dark eyes flashed at him indig-
nantly, while the girls color deepened
as she spoke.
81 want you to understand" she said
surprisingly, "that / positively will
not consider you as a husband, either
now. or at any other time"
II do not understand he said cold
ly, "why you should trouble me with
the remark. / have never seen you
before"
"Of course, you haven't" the girl
went on unmoved, "And seeing me
would make no difference in your
purpose. If I looked as-as desper-
ately ugly as l felt, you'd still propose
to marry me for my money. You need
not try to dissemble. l heard Dad
talking the abominable plan over in
the library last evening; that's why
/ hurried into the city today, and came
out on this car to forestall you"
dad was talking to Uncle Bob, and
he said that you, too, thought that II
might be a good thing, in a business
way, to get together as father-in'
law and son. / was to be the sacrifice
only. Dad didn't put it that way. He
said, instead, Trix would be wei
taken care of as that mans wife-l
could trust him. Dad further SAID
that he intended to ask you out fol
this weekend, and give you full oppor
tunity to WOO. Said you had begged
the favor. Well, it won't do any good
that's what / came on to tell you"
He sat looking at her, then smiled
irresistibly at the situation. OF cours'
this ~tempestuous creature, had mis-
taken him for some: other person.
"And who,"|he inquired sarcastical
Iy, 'faay I ask, are gyouT sg,J
4 srI-am Beatrix Armstrong, daughte
Of Avon Armstrong the girl replied
do not pretend that, you don't know
Dad a y you profess to have fallen Ii
love with my photo, which he mad
v~ettentiy showed you n day--in low
with the advantage of a business con
n~ection, I told him." ~,
But Barton was staring. /
Miss Armstrong he repeated On
believing.
The girl laughed.
$50" she said, you are not, afte
all, ignorant concerning the name
Are you, or are you not on the wa,
to my fathers home to spend tn
week end?"
II am" Barton c~onfusedly repaiet
The girl rose.
''Then keep away from me-" nh
warned him, Il have nj use for FOL
, tune hunters, even when encourage
by my father"
Barton put forth q OBTAINING hant
"Now look here" he said quietl.
"you are mistaken. Your father woul
never encourage me as a possible hui
band for his daughter. My name
Barton cambridge. 1 am but one {
his Insignificant employees"
The girl sat down again in conste
hation.
. "But Aunt Lydia positively poinre
you out to me rs the man whom 4
tier had asked out at his own r
t quest. The name Of the man
t whom fatheg referred last night wi
Allan Atherton."
The girl was visibly distressed.
eff l have made some horrid mi
Z take" she said. please forgive me
I A acknowledgements and gra
haired man upon the adjacent Sc
turned slowly about.
II believe" he said calmly, shat
can straighten that matter. ! coi
not help over-hearing your convers
ton, though your tone was low"
He looked down at Miss Beatrix.
aYou spoke almost directly in n
ear. Perhaps, unconsciously you we
delivering your message to it's rig
soufce. / happen to be Allan Atbe
ton. .4.Y
Il will get of here. Goodbye. MI
d Armstrong;
1t the man smiled whlmsicaliy at q
astontshed pair as he fingered for
~ - FlaHrNH e L