The Press., 1922-12-21
Mildred Makes a
 Wager
By H. IRVING KING
co by Moclurs Nswapaper syndieate.l


 Harold Shipway sat on the piano stool before the plano in Mildred Browns little parlor. Mildred Brown, music teacher, sat beside him on lit- tie. straight chRtr. wstchlng his fingers lntently. Harold looked scowllngly at the music opened before hirO, then looked hOpelessly at his big fingers. moved them aWkwardly over the keys and struck, or rather attempted to strike, the opening chord of the new piece" teacher had given him to study a week before.
 "ouch T' said Mildred, her face reg istering a sensation of actual physical pain.
 Harold took hIs fingers from the keys and turned toward Mildred.
 Teacher, I'm sOrry," he said. Does 1t really hurt you when I make mis- takes2" He looked intentIy Into the reproachful eyes. "rm really sorry"
 '.If you were sorry" said the teach CT averting her eyes. you'd play bet ter. Doesn't It hurt your ears when you play discords?'
 Not In the least" confessed liar old. -f.
 Mildred sighed. ''I guess you just aren't musical" she said,
 "I don't suppose l am. Besides my fingers are big an l clumsy"
 'l really don't see why you take lessons then. hate to encourage you-'
 Harold again looked little too m ,ently Into the teachers eyes. 'IcI haven't encouraged me. You haven't said one encouraging thing about, the way play yet If you want to know why go on with the music I'll tell you. It's because I am so darned fond of the teacher" .-.
 How absurd" Mildred said, with eyes still averted; then cautiously raising them: ''But you began the lessons before you had even seen me so you must have wanted to"
 4'I suppose 1t was case of plain loneliness" sighed Harold. There's so little to do here in Suspicion. I've been here six months and until start ed taking music lessons from you, two months ago, I had never set foot in anybOdy's house. The movies bore me to extinction. I like golf, but no one has suggested putting me up for the country club. never saw such an exclusive town as Stalpeton-"
 "Oh, Stapleton has heart of Ice" Mildred agreed. Eve lived and worked, here six years, and I've never been in any One's house except to give les sons. The people think I am socially beneath them because I teach music"
 "And they think I am their social inferior because"
 Because you came here to be man. ;Rger of the Stapleton Mills without a social introduction, because you are a poor young man without a fortune and without family name that dates back to the Colonial wars. Oh, I know Stapleton. The only time they. over look the fact that a Eerson doesn't come from one of the first families | Is when he has a million or so."
 Harold Shipway listened intently. ''Do you really think they are as mer- eenAry as that? I thought perhaps they hadn't taken me up because they
  'lseye iFUAley Ga0mtrs sr0A -so nItr1a..' ;! Harold folded the music on the music holder before him. 'You know don't care for society or that sort of thing. Only having been brought up in a place where my people knew every one I got used to being made to feel at home. I tell you it's great having peoples doors standing open for you, and knowing you'll be welcome once In a while for dinner" Mir. Shipway sighed. Now, little teacher, I've said enough about myself. I'm no duffer at music, but I like to hear it. Be sides, Pm a little tired"
 But aren't you going to try?" said the teacher, very much surprised to see her hitherto docile pupil rising de- liberately from the piano stool where he was supposed to sit for another half hour.
 ~No, I'm going to sit in this com fOrtRble chair and get you to play something with a good old-fashioned tune to it. Won't you please?"
 Mildred Brown answered by draw ing the morris chair nearer the piano and lowering the back to a comfort ! able angle. Then she lowered the win 1 dow shades to keep out the later afternoon sun. and sat down at the i piano. First she played Home, Sweet | Home" and then she played Mendels- |, sOhn's Spring Song" and then half . dozen 0rd rav0rftes that aIT sounded dimly familiar to Harold Sfispway though he couldn't have told yeu the names of their composers ard Mildred didn't trouble him by explaining. 1
 When the clock struck 8 to remind the teacher and pupil that the lesson was over, Harold rose to go.
 'It's been a little bit of heaven, ne said q won't bother you to try to teach me any more" he said. "I guess I'm too much. of a dub-I-"
 ''oh, don't want you to stop" said Mildred with alarm. "Ouly I hate to take the money when I'm not teaching you much. But don't let's talk about that-I was just wondering whether whether you would care to stay and have dinner with Aunt Nellie and | me? It's really only supper; still Aunt Nellie would be glad. knOw-"t
 Harold ShiLway had followed Mil dred to the door, "Of course, Ell stay" he said following her out of the little parlor down the hall toward the dining room door. but before they reached the door. Harold Shlpway lrew very close to the little teacher. He laid two hands on her slight arms md for a moment stopped and rested lis head wearily on the little shoul-