The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-04-29
The Plotting
Fathers
By MARVIN ST. JOHNS
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Its more-it's positively barbaric I
What Coerced into marrying a girl
you have never seen? Forced to live
with a woman you don't like7 It's
dreadful, unheard of, abominable!"
Nov, don't get excited, Chester"
said easy-going Arnold, as he went
on with packing his valise. "pm the
one most interested, and I'm not COM
planning. My good old uncle, and he
has treated me like a prince nll my
life, is bent on what the novelists call
a marriage of convenience
"Who Is she?. What Is her name?"
II have not the least idea In the
world"
"And she?"
Equally as ignorant as to my lden-
tity, assume, and apparently of the
same fillal, obedient mold as myself"
In the same equable frame of mind
as that In which he had thus con-
versed with his close college chum,
our Indifferent hero arrived at Twenty
Lakes the next day for two weeks
outing.
Uncle Ramsey had arranged 1t all
outing, Introduction to the predestined
bride, afterwards partnership In
his extensive business, after that the
honeymoon.
Easy as falling off a log-why
should worry?' Arnold indolently
asked himself the next day, as he
started out to enjoy himself In his
fayorite sport, rowing.
There was, indeed, fine chain of
lakes connected by little channels and
full Of fish, and the weather was
sublime.
"a new boarder down at Smiths on
the next lake" he heard his hostess
"That so?"
Eyes, very pretty young lady-a
Miss Hope Raymond, my neighbor tells
me. Mr.. Preston, you must meet
her.
Arnold was all eyes, as he passed
the channel into Smiths lake. Lo,
and behold a dainty sprite of a
maiden was Swimming the water In a
light skiff.
Two days after that the sklff was
not In much use. Pretty nearly all
day long the yawl held two, and a
happy, careless, merry pair they were.
Arnold fancied he had never met SO
artless, ingenious, attractive a girl as
Miss Hope Raymond.
They boated, they took long drives
along the charming lanes. Their host
esses gave one or two dances, with
the rural population filling In.
"The last day." rather mourned Ar
yawl. Hope had come to meet him
In the skiff. An adverse breeze had
upset her frail craft. When he reached
her, going down for the last time,
she was insensible. He bore her
ashore to where there was a rustic
bench. She recovered, shrinking back
from his protecting arms.
II am so glad you saved me-" she
breathed-"oh, SO glad that 1t was
you"
The words inspired him. In tor
rent Of eloquence. he told her of his
love, and then that they must part
He was bound to duty, but he should
never forget her.
"And lam bound, tool" sobbed
Hope cllnging to his hand, but face
averted and tear-stained. "Goodby-
Goodbye
That evening she went home. The
day following Arnold also left Twenty
Lakes.
1t was dusk, and the lights were low
that eventful evening when he and
his uncle were ushered into the draw
Ing room Of palatial home In the
city. Arnold knew 1t to be that OF
the bride picked out for him.
A dignlfied, mpressive-looking gen.
tleman entered the apartment as uncle
and nephew arose from their seats.
my dear old friend Ramsey" he
spoke heartily and moved aside cour-
teously to advance a charming young
lady by his side. my daughter, Mr..
Ramsey. And this, / presume. is your
nephew My daughter Hope, Mr..
Preston"
"Oh. father l'-and Hope Raymond
tottered almost into his arms.
Miss Raymond" gasped the as
tonished Arnold.
"Met before-hal ha Raymond, we
are two old plotters. Look at them,"
exclaimed MIR. Ramsey.
"No, leave them to their happiness"
supplemented Mr.. Raymond.
And there, In perfect silence, Arnold
and Hope, with clasped hands, stood
looking into each others eyes.
A vague suspicion of the truth
flashed into Arnold's mind as he heard
his uncle chuckling in the next room.
"They sent us to Twenty Lakes pur-
posely to meet" said Arnold.
"Was there need, do you Think"
asked Hope, and then blushed and
trembled at her own temerity.
"From a sense Of duty" said Ar
mold with mock solemnity, Il must
ask you to become my wife,"