The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-12-12
The Game Of
Love
BY JUSTIN wENTwcoD


"Iiugh, by heavens!"
Hugils figure, side by side with
Lhcy's, paced through the dark, and
Henry Wilcox watched them somberly
from the window OF his Office.
At first hideous thoughts filled his
heart, but then lie grew caimer. He
had no great passions; all that be had
he had bestowed upon those two. II
was life. II was what he should have
expected.
He would live on and on In his
great. lonely house, as he had done 50
many years.
Henry Wilcox had never married.
He had loved In youth and he had been
betrayed. All his love had gone out to
his nephew, Hugh, whom he had tax
en- In childhood from his dlssoIute
brother, and to his ward, Lucy Pendle.
He had adopted her, too. when her
father, distant cousin of his, had
died. That was years ago. And she
had twined herself round his heart.
Lucy was twenty-five, Henry VIII.
cox was exactly twice her age. He
had always known the day must come
when he would lose her. But he had
not expected that 1T would be Hugh.
Hugh and she had grown up together
from childhood 1t was a year since
they had met, and now
Well, he had been fool to cherish
those dreams Of her. An old fool, for
what part had youth with age? A
mad fool, TO dream that Lucy could
ever grow to care. for him.
They were coming in. He read the
happiness I'm their faces. Lucy came to
him and kissed him. She would never
know how 1t scared his heart, that
touch of her lips on his.
"Had a good time, young people?"
he asked cheerily
Pretty good" said Hugh. "By the
way, Uncle. you know I'm leaving in
the morning? I've got something
want to say to you first"
Tomorrow morning." said Wilcox,
with the mad desire to postpone his
inevitable fate.
And he paced his room for hours.
There had been a time when he al
most thought that Lucy cared for him.
What fool he had been!
He went into the living room. "Good
night, my DEAR" he said, taking her
into his arms and kissing her again.
II hope you'll be very happy" he con-
tinued.
Lucy's eyes filed with tears. "Oh,
my dear, II you could know!" she
murmured.
"Now won't have you crying
when you've nothing but happiness in
store for you'll" said Wilcox. "You
women don't seem to know the differ
ence between smiles and tears"
'They're not always very far from
each other. are they, my dear?" Lucy
murmured. nd .,. a5t,
She looked at him in such a strange
way as she went out of the room. He
wondered whether she guessed his
| feeling for her. Yes, women were in
tultive! Lucy must have known.
He waited for Hugh next morning in
his, office. Hugh came running down
the stairs, carrying his travelling bag,
youthful, vigorous, alert.
''You wanted to see me, Hugh?"
asked Wilcox.
"Yes," answered Hugh, looking
little sheepish.
''It's about Lucy, suppose?"
"It is" said Hugh. There was sort
of strange challenge In his voice.
"YOu want to marry her?"
'No, l DON'T" answered Hugh, and
Wilcox stared at him in astonishment.
II don't understand you," he said
coldly. 81 thought you and she cared
for each other"
Eve do. all right, but not in that
way. Uncle Henry. The fact is, we get
on each others nerves dreadfully. But
I've been playing gooseberry ever
since I came back. You see, Lucy
thinks she's in love with another man
but she isn't sure he cares for her.
nnd-between ourselves-I think that's
her idea Qf-SOrt of encouraging him.
because he'll never speak unless he
thinks he has chance" He clasped
his uncle,s hand. "I guess it's all
right, isn't it?" he said. "Good luck"
"YOu internal scoundrelv' ejaculat-
ed Wilcox.
But he could not trust himself to
say another word. And he could hardly
believe. He waited. watching Hugh's
1.-THE figure disappear down the drive.
and then went into Lucy.
"My dear, I'm an old fool, and per-
haps misunderstood him. But he
gave me to understand that your
heart was engaged. Is it?'
"Why, my dear. it's been engaged
ever since can remember" Lucy an
swered.
"To-to-?"
She put her arms softly about his
neck. "And was sure you cared. and
there wasn't any other way, guardian,
DEAR" she murmured.