, 1923-06-14
An Experience
Meeting
By MARTHA WILLIAMS
70 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)

"Huntsman, huntsman. blow your horn!
Fox has got your goose and gone"
With the last word he swept his hat
In a wide flourish.
Black-eyed Susan upon the portico
shook her head at him, saying: ut is
sinful to so pervert facts in natural
history. You know as well as l that
In this case 1t Is the goose that has
got the fox and gone" dimpling wick
eddy as she spoke. Besides the dimples
and the black eyes she had red lips,
a rose-flushed brown skin that defied
wind and weather. leaf-brown hair fine
as floss silk, and a figure the perfec-
ton of oun slender litheness. Natu-
rally young fellows up and down
Caney Fork pinned to be seen in her
company, also to eat the fat and drink
he sweet abundantly provided in the
home that was her background. Noel
was very much at home there-rather
more so thar at his legal residence.
where a thrifty stepmother sold the
good things Susanna's folk, the Deans,
preferred to eat Or give away.
But child of the house that he felt
himself, he lever forgot his manners.
Thus he was first favorite with Aun
Milly, Susanna's great-aunt and fairy
godmother. The girl was so vivid, so
whimsically charming, she harmonized
colors and situations that in the face
Of pallid personalities swore at each
other. Witness the soft crimson sash
with which she had girdled her dull
blue gown; witness also the pair who
kept her company. Curate Ayres was
still so new and now he blushed at the
sound of his own voice, and Judge
Jameson, case-hardened in law and
politics, who's substitute for religion
was enlightened selfishness.
Can she explain, Judge? The fox
and goose problem" Noel asked, meek
ly, seating himself upon the steps,
where he had a view of Susanna in
profile. ITS important-or l wouldn't
ask" Noel went n II hate cats so,
1t would trouble me greatly to have
Black-eyed Susan appear to be one"
Explosive laughter sounded. Through
1t the judge rumbled: young nan.
your question insults even you own
limited intelligence. In fact, explana-
ton is superfluous. Patiently Mrs.
Nelson is a goose of the first water
l mean the first weight-and ripe for
the plucking. Brother Stacy, with
whom she has eloped much against
his will, is a fox-all but the cunning.
She got the drop OF him, so to speak.
by learning experimentally his man
ner of investments-it makes highway
robbery seem sincere piety by con-
trast. So he had to choose between
Jail for life and matrimony. I know,
because l drew up marriage settle
ments that made the case plain as a
pikestaff. And l had Just told the tale
knowing well the Stacy outfit will
give Caney Fork henceforth a wide
berth"
II see," Noel commented. ANY
body want to do a war dance on me?
No? Then I'll try to live 1t down"
"Ayres should be doing a Joy dance
Thanksgiving for deliverance," the
judge interrupted. widow Nelson had
her eye on him till Stacy hove in
sight"
"Oh, acknowledgements quite
wrong" Ayers gnsped, his face rival
ing a cluster of young beets.
Noel made n felnt of amazement,
saying: why, judge, l didn't dream
h wind blew that way. Thought you
were due to be the happy man-that's
why | sang as l did"
"Shut up, you punpyI" the judge
roared, his countenance a brick red
that all but put the curate's out of
court.
RlnnE-aUAd Susan alnnnnl hAr Ba.1C
softly, saying with s~prightly malice:
"As we have set up the confessional,
suppose we all turn mad enough TO
speak truth ON ourselves7 Judge, you
go first, in right OF age and honors.
Cross your heart-why did you come
here this morning?"
ITO get ahead of that pulplt-pretty
who haunts you all day" the Judge
doomed. 81 didn't agree to tell the
whole truth. hut the chance Is too good
TO lose. I'm not afraid OF him he's
merely an irritating excrescence. You
give him time you had better spend
thinking Of me. For I mean TO marry
you. no matter who objects. Even
Aunt Mllly she can give her money
10 the heather and be hanged to them.
But I've waited ten years for you 10
grow M, young oma I'll wait ten
more II | have 10, hut you'll have the
devils own time making me do It,"
open confession is good for the
soul" Black-eyed Susan commented.
alrlly, turning Il beautiful back to her
elderly sutton and asking, honeyedly
'I,eady for the question. Mr.. Ayers?
You got here next the judge. Please
tell us why?'
II Couldn't Not-not before all
these people !" Ayers fHltered, making
n dash for the steps and fairly leaplng
down them. AS he vanished Noel
drew n long breath, saying: AT least
/ haven't got cold feet. whatever else /