The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-02-01
MATCHED
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By ADELAID d. HUFF
Mcclure syndicate-wNU service.l

garet Adair exclaimed to herself
as she sat on the porch of the old
farmhouse and listened to the tiny
songs of myriad insects in the dewy
grass. -
Back home they called her Mar
garet the Heartless, Margaret the
Flapper. All men were grist to her
mill, this she openly admitted; but
If she had ever once become the
least bit interested herself no one
ever found out. She knew exactly
the route her affairs would take
frank admiration, ardent love-mak-
ing and subsequent proposal fol-
lowed by fiat refusal.
1t was natural that Elmwood
Farm should prove a trife monot-
onous to Margaret, but the doctor
had said that q complete rest was
essential after her breakdown and
had insisted that she be sent where
late hours would be impossible.
At the sound of footsteps on the
graveled walk, Margaret looked
through the honeysuckle vines and
saw Claire Elmwood and Bill Dick
son come slowly up the path. Such
plain little thing, Margaret re-
Elected. How did she manage to get
even a country man interested? At
the steps they stopped and Bill
kissed the girl good night.
You're the sweetest little thing"
he whispered, holding her close.
"You love me?"
"Oh, Bill" the girl answered,
chow can you love me after seeing
that pretty Miss Adair? 1 was so
afraid believe I'd die if"
"Shucks," Bill laughed. "She
couldn't make any teller love her.
She's too stuck on herself. 1
wouldn't give a snap for a dozen
like her"
"So-o-o," thought Margaret, her
eyes narrowing in the dark. "Pu
have to start a little campaign.
Here's something to do at last"
In a moment Claire ran into the
house, Bill turned and went home
and Margaret, still undiscovered,
sat on in the deep shadows and
thought. Bill owned half interest in
the adjoining farm, she knew, and
she had often watched him as he
followed the pillow.
The next morning Margaret ap-
peared in her smart knicker suit.
She knew how absurdly diminutive
she looked in this outfit, and that
it was always a sure-fre hit. AS
soon as breakfast was over, she
climbed the fence that divided the
two farms and picked her way over
, the rough, soddy ground.
Good morning." she called as she
approached Bill and the team, stand
ing at the end of a row. 81 wanted
to pat your horses"
She put out a daintily manicured
hand and stroked the sleek neck of
the nearest horse. The animal SHE'D
lightly and Margaret jumped back.
"Oh, he frightened me-" she said
in scared little voice.
'He won't hurt you," said Bill pro-
tectingly. "In hold his bride.
Now, you can pat him all you want"
''I'm awfully lonesome up here"
the girl said pensively after mo-
ment. I'm just dying to take some
hikes around here, but I haven't
anyone to go with me and I'd be
afraid to go alone. I'm crazy to go
up on Sunset Hill, but"
would you-go with me?" Bill
asked after a moment.
"Oh, would you take me?" ex-
claimed Margaret clapping her
hands. when could we go? After
supper tonight"
Eyes, 1 reckon that'd be all right.
You could meet me over at that
oak at the far side of the field. I
Claire"
eyes, l know" Margaret an
swered quickly.
you're engaged to Claire and she
mightn't like it. We won't tell her."
That evening Margaret ran along
the edge of the field toward the big
oak tree. There she found Bill wait
ing for her.
"You have the most adorable way
of smoking a pipe" she greeted
him. tits so-he-manish or some
thing"
Bill laughed and took her arm as
they started off toward Sunset Hill.
They climbed for an hour or more
before reaching the top, then finally
dropped on a huge rock to rest.
ITS gorgeous here" she said aft
er moment, slipping her hand into
his. And she was amazed by the
thrill his touch gave her.
"You reckon it's wrong when
you're engaged to one girl to kiss an
other?" he asked after a moment.
"Of course not, silly" she
laughed.
She felt his arm tighten around
her and second later kisses were
raining on her face
"Bill, you're darling" she whis-
pered at last. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the matter?" she stammered.
Nothing" he answered. ITS
just like l thought All these city
girls are alike. I've been to town
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