HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION"
The Stratagem of Irene
Capital Short Story in J. Morton Lewis' Best Vein.
B7 JT. MOETON LEWIS.
I EE ALLY eannot say it was Irene's
fault. In any other girl I might
have blamed the action, but when
a pair of blue eyes aglow with life and
insouciance surveys yon, blame takes
wings, and you laugh with the culprit
Besides, Irene is Irene that sums up
the whole situation.
We have been friends . for years;
close friends, if the fact that she has
refused me on three separate occasions
makes the friendship any the more bind
ing. It was about a week after the
third refusal. We were seated in the
garden, eating strawberries and cream,
and discussing nothing with a solem
nity that was worthy of a better cause.
. Irene was seated on a low basket
chair with a graco that was positively
disconcerting. From beneath the folds
of her skirt peeped a patent leather
sho3 and a few inches of openwork silk
stocking. The sun shone on her hair,
picking out the golden strands. Alto
gether the sight of her made me envious
and bad-tempered.
"And so you are going to stay with
the Kempsliots for a few weeks," she
eh kl.
I nodded. It was a duty visit, and
the prospect did not fill me with wild
paruxysms of enthusiasm.
"Why don't you propose to Amyt"
Irene surveyed mo languidly.
"I might do worse," I retorted.
"Much worse," she acquiesced.
"Ymt might huve been accepted by me.
Think of it!" .
"Truly I have much to be thankful
for," I replied.
Irono laughed. She is truly provok
'(,' "1 have seriously thought of pro
posing to Amy," I said.
"Dear girl. How happy she will be.
And what a good wife she will make
you she could manage beautifully on
500 a yettr. And I'm sure 1 couldn't"
"So Hta I," I retorted. "Your stock
ings uloue must cost you a small for
tune.'. Jr?ne flushed, and withdrew her foot.
It was a very piiltry point to score.
Half un hour later I rose to take
my leave. "Thun I shall expect to hear
you aro engaged to Amy when you
co mo back," she said, smiling in fare-well.
"Vou nro sure Bhe will accept met"
"Could anyone refuse such an aw
fully nice, eligible boy such as you
i.ref
-" know ono who did. I shall begin
U think you are repenting in a mia
uto. "
"And if I did!"
I looked at Irene. I never know
whether the is serious or not. She was
carveying mo demurely, but there was
a mocking smile playing round the
corners of her mouth.
"Then Amy can go to ,"
i"No, she can't, Dickie, dear. She's
going to make you an ideal wife. Nice
littlo tasty dishes when you come home
tired lrom the city."
"Oood-by, Irene," I said.
The mocking laugh followed me as
I walked up the garden path.
The spirit of mischief must have en
tered me after I had been staying at
the Kempshots for 24 hours. Perhaps
it was a respite from the awful gayety
of thoir house gayety which would
would drive a tortoise mad with ennui.
At any rate, I despatched a telegram to
Irene on one of my walks. It ran:
"Amy wants yon to come to her wed
ding." After I had paid my sixpence,
I thought no moro about it until next
morning. ,
At the breakfast table a eonple of
letters lay awaiting me. Mr. Eempshot
had gone to town; only Mrs. Eempshot
and Amy were at the table.
"Do read your letters if yon would
like to," said Mrs. Eempshot.
I thanked her and opened the en
Telope, which was addressed to me in
Irene's somewhat sprawling handwrit
ing. Jt was a long letter. How she must
nave laughed as the wrote U.
"Dear Dick," it ran, "what did I
fayt I eannot tell you how hnppy I
am, X am overjoyed at the good news
-e overjoyed that Z am writing to
tall Miss. Eempshot what in exem
plary, nice young man she has got for a
future son-in-law, Iho letter will go by I at liox wedding, 'f
the same post as this, so if you are
present when Mrs. Eempshot reads it, do
not blush. I shall- put it on awfully
thick I feel I owe it to yon. I shall
miss you awfully, but I daresay Amy
will let me come sometimes and enjoy
the marmalado she makes to beauti
fully. (Irene knows I abominate mar
malade). Please let me know when the
wedding will be. I must come."
I did not read any further, although
there was another page and a half. My
eyes wandered to Amy. Bhe was facing
me, the personification of prim and
proper maidenhood; very proper and ex
tremely prim. "
Then they fell upon Mrs. Eempshot;
she was stirring her tea and reading a
letter. I recognized the writing. Be
neath my breath I twore at Irene, silent
ly and fluently. I went hot and cold
all over. Amy It a delightful girl. She
will make some man a most charming
wife, but she is not for me; I know my
limitations.
Mrs. Eempshot glanced up from the
letter and smiled at me. "What will
you have now, Diekt" she said. It was
the first time she had called me Dick.
It was on my tongue to ask her for
some prussie acid. "Nothing more," I
murmured politely.
My brain was working furiously. I
felt a fool, a cad, and I endeavored
to find tome way out of the awful pre
dicament in which I was-placed, thanks
to Irene. Why should the want to
write to Mrs. Eempshott She might
have waited until the had heard from
me. My telegram wat vagus enough.
And it was perfectly true. Only an hour
before I had tent it Amy had told me
she would like to have Irene for a
bridesmaid if ever the was married.
Why will women Jump at conclusions f
I thought it all over until my head
ached. As far as I could tee there was
only one way out of the dilemma one
which must brand me at a cad far all
time with the Eempshott.
Mrs. Eempshot put down the letter.
The smile wat still on her face. "I
have heard from Irene this morning,"
she said.
It wat a leading question. "Have
youf" I replied feebly. "So hare I"
Then followed a tilenee, one which
was painful in the extreme. Mrs. Eemp
shot finished her enp of 'tea, drinking
with a precision that was horrible.
Then the pushed back her chair.
"Mrs. Eempshot," I laid hurriedly,
"I should like to speak to you."
"Certainly," the replied, and wait'
ed.
There was no help for it now but to
go through with my apology at beat I
could. "Alone," I said.
"Will you coma into the drawing-.
room!"
I followed her into the room and
dosed the door. When I looked around
the wat standing by the piano, her
arm half folded. She it one of those
women who always look' stern and
angular.
'Mrs. Eempshot." I laid, "I owe you
an apology."
She gave me the least possible help
she eould by remaining silent
I do not know what Irene eould
have meant writing to you about it"
'It wat a very nice letter Irene tent
me."
'I expect to; Irene's letters are al
ways nice."
"Indeedl" Mrs. Kempshot'S tones
were frigid.
I felt sublimely miserable. "But still
Irene had no right to jump to the con
clusion that I was engaged to Amy."
Indeedl" said Mrs. Eempshot again.
No," I continued, gathering cour
age as I proceeded. "X only sent Irene
a wire saying that Amy would like to
see her at her wedding. I never sug
gested that Amy was going to marry
me; nothing was further from my
thoughts."
Mrs. Eempshot regarded me closely.
She looked more angular than ever. "I
don't quite follow you. Irene said noth
ing in her letter about you being en
gaged to Amy. Am I to understand that
you and she have been joking together
on the subject f"
"Wall," X stammered, "Irene was
teasing me about Amy tlie other day,
and X sent tor a telegram yesterday,
saying that Amy vpuld like to see her
"I should not have thought you would
have been guilty of such ungcutlcman
ly conduct," said Mrs. Kempshot. I
wish Irene had been there to have heard
her. - -
Of course there was only one thing
for me to do. I did it. I think it took
me exactly half an hour to paek my
bag. I left the Kempshots, feeling the
biggest fool I have ever felt in my life.
Straightway on reaching London I
went to call upon Irene. I should find
her in the garden, the servant told me.
I found her in the same chair in
which she had sat chatting to me three
days before. She looked up, and as she
saw me raised her eyebrows. "You
back in town already! "
"Irene," I said. "How dare you t"
"Whatt" she replied ingenuously.
"Take my beastly telegram seriously
and write to Mrs. Eempshot about my
engagement t '
"You didn't speak to Mrs. Eemp
shott" "What else eould I dot" I replied
bitterly, "I never had any intention
of marrying Amy, and I thought "
The rest of my explanation was
drowned in laughter. "How perfectly
lovely," said Irene, clapping her hands.
"I am glad you think to," I said, "I
only wish you had seen Mrs. Eempshot
instead of ma Irene? what made you
do itf"
"Because," Irene studied the point
of her shoe, "because I" wasn't quite
suTe if you were serious. And I didn't
think Amy was quite suitable for you.
She isn't the girl I should like to see
yon marry."
"No," I replied. Then I looked at
Irene. Her faee had gone scarlet
"Irene;" I said, "I believe I honestly
believe "
"I'm not," she replied firmly.
Bhe had placed her hands before her
face. Going down on my knees, I gent
ly drew them away. She averted her
eyes, until I whispered a few words to
her.
"Tea," she confessed, "that was why
I Bent you that letter."
I bent nearer and kissed her. "For
the fourth time," I said, "will yon"
"Tea, "the replied. "Yes, yes, yes."
The Man. For. the oJb.
"I understand you got iuto jail,"
said the warden, "on account of a
glowing mining prospectus."
"I was quite optimistic," admitted
the gentlemanly prisoner.
"Well, the governor wants a report
on conditions in my jail. I want you
to write it"
Dont pout if yon don't win. Be kind
to the winner and then go home and ,
break your troubles gently to the gate '
post , s
OVERALLS!
AU. RIOHTS RESERVED
Keep KidsKIeen
The matt maiaL halthfnl
nmw tfs tefcKcd for cbutraa 1
io e ran ol arc Made in eae piece
WW . MI.IT sunned OD or
of. BatHf vaahei. No titl
earn oaada to nop tirrabdon.
Ulic in h.n Am'n. j t.1... i
nrba hickory rmpa tor all tbt
7 i uuim. juao newer Tmrat
Bnucrui for Kramer wear. AJ1
, U nturn. etaaeatDulrbBcck
4. who efaoar 'i and Urn
mr inn lorn atom.
75c the suit
It fear dealer cannot npnlr too.
we vOl tend thru, cbarrea orenaLi
eataceitt of price, 7Sceacb.
ANcwTOrrifThey
Suft flVLL Kip
Had By
Straus es Co, San Francisco A
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Mi)
The ground eaa be too loose to plant
sweet clover in. Pack it hard after sow
ing. If you eould tramp it in with stock
it would be all the bettor. It does well
even in alkali soils.
'2.
ISUklUU Btm
la ee ESSE
race BBSS
BBEBES
Hotel
jSBATTIJS
"TwoWe fenrU a
SotU CMfart
lathe center of
Hrinjs rhritwund
tore on bath sides.
Betiding abeolotelr
fireproof concrete.
teel and marble.
bcsotkah run
II far D7 Up '
... Booma ILOOpudarm
Boom wit. orWaaa bath KU0 m
Merchants, Attention!
There Is Money In Tom Old Freight Bats.
' Xtst the Trans-OonUnental Traffic Aasodation Find It for Too.
It yea an a mat-shut whs pari relbead axpnee charges we eaa
graetty eeaefit yea sad yoor btuiaeaa aa a mW ni this a tea ei a tin.. II
ie the eta of TH1 TBANS-CONTINENTAL TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION to .
embody all of the skippers and receivers ol freifht witala the States of
tad Waahlagtoa Into eae ntrong shippers', eseoeoavaoav
We are a farnancnt Instrtafloa tor Ike beuM a Iks Berakant, wtta
(teoni offices BoiaMaod el Portland. This anncaatloa Is prepare1 as
tar sums lo bandit ud five expert ssrvieo and tntorautloa aa McM root-.
tn& tariff rotes end eUosificotion, ovorchorgo, hot oad eaaaafe i.i.
Intentato Oommene complaints and rata litlfation, In toot, to protect end
assist the shipper from overr standpoint of his transportation.
I We have proved that aa astoeUtioa of this kind carries i tract sad
ooonmands tospeol of the" railroads, especially in tha filing of elaims for
evonkargos, eta. II Is a well-known fact that auditing oompaaias, operating
ea a paiwlogo of the amounts recovered as overcharges, have little respect
eteadlag pith the railroads, ud that a larger peroeertaga of the tUimi
AM hr Ihea with the carrion are declined too to look of aoooosarj ovi
eaee and faowledgo required to present elainaa of merit la the proper dub
bo ee at it roach the higher anthoritr ever the regular elsrioal help of the
railroads.
To say thtppex or receiver of freight the sorvieos of Ibis assodotton are
tevaluble oad no opontbg bustaess oaa afford to bo without ii
We earaestlT urge every aaenbant to take advantage of oar oPBOIAIi
IRBODUOrOBT OiTXB. Our rogalor meanherahip fee W Ten DoUare.
of ahlrty days we wTU deduct this foe Iron the ererchargeo found la your
MgM bills oad return to yon 10 per ooal of the boloaoo, that, without
aay sash eeflay, Tom ere nude a member ed eae el the stroagatt and most
efflotoat tret fie orguiuttoat In the West.
Write Us Today
The Trans-Continentd Traffic
Association
. . i . .
.n-C2-4:5-fl15 Panama BriliKnj t ,
Portland, Oregon, " . i .
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