Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1915 — HER CANNY LOVER [ARTICLE]

HER CANNY LOVER

Instead of Open Rivalry He Used Indirect Methods That Apj pealed to Her.

By HARMONY WELLER.

When Mrs. Browning read the advertisement in the board and apartments wanted column she turned to her daughter Isabel.

“How would you like to board these six young men who are looking for just such a place as this?” She passed the paper to the daughter, who had flushed excitedly at the thought of six young men In the house during an entire summer. Isabel read the advertisement aloud as if her mother had not already perused its contents.

"Wanted, by six city men, room and board for summer months. Must be near sea bathing. Plain cooking and home comforts. Fifty dollars a week for the half dozen.”

The girl laughed amusedly. “One would think they were new-laid eggs rather than twentieth-century young men. I think it would be a great lark to have them," she said finally, "and perhaps I could give up my shop work for the summer and just stay home to help you. We could manage nicely on >SO a week, with the vegetables from our garden and our own fresh eggs.” “Let’s sit right down then and answer them or someone else may get them as boarders,” Mrs. Browning said In her usual energetic manner. She had never taken boarders to help keep out their rather limited income, but recently she had noted with motherly apprehension that her daughter’s cheeks had been gradually losing color and that her step was weary as she made her way homeward from the day’s business. Mrs. Browning felt convinced that she could make enough money at least for one summer by taking in the six young men as boarders, and It would assuredly be a diversion for the too quiet Isabel. So three rooms, with great double beds, were aired and freshened up, the unused tennis court was rolled and all the possibilities for summer pleasure were made attractive. A new hammock was hung from the pear tree and quick-growing vines were planted around the summer house.

“They can’t resist us,” Mrs. Browning told herself, and in her heart she cherished the hope that Isabel would be in somewhere in the background as an added attraction when the young men came down to inspect the premises. Isabel was not at home, however, when the young men came, but Mrs. Browning saw to it that, Isabel or no Isabel, she was going to have her six summdr boarders. The men were completely delighted with their pew abiding place. Everything seemed so comfortable and homelike, they declared. When, the first night at dinner, Isabel came into the dining room looking like nothing so much as a newly blossomed pink rose, the six men exchanged swift glances. "Joy!" "Peach!" “Rose in the bud!” “Some girl!” Those were only some of the quickly inspired comments that were exchanged in prudent asides and expressive facial accompaniments. The girl herself found it rather difficult to seem perfectly calm in the trying situation of finding herself suddenly the center of admiration of six pairs of masculine eyes. Her heart quickened beneath her pink gown, and her cheeks were delightfully responsive to her emotions; From the moment her daughter entered the dining room and was presented in turn to the six men Isabel’s mother fell to wondering just how the experiment was likely to turn out. Would it, she speculated, in any way interfere with the girl’s evident preference for the companionship of Donald Stewart, a fine looking young Scotchman who had been paying her considerable attention? For some itme Mrs. Browning had half suspected Isabel’s pale cheeks and lusterless eyes were connected with a growing attachment for Stewart, who had not yet advanced beyond the noncommital stage of friendly interest The first week-end that Donald spent out at the Browning cottage after the arrival of the male boarders was a trifle trying, since he passed most of the time glowering darkly at Isabel’s efforts to be cheerful or in talking with her mother. Isabel had tried vainly to make him one of the joy-seeking crowd that went for a swim in the afternoon and for a long ramble through the woods toward evening. Donald held himself stubbornly aloof, and with greatly modified happiness, Isabel plunged desperately into the fun of the moment.

The summer progressed steadily, with delightful days and wonderful nights. The six boarders vied with each other in taking Isabel to yacht races, dances and matinees in the city. To all appearance each man of them was falling a willing victim to her charms.

Now, to add to the mystery and romance of the situation, some one bf Isabel’s admirers —she knew not which —assumed a stealthy, anonymous manner of wooing that, for her, was as charming as it was bewildering. Every morning she found at her door, hidden in a bunch of roses, a note bearing a declaration of love in such frankly expressed terms that she could not doubt the sincerity of the unknown sender. There was never •

hint aa to who earn* tiros by stealth to her door and left the token of love. The girl spent many a long hour in trying to find out the Identity of her secret wooer, but without coming a step nearer the solution of the puzzle. Unconsciously she was falling a victim to her atealthy lover’s tactics. Try aa the might, she could not exorcise the spell. Mrs. Browning seemed to be as puzzled aa she was herself, although Isabel at times had Indulged in the suspicion that her mother was in some way an accomplice in the mysterious affair. For a brlel and glorious moment, also, Isabel suspected Donald Stewart, but her next meeting with him in town disabused her mind of the idea. The Scotchman had seemed even more gloomily reserved than usual, and Isabel returned home after luncheon and a matinee with him in a more or less depressed state of mind.

She determined to see no more of Stewart. Mrs. Browning had been quite right in her surmise. Had Isabel possessed less common sense than was her fortunate endowment she would have made herself unutterably wretched for love of Donald Stewart. As it was, however, her anonymous love affair served to lighten her depression and also to prevent her from forming a deep attachment for any of her six ardent admirers. One morning Isabel discovered in the heart of her bouquet of deep red roses a box containing an exquisite solitaire ring. She almost flew to her mother’s room, her cheeks crimson and her eyes starry. "Mother,” she cried breathlessly, holding the jewel aloft, "my stealthy lover asks me to wear this ring and thus proclaim my engagement to him! What shall I do?” She laughed a trifle hysterically, for her heart was prompting her to slip the ring on her finger and to wear it boldly for the whole world to see. “I think I should wear his ring, dearie,” the mother suggested softly, kissing her daughter’s flushed cheeks. “It may be the only way to make him reveal himself in the flesh —now that he seems to have won you in the spirit.” “He writes that he will —he will — hold me in his arms —today." She slipped the ring on her finger and covered her burning face with her hands. Mrs. Browning smiled serenely. There was a conscious look in her faded eyes. “Be patient, dearie,” she counseled fondly. "I think I can foresee great happiness in store for you.” All day long Isabel was in a fever of excitement and expectation. She could not keep Donald Stewart out of her thoughts for a single moment, although she had resigned herself completely to meeting her mysterious lover and was Impatient for his coming. She did not wear the solitaire publicly until evening, when she had donned her dainty pink gown for the dance at the club. She had not felt heroic enough in her secret betrothal to parade it before six pairs of inquisitive masculine eyes until then. Within half an hour after she entered the hall six pairs of keenly observant masculine eyes—not to mention half a hundred belonging to the gentler sex —had discovered the gleaming jewel. Six agitated summer boarders had compared notes, and the dean of the sextet, debonnair Jimmy Rogers, had been appointed a committee of one to look into the matter. He was making his way across the crowded room to claim Isabel for a waltz already called when another man appeared suddenly and took possession of her without so much as saying, “Madam, by your leave-” The music began, Isabel’s hair was brushing Donald Stewart’s cheek and she could feel his unruly heart pounding hard against her. “I have redeemed my promise,” he whispered, exultantly. “I am holding you in my arms.” (Copyright. 1915, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)