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post she expected to fill, a"! bis sym
pathies were enlisted when he learn
ed that she was the sole support of
an invalid mother.
Paul had told the other six mem
bers of the school board of. his pref
erence. He was a lawyer, they re
spected his good judgment and up to
the day before the meeting of the
trustees the votes of four of his fel
low members were pledged with him.
To his surprise and in a way to his
pained regret, Miss Bertram was
chosen for the vacant post by a vote
of five to two.
"You see, Newcombe," explained
the Squire, trying to act off-handed,
"we believe that a mature woman, as
this Miss Bertram is probably, would
be better than a mere chit of a girl."
'Yes, and then again," advanced
one of the Squire's cohorts, "it's
something to have been educated at
Vassar."
"I think that some one ought to go
down to Fairview and personally no
tify Miss Bertram of our choice," sub
mitted a third trustee.
"Exactly," approved a fourth, "and
first look up her general record to be
sure 4hat we are making no mistake."
"I nominate Newcombe to repre
sent the school board in that mis
sion," said the Squire.
Paul swallowed his disappointment
as to favoring a friend through the
selection of Miss Dodge. He made
arrangements to go, to Fairview the
next day. That evening the Squire
came home with a satisfied expres
sion on his face.
"Well, Ina," he observed, "we car
. ried the day."
"They have selected the Vassar
girl, then?"
"Of course. I had influence enough
for that."
"I hope' this Miss Bertram is the
self-opinionated old maid I judge her
to be," meditated Ina and felt quite
elated over her petty victory.
The fair siren planned out a series
of parties for the near future, pur
suant to the expected speedy return
of V(rW?onib. TTo had never giv?n
her tlie lenst indication that he had
any preference for her, but she was
sure she led in the race, at least local
ly, as to position and wealth.
"Sort of queer about Newcombe,"0
observed the Squire, when he came j
home two days later. "He's usually
a quick, all around business inan andtj
ought to have got through with his,
business at Fairview in a few hours." t
"Hasn't he" written?" inquired Ina
a trifle anxiously. i
"Not a word."
The following evening, however,
the Squire brought some fresh news.
"Got word from Newcombe today,"
he said, and Ina looked curious and
eager. "Says he has looked that
Vassar girl up and found her more
than capable and all that, "but the
deal's off."
"Why, what do you mean, father?"
asked Ina vaguely.
"Miss Bertram won't come. New
combe wrote that she had altered her
plans. This leaves the other candi- ,
date the only one that passed the
committee. I reckon they'll send for
her. Newcombe sent bis proxy to
vote for her, so I guess it will be Miss
Dodge."
"But when is Mr. Newcombe com
ing back?" inquired Ina. losing sight
of her former fears and jealousy in
dismay over the continued absence of
the victim she had set her cap for.
"Why, he says he discovered some
old friends in Fairview, needs a rest
and will take a week's vacation."
At the end of a week Paul returned,
but Ina did not see him. She tried to
in every way she could devise, but her;
schemes did not succeed. Paul was
away again oh the train to Fairview
the next morning. The Squire met'
him at the depot. '
"We decided on Miss Dodge," he
observed.
"Yes, so I heard." '
"Going away again, I see. Say,
Newcombe, what was the reason Miss
Bertram did rot oM"t ov " '
"Well," replied Paul, a faint smile i
