“Kate!” exclaimed Ferdie. I lighted my cigar. “Kate!” he repeated, with a rising inflection. “Now look here, I wasn’t born yesterday.” “Where’s your family Bible?” I inquired blandly. “You’ll be saying next that to-night’s arrangement was by ‘special request.’” “You were across the table,” I retorted. “Draw your own conclusions.” “I suppose you’ll join her later,” suggested Ferdie, in an irritating manner. I wouldn’t be bluffed by him, so I replied pointedly, “I may, to save her from worse.” “Give you odds on it,” offered Ferdie. “I don’t make bets where women are concerned,” I crushingly responded. “Sorry the strain has left you so bad-tempered,” said Ferdie, rising. “There’s Caldwell beckoning to me. Ta, ta!” I have liked Caldwell ever since. When we joined the ladies I went over to Kate. “This is persecution,” she smilingly protested, as she made room for me on the sofa. “I know it,” I cheerfully groaned, as I sat down beside her. “But I had to for the sake of the family.” “A family is a terrible thing to live up to!” sighed Kate. “Terrible!” I ejaculated. “Fortunately it will only be for a moment,” she assured me. “If you go at once,” I urged, “they’ll all think it’s the feud.” “What a nuisance!” cried Kate. “I ought to be on my way to a musical this very minute.” “On the principle that music hath charms?” I queried. “Good-night!” she said, holding out her hand. I had already noticed what pretty hands Kate had. “Forgive me!” I begged. “Never!” she replied. “You are serious?” I questioned, and she understood what I meant as if I had said it. I do like people who can read between the lines! She amended her “never” to, “Well, not till I have had my chance to even the score.” “Take it now.” “I haven’t time.” “I will submit to anything.” “My revenge must be deep.” “I will do the thing I most hate.” “Even afternoon teas?” laughed Kate, archly. I faltered in voice while promising, “Even afternoon teas!” “Then I’ll send you a card for mine,” she ended, and left me, crushed and hopeless. ⁂ No. That didn’t end the feud. It only led to a truce. For a time things went very well, but then the quarrel broke out with renewed force. You see, Kate claimed I spoiled the boy, and I claimed she did the spoiling. So we submitted it to arbitration. My mother said Kate was very judicious, and her father declared I was a model parent. Then we called in his godmother, and she decided we all four spoiled him. It’s been open war ever since, with an occasional brief cessation of hostilities whenever Kate kisses me. After the boy’s grown up, I suppose, peace will come again. His godmother? Oh! Mrs. Baxter. You see, we couldn’t do less, for she had talked it all over town that the match was of her making. Her making! In ten cases out of nine she would have had a disrupted dinner. It’s lucky for her that Kate was a Cortelyou woman! “THE BEST LAID PLANS”