The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-07-08

iihes hau cohSplred to land him at this
one street rather than at any other of
the $500 streets in Chicago.
AS ne came nearer to the house he
began to rehearse his Introductory re.
marks, and he confessed to a slight
nervousness for fear she would not nm
derstand that he had simply happened
in. lie realized. of course. that he
should have notified her if he intended
to make formal call.
The Hadley house is back from the
street, with sweet-smelling grass
plat and clumps of shrubbery in front
of it. Swinger dimly saw several fp-
ures on the open veranda, and he heard
the murmur of voices. Would il he
advisable for him to call at such a time?
He was in extreme doubt, and while
hesitating he walked past the gate
Then 1T was too late for him to turn
back, so he kept on walking, while he
upbraided himself for an idiot and won
dered if anyone on the veranda had seen
him and recognized him.
At the next corner south he STONED
and debated as to whether or not he
should return. If he were seen to an
proach the house from the south she
would ask him how it happened that
he came from that direction, and he
would not be able to explain. He re-
solved to go to the house, merely to
vindicate his courage; so he went across
the street and then north and came
back determinedly. He slammed the
gate behind him and advanced boldly
toward the veranda. Some one who
had been sitting on the steps arose
and waited 1t was she, but she did
not recognize him.
Good evening"" he said, with great
diplomacy.
"Why, it's Mr.. Swinger!" she said,
and Swinger knew that she was really
surprised, but there was nothing in her
tone to give him encouragement.
The other persons on the veranda
were Mr.. and Mrs. Hadley. This was
Swinger's first meeting with Mr.. Had
ley, whom he could see but indistinct-
ly, but whom he regarded with favor,
because he was the father of Miss Eta
Hadley. Mr.. Hadley welcomed him
rather heartily. and Mrs. Hadley, whom
Swinger had already learned to admire
as remarkably clever and sociable
matron, invited him to find place on
the rug.
Il just happened to be in this part of
town, and | thought | would drop in
and see if Jim was here" he said.
OF course Jim was not there, and
they told him to remain anyway, so he
sat on the top step and she sat two steps
below him, and Swinger talked with
Mr.. and Mrs. Hadley about the weather
aud the war with Spain and the reopen
ing of the bicycle season. while she
bummed little tunes and occasionally
looked up at him, at which times he felt
his pulses bound.
Swinger. like many another diffident
man, could talk freely and at his ease
with those who were decidedly his
elders or who followed the lines of
everyday business talk, and so he man
aged famously with Mr.. and Mrs. Had
ley. He did not know that ten o'clock
had passed MIR. Hadley announced
that he would go in and read for awhile.
Mrs. Hadley followed him. Swinger
arose TO depart.
"Oh, no; not yet" she said, and
Swinger, shifting his hat from one hand
to the other, said nothing, but re-
manned.
It's such a lovely night" she con-
tinued. I'D like to go out walking"
We've might" said Swinger.
Really, l want to go. I've been in
the house all day. Come in until get
my hat"
Thank you, III"
mo; | have a particular reason for
wanting you to come in"
Swinger followed her into the house,
and then she turned on him and said,
mischievously: Il wanted 70 see your
spring suit. It's awfully swell. Oh, the
flowers! Who gave them to you?"
1T was the florist-really," with a
boyish simplicity.
Il have some flowers, too" she said,
and she pointed at the roses in the vase.
Then she came up close to him to chirk
up the flowers in his button-hole, and
she said to him, as she looked straight
in his eye: "It was simply lovely of you
TO send them"
Swinger blushed and failed of
speech, as he had at their first meeting.
She was so near him that he caught
some subtle fragrance from her hair
and tingled with sudden and an over
whelming surprise that he should have
been selected from among mortals for
such marvellous experience as this.
He had confused impressions of see
ing her put on her hat and of the de-
parture from the house, with her hand
on his arm. He shook himself and
grasped his walking-stick, determined
to think of something, but in all the
range of speech there was nothing to
fit the moment. They walked silently
under the trees and he became fright
ened at his inability to talk. But She
had something to say to him.
u was-a little provoked al you this
evening" she began.
why? What did l do?" he asked,
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