The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-26

yond explanation-there Is no definf1
ton to the magic word-there is No
fashion in which the necromancy can
be accounted for.
The morning found him eager to sec
her, and found her wondering by what
means she could avoid him. There
was Ice boating, and while he searched
for her he saw her flying by in one Of
the skimming craft, sitting erect and
fearless, while the great white boat
took to itself the wings of reckless
bird.
In the afternoon there was musl-
Gale, and he saw her sitting demure
and sober in corner where he could
not reach her; and later, at dinner, in
all the witchery of her cleaning toilet
of white, he had the sorry satisfaction
of glimpsing her as she went down to
dinner with another man.
In the evening she seemed to fit be-
fore his eyes like will-o'-t he-wisp
He could never get near enough to
speak. He gave up at length, and went
away, angry and hurt. And the next
morning telegram came, calling him
back to town. He said to himself
that he would meet her somewhere.
though he was quite aware that her
| life was much more given up to fash
ionable pleasures than his own. But
the winter wore away and he met her
! nowhere. He could not think of try
ing to call upon her She had not asked
him to do so; she had seemed not to
care for him after that first night, but
accuse himself as he might of having
been an infatuated fool, he could not
rid himself of the idea that for few
hours his soul was nearer to hers than
it had ever been to that Of any other
human being. To be sure, their happ;
ness and sweet intimacy had been hids(
den under badinage and an affectation
of Indifference, but it was there all the
same
Summer came.
II shall see her at the lake." said
Kirkland, and put himself in the way
Of being invited up. But she was not
at her uncle's house. She had gone to
the Canadian lakes with an English
family Kirkland concluded that he
ought to see Canada. A man really
had no business gadding off to the
other side of the world before he had
seen his own continent. He went row.
ing on Canadian lakes. and nearly lost
his life, but after fortnight's patience
he found his way to the lodge where
Miss Blynn's friends lived.
Miss Blynn grew tired OF our grim
solitude" said her host. She says
Chicago is pleasant in the summer
though l myself have yet to see tho
time when l could call it pleasant
and she has gone back home to study
something or other. never knew her
SO studious."
She's restless" commented Kirk
land. 81 wonder why"
He put all shyness and sense of pro-
priety behind him and determined to
find out why. The morning after reach
ing the city he made himself gay in
white duck and boldly called at her
house. She was out on porch at the
rear of the severe-looking city house.
and had made herself miniature
country seat there, with palms and
ferns and flowers. The hammock waa
moving az ii she had 49, quilted 1t.
but when he met her she was arising
J, aiecofua5y frer ohs Of the = irs to-
surrounded reading table Uttered
with the midsummer magazines.
You haven't your skates ont" she
cried mockingly, extending her hand.
in funny nervous little way and the
corners of her mouth seemed tremu-
lous.
rs it necessary for me to have my
skates on in order to recommend n.y.
self to your favor?" he inquired.
Il cannot tell" she responded, "till I
see how we'll you converse in Oxford
ties and summer ducks
They talked nonsense like this for
half an hour, but both of them were
desiring to keep still and enjoy the
happiness of being together again
| Neither had the courage to become
. serious. He arose finally.
g Il know how impertinent l have
+ been in calling" he said. 1T is justi-
fed only by-by my temptation"
1--WE can resist everything but temp
, tation, a clever man once said" smiled
Miss Blynn.
Then l may come agein?"
, you may come-in two weeks"
T 81 am coming in week or not at
all"
Then let it be in week." she
laughed
But it was not week. 1t was three
days.
I've been miserable for seven
months through not seeing you," he
explained. II won't stand it any long
er unless you condemn me to it."
Her eyebrows went up and down in
that curious way of hers.
II shan't condemn you to it," she
said. "Because-well, because 1 came
back from Canada, because-well-''
We'll. why?"
Because it was such a long way
from-from Chicago
But something in the accent of the
speech made it personal and precious
to Kirkland. And he lifted her hand
to his lips.-Chicago Tribune.
-t.a
Patti Songs for Soldiers.
The recent war concert in London