Smyrna times., 1900-07-11

dropped on the sand, slipped his arm |
around her waist and was giving her
an old fashioned hug.
That the young woman took kindly. |
to this embrace was quickly proved
for her head dropped against Ned
Moore's shoulder, and little hand
stroked his yellow and black coat
sleeve. Moreover, the young woman
murmured loud enough to be heard
above the rush of the surf:
"Yes, darlingv
Ned Moore could plainly hear his
heart beating, but he couldn't, to save
his life, get a grip on words. So he
hugged the girl again. She seemed to
read the right meaning in his silence,
however, for SIZE whispered:
"Such a heavenly night, isn't it,
sweetheart?"
Il must say something" thought Ned
Moore, and he was on the point of
speaking when another man smoke for
him:
"Well, I'm darnedw
And when Ned Moore looked up he
saw facing him a man about his own
size and build-a man whose face was
livid with passion. The intruder didn't
give Ned long to think, however, for
he burst out:
"What is this, Nell? What in thun-
DER
He got no further, for, with shrek.
the young woman sprang away from
Ned Moore. When she faced him, she
looked an enraged tigress. She was
too angry for words.
ANSWER me, Nell-answerw
"Oh, it's all a mistake-a dreadful
mistake" cried the young woman.
Mistake? Nonsense!'
mo, truth, Jack" and the pretty,
tear stained face was lifted toward the
angry man. 81 was sitting here" she
ran on, her voice tremulous, waiting
for you, and l had just dreamed my
way back to last summer and was, oh,
so happy, living over those dear. sweet
days, when somebody, so like you,
passed between me and the sea, fitting
in, oh, so true, with my sweet dream.
Then an arm stole around me-the
same old yellow and black coat sleeve,
and
"Why, bless my SOUL" cut in the an
cry lover, eying Ned Moore intently,
you've got on my old courting rig! l
see it all now. Nell, dear, don't say an
other word. It's all my fault. I'd nc
business to sell that dear old courting
coat. 1t was rank sacrilege!'
For IN awful moment Ned Moore had
been trying to settle in his own mind
whether he was dreaming. To find he
was not lifted a great weight from
his mind. and he Joined his new ac
quaintances in a hearty laugh. TheI
he said:
"And you forgive me, then. both Of
your"
"Why, of course we do" cried JacE
and Nell, and then Jack continued
"It's my skittish black and tan court
ing coat that played the deuce will
both Of you. How did you get hold O.
itY'
Bought it secondhand, but I'll max,
!. | you a present of the whole outfit al
soon as l get back to my own modes
clothes. Honest, l haven't known my
! self since put the wild rig on"
Jack said he didn't want the coat, bu
his sweetheart timidly remarked:
Yes; take it from him, Jack. Yol
: must I'll never feel quite sure of my
self while that coat belongs to anothe
= man."
! Ned Moore found something NOR
than health at the seashore-found hi
! heart. And he returned to New York
! new man. Something, time soon test
/. fed had opened bachelor eyes to th
p lOveliness of woman. the loneliness Q
!. bachelor life. for in six months he mai
: ried-married and settled down to har
y work and home life. But for reason
4 the nature of which he did not explai
! to his little wife he never parted wit
4 his own counting coat, even when II
e days of active service had departed.
n Chicago Times Herald.