Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-08-09

Then Alec's sturdy shoulders had
buffeted their way through the mass
of pleasure-seekers. The gangplank
was drawn in. A final maddening
shrek shrilled up from the pipe over.
head. There was grating-a crunch
ing-a sliding. The great boat was
slipping away from the lofty ware
houses.
"You won't be conceited If make
q confession"
"You," he protested, humbly, shave
no idea of the true Christian humility
of my character!"
He was Longing beside her in con-
tented Incidence. She liked the way
he held her parasol-in languid hand
that withal was as a rock.
"Well, then, ever since read that
wonderful novel of yours I've been
wishing to meet you. 1t's-OsTve no
words for it! It's splendid! 1t de-
serves SUGGEST"
The winsome face in the cloud of fair
hair was full of eager interest. Just
for brief space he hesitated. Then
he spoke, gravely:
"You care a good deal for books;
! then?" he ventured.
More than for anything else! Next
to the joy of being able to express
yourself to your own satisfaction is
the delight of having another do it for
you. IL knew you at once from your
pictures. Although" she FASTENED to
add, "all I saw were-atrocious!"
A quizzical smile came around. his
mouth.
"Ah," he hazarded, grimly, perhaps
that is why you knew mel" Then he
abruptly changed the conversation.
"Dont' you care for sports-golf, foot
ball, and all that?"
"Golf-yes. But that dreadful foot
ball"
Young Darcie laughed-a boys
hilarious laugh.
"Let us talk about books-about
something really interesting!" she
broke in, imploringly. The pretty
fluctuant color was coming and going
in her soft cheeks. "Tell me how you
got the plot for your novel. Did it all
come in a flash? Or did it-approxi'
mate itself-as the artists say?"
He shifted the sunshade SO abruptly
her hair was blown across her eyes.
A tendril of it touched his tanned
cheek.
"If," solemnly, 81 tell you, you'll
, never give me away"
"Never!" leaning forward with pink
lips parted. "Never!"
"Then-I don't know"
"You-don't-know?"
ST really don't. It's something like
love at first sight. A thing no fellow
can account for-or-or describe, you
| know"
"Then." with conviction, cts an in
spiration! I'm proud to know real
live novelist. Alec was dear old thing
to introduce you"
"Wasn't he, thought" Darcie toyed
with the rescued flowers the "dear old
thing" had sent. And, incidentally, he
made the afternoon vanish for Chrys-
tai Calvert as never time had flown
before. Then the vague, dun line OF
the Michigan coast doomed an indefi-
mite, irregular outline before them.
And as the purple dusk closed down
they found themselves gliding from
the open lake into the river slip be-
tween the long, low lying wooden
docks.
The landing was black with a wav-
ing. shouting, gesticulating crowd, be-
yond which were lined up the convey
ances of the resorts. Mrs. De Puyster,
| nushing forward with her footman in
her wake, welcomed her niece warmly,
and at the same instant cried out in
pleased amazement at sight OF her
companion.
"Why, David Darcie! You here?
And with Chrystal?"
David Darcie? The girl flung up her
head. The brother, then! The great
center rush-the explorer-the IA
nous athlete--not-not Edgar, the
novelist! .4.-r
"Forgive me-" he pleaded. 81 meant
to explain. hadn't the courage-this
afternoon"
Alec, coming down to South Haven
two weeks later, voiced his indigna-
ton at sight Of che circlet blazing on
Crystals little left hand.
"Dave Darcie's a blooming sports
He amt any more artistic-or-or lit
erary-than-than mel! Talk about
feminine logic, win you? Here's
cracking instance!"
"He suits me, Alec, dear" Chrys-
tails nod and smile were sweet and
mysterious. HE suits me even better
than you-though you were darling
to introduce us. Or even than that