The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-07-11

headlong action The girl saw what was
coming but didn't care. There was no
danger Of climax before Vessel or Ar
lington arrived Three o clock was about
to strike, and they never were late. So she
leaned back easily in her big wicker chair
by the window and let the conversation
take the lead that Oliver gave it.
Five minutes passed. Bene had drawn
closer, and something that vaguely thrilled
the senses had crept into the atmosphere.
Edith uneasiness was shown by frequent
glanees out the window. What could be
delaying them If they would only comel
''It is rare privilege to sit here and
talk with you alone, Bene was saying in
tone unnecessarily hushed, seeing that
nobody else was in the room. ga crowd
is jolly, but people can never get to know
each other really well without a few
chances like this. -
Bene had never talked so well-nor
looked so well-for his earnestness trans
figured his face Miss La Dow found
herself admitting the truth of his words.
Nevertheless she wished that Vessel and
Arlington would appear. Not having an
ticipated the necessity of defense she was
quite unprepared, and Bene was taking
masterful advantage of her plight
Il leave this evening, he continued,
for what l expect to be mighty uncom-
Portable week in town. The past two
months have weakened my powers of en-
durance sadly. But then great deal de-
Pends upon you. OF course you under
stand that you can send me away with a
promise that will make any place endura-
bic. Edith-"
why, there they are now" cried
Miss La Dow, suddenly II wonder what
kept them.
For the fraction of a second Bene's
heart stopped beating. Then he remem-
bered, and gazed out the window with
confident smile His two rivals were ap-
preaching the gate from opposite direc-
tions.
They insisted upon calling this after
noon, said Edith, half apologetically,
so had to let them. You three make
things so lively love to have you here
together.
"Oh, | don believe they are coming
here, - declared Bene. Vessels been
hunting for Ed since luncheon-wants his
opinion of colt that Hendrys is trying to
sell him.
Yes, indeed, they're coming" re-
Piled Edith, There, you seer'
Meeting at the head of the path, Wes-
sci and Arlington nodded and turned in to-
ward the house side by side. Miss La
Dow was sure divers face must be
thunder cloud, and to avoid embarrassing
him looked the other way. Bene was
thankful she did, but not for the reason
she believed Instead of gloom his youth
full countenance betrayed delightful expec-
tation.
The rivals were within ten yards of the
door when suddenly they halted and fixed
their eyes on something before them
something fearsome it must have been,
for they paled and shrank from it. Then
Vessel said something to Arlington and
they wheeled and retreated, and after one
anxious backward glance, FASTENED down
the street.
The girl turned toward Bene face
where astonishment, amusement, resent
ment, and relief all strove for supremacy.
Dear me- said she, ''How abrupt!
One would have thought they saw the
eoachman on the veranda pointing gun
at them.
Perhaps they remembered another en-
gagement,' suggested Bene Funny;
wasn't it ?"
Il can't understand it at all, - said
Edith; and her eyes began to flash
II m not trying to, he responded
''Do you suppose sinner who blundered
into Heaven would bother his head about
how he got there
Why, I've been seeking chance like
this all summer; but those fellows have
always been in the way. 1t was madden
ing!- Let me see-where was it | left
off?'
well, I'm glad they stayed away,
declared Edith; although it was trying
to my pride We were having such
nice, cozy talk. l believe you were say
ing
If the two young people in the La
Dow library had not been so absorbed in
their own affairs during the next half hour
they might have observed how frantically
the telephone strove to attract attention.
The helplessness of its poor manned tongue
whirring against the empty air was pitiful.
At two instruments in another part of the
village Maurice Vessel and Edward Ar
hngton were expressing very severe opin-
ions Of the service, while frantic operators
worked IN vain to get the party they called
for.
1t was after five when Bene Oliver start
ed for the door, and nearly six when he
ceased to claim the rewards he had so mar
rowly won and closed it behind him. He
was descending the steps when flash of
yellow caught his eye and he paused.
"Well, if that it isn't frst-class ex-
ample Of the way man forgets the hum
bic agents that bring him success, he re-
marked, "There' be a jolly row if I'd
gone away and left you here. .
Then with a GLANCE hah;n5 hin, 90 ,,,ol.o