Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-02-06
Loves Tangled Paths.

Just before he reached the ragged,
4 white-washed fence that ran around
/ the apple orchard, Danyers paused
aud drew from his pocket small,
| oyalframed picture. For a second he
smiled regretfuliy at the dainty, bruno
face that laughed up into his eyes.
Then with sudden petulance he thrust
the miniature into his breast and
strobe rapidly toward the small re-
yolying gate, through that and on
among the low-boughed autumn ap-
pies.
A seyen-days' voyage, composed
/ chiefly Of mal-de-mer and rain-sloD-
ped deck, had not served to stimulate
| the Tagging spirits that had CON-
menced their downward course on the
day before he left Heidelberg. And
| the trip from New York to Chicago
brought no recompense; nothing, in
fact, beyond cinder-grimed aid ex-
ceedingly anxious countspAnce.
As he neared the familiar hedge of
wild rose, behind (which reposed an
old-fashioned, Tine-laced hotel, his
heart sank within him. Three years
| ago her had told Dolly Pemberton
goodSy On its great slanting porch and
| gene forth to win fame and wealth
that be might lay them at the feet Of
his ladyloye.
How different this to the pictured
| Homecoming.
Then no piquant face with bobbing
| curls rose to dim the brightness Of his
4 sweetheart's eyes; now no :brobbing
1 pulses hurried him on with outstretch-
ed arms as OF old.
| poor little Dolly" he unused pity
! ingIy. TT is but the remnant of a
J eeart that bring back to you, but"
he chicken down a rebellious knot In
| his throat-"and the girl who has
given me her trust and-and love,
| must never know what IA cad have
| been?" He stole a final look at the
pictured face over his heart and Set
i MS lips to the inevitable.
Where the path branched, he stop,
ped for moment under a widespread
ing russell and pulling off his hat
VI lSItSA Bdlh Liz LINN ilJp Vi U&O"I
hair that chung to his forehead.
On the grass at his feet few over
ripe apples cleaned gold in the dapple
sunlight.
Danyers stopped and picked up
one. biting into it refectiyely with
his strong white teeth.
Charley"
He started and glanced about him;
then up at the fruit.weighted limbs.
Dolly" he exclaimed and dropped
mis- apple.
"a quite unexpected pleasure" said
she, smiling at him through the red
dening leaves. wont you come ep?"
81 meant to surprise you" returned
he, swinging himself to an opposite
branch. land I'm glad you call it
pleasure. 1t is my first vacation in
good many moons"
When did you arriye?" asked Dol
ly, land who drove you out?"
II reached Chicago last night and
/ walked out this morning"
walked eight miles?'
"Of course--it was worth while,
don't you think SOPHIE replied sig
nificantly.
You were very silly"-was her
comment. Besides. how did you
know" She broke off a trife en-
barrassed and toyed with the end of
her tie.
THAT you were here? Oh, found
that out, be sure. However,"
"Well?"
"You haven't forgotten"
WHAT"
"That every summer-untfl ! came
YOU would be"
"Of course" she broke In hurriedly.
u am always here, nearly"
Danyers stared at her curiously. Did
she care very much, then?
Had known that" he said slowly,
II should have come last night"
I'm very glad you didn't" said
Dolly, III you mean that you would
have walked"
Love laughs at--vehicles." lie put
In quickly, hating himself.
20, love!" she laughed q little odd
ly and looked off. Then, after a
moment, Il thought It was lock.
smiths" She spoke absently, her face
still averted.
AT anything that stands in Its
way" Danvers pursued with deep
ening eyes. Something subtle and
Aforementioned stirred In his heart,
and he felt queer flush rise 10 his
temples. True he was but acting
part, but the part was all at once
strangely real to him. -@
I'm all those years." said he, you
did not write"
She regarded him intcntly for mo.
ment through contracted lashes.
Danvers eyes fell under her scru.
tiny. you did not write" he re.
peated, moodily.
NO" she said, NOR YOU"
Nor l."
STILL" she continued, that was
agreed upon"
Yes" he admitted with slow
smile, but ! neutrality-suspicious."
Yes" she mimicked, "and
thought -perilaps--too maybe"
"Oh, we'll" said he. with a funny
little laugh. Absence makes tho
heart grow fonder-so I've heard"
He looked ct her searchingly.