Smyrna times., 1904-10-26

too old, after all to ask her to be still
more than her fathers friend"
At thu end of two weeks, however,
he acknowledged to himself his mis-
take. The party had secured a new
guide, handsome young Canadian
Frenchman with soft voice and lus-
trous eyes. lie knew every inch of
ground and every trick of deer hunt
ing.
Lyle, romantic, willful and head
strong, took snapshots of him in ev-
cry conceivable pose. She demanded |
his services on all occasions and chat |
ted with him in French, Il language |
not understood by John Browning. |
who was deeply concerned at the |
young girls fancy.
lie reasoned with her father one
night that the weather was getting al
together too severe for Lyle up there
and it would be prudent for her to re-
| turn with the Crosbys the next day
Vaughn acquiesced. He usually did
acquiesce i'll any suggestion from
Browning.
! When her father announced to Lyle
| the next morning that she was to go
home that day, to BrOwning's surprise.
she did not raise any objections. He
thought, though, that she seemed very
serious when he bade her adieu.
The life and light went out Of the
party for him after her departure, and
he was glad when the season ended.
En- route for lower Michigan, he re
ceived dispatch calling him farther
west on business, which detained him
until April. He arrived in New York
to learn that Lyle was in college In
the latter part of the month war with
Spain was declared, and as an officer
in the national guard he was mustered
into the United States service and went
to Cuba. Peace declared, he again re-
turned to New York. This time Lyle
and her parents were abroad. He fol
lowed, just missing them at every
place in their erratic tour.
Then had come the war in Africa
and the 'siren song of the bullet
lured him to the cause of the Beers
Now he was again in New York and
was to see in the morning his little
; /
into a charming woman.
She teased him when he came into
the library The next morning: "Stil
jealous of PlymptOn. John? You were
such a stupid. Those cabin partitions
were regular sounding boards. hearC
; your counsel to papa about my return
: OF course the severe weather wa
not the reason you ordered remOva
from station You really thought
4 was in love with that handsome hal
; breedw
"And weren't you"
4 John
:. "But you talked of him, to him an
with him necessarily. You must hav
o had 127 photographs of him."
"That was partly because it plague
"a you"
. Partly! What was the other re;
II SOM"
maybe I'll tell you some time"
= "When?'
"After another lapse of seven years
> "Still," he persisted, you looked sa
. when you left for home"
THAT was for the same reason"
"As what:"
"As the one l am to give you seve
- years hence"
- 81 am not going to wait seven yea
to tell you what l have known sin'
,, you were a little schoolgirl, and yO
-, with your powers of divining, Lyl
g you surely must know that toOp'
= NO" she half whispered, Il dor
y know"
"You don't know, Lyle, that l ha'
=, always loved you! l should never ha
= had the hope and courage to tell you
- he said presently, IF l had not Sc
20 you with the inane Herbert la
" night"
She laughed a soft, happy lit
laugh.
- 10 81 believe l won't wait seven yea
- to tell you"
y "NO; tell me now"
lIS 81 have loved you ever since y
nc gave me my first doll"