, 1905-05-17

NSo' w IN lol EOuLu-
ern ONE l hope we shall be friends"
She put her. slender hand In his de-
murely. II am very sorry" with pre-
tense of contrition, but, you see, I
couldn't help being born in Massachu-
setts.'
"A thousand pardons, Miss Endicott,
l beg. Your name should have warned
me, but you look so like a southern wo-
mani"
Il consider that a compliment" smil-
ing.
You may well. The southern wom-
en- are the most beautiful under the
sun, and l repeat that you look a true
southerner."
The gravity of his manner saved the
remark from the slightest flavor of i'm
pertinence, and the girl smiled bright
ly.
And am l forgiven for being a north
erner and for buying Sunny SlopeY'
He smiled in friendly fashion, but
his tone was very serious as he re-
piled: II am sorry l made 1t hard for
You; but, you see, | really wanted the
place. 1t once belonged TO my father.
1 was born there. Under pressure of
circumstances he sold that, as my
mother preferred 10 keep Peyton's par
adise, where she was born. My mother
was Il Peyton." he added proudly.
TIL girl seemed troubled, and 1t was
several seconds before she spoke.
IL can't help being glad that l suc-
ceeded In buying the place. but l am
sorry you failed. | realize that it must
be very dear to YOU
"You had more money than l or
you couldn't have bought it," he said,
trying to speak lightly. However, I
thank o for your consideratel
thought. Let us be friends anyway,
and perhaps you will let me come oftenI
to my birthplace"
"You shall play 1t Is yours" cordial
ly, "as the children do-they are sol
happy making believe you know. And
will you let M come into your paradisel
Once In awhile? Your roses are finer
than NINE"
"There is a path leading from your,
garden into mine. Come, let me show
1t to you. There, this little gate att
my end of the path shall be securely
fastened back, So" fastening it asl
he spoke. And now, whenever you
choose" with a sudden, strange tender
ness In his tone, you shall enter intoI
paradise"
Three months later Adam stood att
the gate Of paradise bitterly despond-
ent and unavailingly regretful.
There had been a sudden growth of
friendship during the long, bright sum-
mer and a leap into love. Then hadl
come the tempter in the guise of Il richl
and suavely spoken senator from thel
north, and Adams heart had been soreI
beset with jealous rage. Hot with
southern anger, he had accused the girl
of trifing with him. of making him theI
sport of her summer pastime when she|
had no heart to give him.
She had stood, straight and tall and
white, looking In her clinging whiteI
gown like his ~boyhood's idea of al
ghost.
Then she spoke, and her voice wasI
cold and touched Adams heated im-l
agination like sharpened icicles.
II should certainly never give anyi
man something for which he had notI
asked" And, turning, she had disap-l
peared down the path leading away
from paradise.
Man-like, it was hours before ADAM
realized the true meaning of her
words. Then he had FASTENED to Sum
ny Slope.
"Miss Eve done gone the old MANI
my had said. Her N Massa Pratt
done gone together. No, Miss Eve neb-
Der said as when she'd come back"
He had wandered through the beau-I
tiful grounds of paradise, visiting the
Rosary" where he had fostered and
trained the most glorious beauties that
Eve might have her choice each day of
the glad, sweet summer, realizing with
q sharp pang that the whole place.
seemed to share In the loneliness that
possessed his heart. Without Eve par
adise itself were desolation.
Now in the soft twilight he stood att
the garden gate looking toward the
dim old mansion half hidden in thei
pines at Sunny Slope.
He caught a glimpse of a light in herr
window. Nanny was likely puttingI
the room to rights.
"Oh, Eve" he cried, stretching OUT
his arms toward the family gleamingI
light. eve, darling, how could l be-
so blind and so unjust when l love you
SOL love you sol"
A quick, light step sounded on the
garden path, and a slender, white clad
figure rushed wildly toward him.
adam oh Adamfo she nanted "I