Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-01

been stupid, no doubt!
And then he fell to wondering what
on earth he should do, should this
strange, elf-like, woman-child ever be left
upon his hands Brian began to think
he bargained for.
II am going to get down now, please"
pray allow me to assist your" said
Brian In his best society manner.
The nearest approach to a laugh that
Kitten ever INDUCED in futtered softly
from her rosy lips. In less time than it
takes to describe she had swung herself
lightly on to the dewy grass, and stood
looking up at him with grave blue eyes
in which there lurked now a suspicion of
demure roguery.
''Can assist your" she said, gravely.
Brian laughed. What an elf you are.
1 fear my descent will neither be so
swift nor so graceful as yours, Miss Lay
bourne" nevertheless he accomplished it,
although in laundering fashion.
They wandered along the garden paths
together. The dew brushed against their
garments, the flower dust from the gold
en- hearts of the marigolds, and the mas
turtiums was shaken by their passing
footsteps. The Pickering sunlight came
shaft-like down through the over-arching
boughs above their heads.
The professor standing between the
muslin draperies of the open breakfast
room window, watched them as they
came slowly along. Desmond's tall head
stopped toward his companion, his hand
some red bronze face burnt by the sun
of foreign lands, was bent with friendly
kindness toward the upturned flower
like face by his side; his eyes that were
somewhat grave with the shadow of a
past grief, and somewhat tender, too,
with the reflex of kindly nature, were
fixed with a pleased admiration upon the
girls youth and beauty.
Kitten tripped lightly by his side, shy
ness was not in her; she chartered freely
about the cows, and the dogs, and her
pet starting in his cage, saying anything
that came into her head; sometimes with
the playful foolishness of a child, some
times with that gleam of world-wise
shrewdness which crossed her more friv-
olous moods with strange unexpected
suddenness.
they came nearer. His child was fair
and sweet and lovely. Brian was still
young, he was good fellow, brave
man and a gentleman. Through the old
mans mind there darted sudden
thought.
"Why not? And then he added to
himself, THAT would be better for her."
and a smile softened his eyes as the
thought grew and grew upon him more
and more.
Are you coming in to breakfast, Miss
Laybourne" inquired Desmond, as they
drew near the house.
Breakfast! l have breakfasted al
readyw
ION what, Queen of the Fairies?"
Dewdrops, l imagine"
mo, upon cherries and milk; 1t was
my breakfast hour you broke in upon
when you interrupted me just now. You
startled me so that l had not time to
finish"
II am very sorry, but you see l have
no acquaintance with the habits of tree
elves; no doubt you dislike me extreme
ly for my blunder."
mo. l don't dislike you," she answer
ed musngly; Sin fact, l like you; yes,
l think l like you better than l do
Roy Grantley."
"And who, pray, is Roy Grantley?"
"Well, he's boy. l have known
him for years."
"And yet you like me as well? Is not
that rather ungrateful, Miss Kitten, to
this old friend of yours? He would be
angry if he heard you"
"No," she answered simply, "because
he does not mind gratitude-boys don't
when they are infatuated"
."And is Mr.. Roy infatuated then?"
asked Brian looking intensely amused.
"Frightfully; he worships me, you
know. 1t is tiresome."
"And how are you prepared to regard
me, as a worshiper or as an object fit
for Worship"
He looked at her playfully, the grave
blue eyes met his, then dropped swiftly
"a slow flush mounted to her brow.
Something In the electric glance of his
eyes caused her to tremble before him
with a sweet shyness that was something
new to her. And Brian Desmond saw
that he had awakened the woman In
the child's heart.
All that day he wandered with her
about the woods and the fields, with
stated intervals, of course of serious
conversation with her father. He picked
wild flowers for her, dog-roses and
honeysuckles from the hedges, long trails
of briony to wind round her hat. or
meadowsweet and waving rushes from
the tangled fringe Of the stream that ran
lazily through the meadows below the
house.
Kitten soon recovered herself. and
chartered freely to him of her simple life
and its pleasures. Now and then she
stole a side glance up at him, and said
to herself: "He is far better than Roy,
though he is so DID,"
And Roy was away; he was paying A
visit to his uncle. There was no sun
burnt, shock-headed boy to come clam
bering over the fence to disturb her
tete-a-tetes with her new friend.