The San Francisco call., 1905-06-18
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who sent you the clipping"
'Plympton. He still hunts in Michi-
gan every November"
How it carried me back," she sighed
Those lovely days in the openl"
1t was very late when John Browning
reached his hotel, but he did not go to
bed until he had lighted a cigar and
lived over again the deer-hunting sea-
son of seven years ago, which a party
of Eastern people. including Vaughn.
Lyle and himself, had spent in North
ern Michigan.
Those were halcyon days when he and
Lyle had tramped over fields lightly
brushed with snow, through thickets
and in the brown forest in pursuit Of
deer At night they would return tired,
happy and hungry to the big cabin.
ready to start out again in the morn
ing. Lyle had ever been a gay little
comrade with him, but up there in the
great northland of ice and snow he be-
gan to hope that he might not be too
old, after all, to ask her to be still more
than her fathers friend"
At the end of two weeks. however, he
acknowledged to himself his mistake.
The party had secured a new guide.
handsome young Canadian Frenchman.
with soft voice and lustrous eyes. He
knew every inch of ground and every
trick of deer-hunting-
Lyle, romantic. willful and head
strong, took snapshots of him in every
conceivable pose. She demanded his
services on all occasions and chatted
with him in French, a language not
understood by John Browning, who
was deeply concerned at the young
girls fancy.
He 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 in any suggestion from
Browning.
When her father announced to Lyle
the next morning that she was 10 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 70 Lower Michigan he re-
ceived a 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 friend of the long
ago who had grown into charming
woman.
She teased him when he came into
the library the next morning: "Still
jealous of Plympton. John? You were
such stupid! Those cabin partitions
were regular sounding boards. I heard
you counsel to papa about my return
OF course the severe weather was not
the reason you ordered removal from
station You really thought was in
9love with that handsome half-breed."
, And weren't you?"
"Johni"
But you talked of him, to him and
with him incessantly. You must have
had 127 photographs of him.
THAT was partly because it plagued
syou.'
Partly? What was the other rea-
SOM
Maybe I'll tell you some time?''
"When?'
After another lapse of seven years"
STILL" he persisted. you looked sad
when you left for home"
That was for the same reason"
''As what?'
AS the one I am to give you seven
years hence"
Il am not going to wait seven years
to tell you what I have know since
ycu were little schoolgirl. and you
with your power of divining. Lyle. you
surely must know that. toal'
NO" she half whispered. ST don't
know"
You don't know, Lyie-that I have
always loved you! I should never have
had the hope and courage to tell you?'
he said presently, .if had not seen
you with the inane Herbert last night"
She laughed soft, happy little laugh.
Il believe I won't wait seven years
to tell you"
'.No: tell me now
81 have loved you ever since YOU
gave me my first doll.''