Smyrna times., 1905-03-29

hOhShoidhliy uuuer Ine tree, ap-
parently not seeing NelPs scaffolding.
Ihen he sat leisurely down upon the
grassland her shoes. He pulled out
his pipe, lit it and puffed serenely.
while the evening deepened into twi- |
light and then into soft and indistin-
guishable gloom.
Meanwhile Helen sat breathless. with
her bare feet pulled up beneath her
short skirt, in imminent danger of fall |
ing if she made the slightest move
ment She thought he had not seen
her and would go away soon.
1t had been too dark to read for
some time, and it seemed ages before
he rose. Helen breathed a sigh Of re-
lief, and then, as he thought better of
it and lay down again, she realized
how very dark it was and that she
was afraid to be left alone. She set
her teeth and resolved to conquer her
terror. Not for worlds would she have
him catch her in her present plight,
especially after her bad treatment of
him that very afternoon. She regret
ted the folly of having told him she
was afraid of the dark and only hoped
he took it for a joke. If he found
her here he would do something to
get even, and, besides, she knew that
in her present softened mood she al
most wanted to stop teasing him and
let him sweep her into the strong,
sweet current of his love- Nervous at
the thought, she dropped her book. On
its way to the grass it knocked Car
rolls hat from his head and his pipe
from his mouth.
'Hellor' he exclaimed as if to him
self and in apparent surprise. "a book
descending like the gentle rain from
heaven! Bertha NJ. Clay too! A girl
who would wear such ridiculous little
shoes"-here he picked up and whim-
sically examined her oxfords-"would
be just the sort of girl who reads
Bertha Clay. Guess I'll take 'em home
and advertise 'em." He put them in
his coat pocket.
"She was kind enough to leave me
her canoe too. Guess I'll CO."
Nell came near screaming after him.
| Her canoe! How. dared he! She could
never walk alone, and in her bare feet,
along that horrible, lonely river road.
With a gasp of terror she saw him
| actually launch the little shell, but
when he leaped in and began to push
off all the terror of the night seemed
to descend bodily upon her. Like a
flash she determined to brave out the
situation.
Henry! Henry Carroll! Bring back
my boat this minute!'
"HellO!' he returned, padding to
shore again. who's there, 1 should like
to know?
''Nell Benton"
"Where are you? Wait till get this
thing ashore" He leaped out. Where
in the world are you. Nell?"
"In the tree" she called carelessly.
"Where did you think was?"
"At home, naturally, after what you
said this afternoon"
81 changed my mind. Hand me my
shoes, please" she said sweetly, tuck
ing her toes farther up under hel
skirt
1 w nat lOi hC 0CAhoh0CNt.
ITO put on, so l can go home"
"I don't see it that way. The shoes
are in my pocket; you saw me put then
there. l saw you climb up there an(
waited to watch you trap yourself
You've had me up tree year now
now I've got you up one. Guess II
keep you there till you promise bette
manners"
"Oh. never mindl l can come dOwl
without shoes. You will please go ava!
now. Only don't take my boat" Sh
made n motion as If to swing hersel
down.
We'll" he commanded, lone move
, ment and I'll kick down this little ia
, cob's ladder of yours and go home
shoes, stockings, boat and all. It's M
/, innings. You have played with me Ion
enough. Nell. do you love me?"
+ II couldn't love any one but a-geI
tleman," she answered sweetly.
"We'll waive that point. Do you Low
meT' He waited, then went on in
stern tone, "I'll give you four minute
! to decide
It is astonishing how many thing
i, can happen out Of doors in four mil
@ utes. The moon came up over the hills
Q a quick breeze stirred everything int
[ motion; the birds walked and twittere'
n Nells blood surged hotly to her cheek
s and the tide of her unacknowledge
4 love swelled to her lips. Still she wf
hardly ready to give up. Henry struc
= a match for another look at his watch
. "Three minutes gonel Nell, 10y
Q you. There is Just another minute.
4 shall never ask you again. Dear"-l
e threw his cap to the ground and reac
II ed his arms up to her-''let me con
70 and take you, sweetheart" The moo
\ silvered his fair face and softened Il
m outlines of the rugged, handsome IA
% upturned to her In heart much ms
happen in a minute. Nell's went out
10 the man below her. She stretched
70 hand down toward him.
20 "Come, then," she whispered. I
AZ heard. He leaped to her inclined plar
I,o,s