Middletown transcript., 1905-08-26

kltcman tHOuSilo, iCCihSo ~
might be, than an Igorrote has OF pros
and cons of imperialism, but it was per-
fectly plain to him that it would not dc
at all for him, as kiteman, to ask
whether Elizabeth and Latshaw were en-.
gagged to be married. He was supposed
not to know that there was a love-affair
within miles Of the Finn estate. Until he
should know the truth about Latshaw,
his standing with Elizabeth rested upon
his pretending that he never thought OF
anything but whether 'The Gull, woula
lead to valuable scientific discovery.
II the kite was 'The Gull" he enjoyed
much secret amusement over the thought
OF how his pretense was making the
Firms ssThe Gullible. And Elizabeth
was the chief Of them. Christopher al
ways mapped for an hour or two III the
afternoon, and Whitney spent most OF
this time with her in the grounds. lie
immensely enjoyed the comedy he was
playing with her, and could not help
wondering much how it was to come out.
What would this girl who despised pre-
lenses saw and do when lie should throw
off his mask and stand for what he really
was? How would she feel when she re-
called her efforts to confuse and bewllder
the unsophisticated young kiteman by
asking him nonsensical and paxodical
questions on topics that he was supposed
to be unfamiliar with and when he should
tell her Of the sport he had in aping the
the confusion and bewilderment she had
desired The game became SO keen III
its endowment that he was in constant Tear
that the zest would be taken out OF 1t by
the discovery that Latshaw's relation TO
Elizabeth was just what he hoped 1t was
not. Yet until Latshaw himself should
return and break up the comedy, as he
certainly would, there seemed little
chance of making this discovery, Tor
Dorothy and Christopher never men
toned him, did not seem to miss HIM Tor
moment, and Elizabeth bore his absence
with smiling and free-hearted serenity
that amply justified Whitney in hoping
for the best and taking every advantage
Of Latshaw's absence that he could.
But one afternoon, while Christopher
slept, she was trying to confuse him, as
usual, as they sat together on rustic
settee. when she broke into her own
amusement by asking, with much gray
ity:
eDid it ever cross your mind, Mr.. Star
lamb, that while you are paying 50 much
attention to kites, you might be missing
some Of the opportunities that most young
men like to take advantage OFF,
"Why-why, II presume that de-
ponds upon what one considers an-an
opportunity" he answered, with the
stamlner that lie thought was the best
thing be did as a kiteman. "But-but
why do you inquire n
"Pll endeayor to make it clear to you.
have already told you how glad | was
that you came for fathers sake, but now
see that it would be most fortunate II
your devotion to his kite should cause yon
to overlook what any young man, It
seems to me, would think was delight
full opportunity.
"Why-why, what can that be? ne
asked, when she paused.
HMy cousin Dorothy. OF course, !
know that you are SO interested in The
GULL now that is almost ready for the
first trial, that you will scarcely under
stand me and | am perfectly aware, too
that it is not customary for young man
as | am speaking to you. 1t is necessary,
though that some one should overstep the
limits and try to make you see what
possibility there is for you. Have You
ever noticed what perfectly beautiful
girl Dorothy is?"
"Why, now-now that you speak oft,
Miss Finn, ! believe some such idea did
come to me one morning while we were
working together in the kite-shop."
"Well, that is encouraging 50 far as it
goes. What you ought to do is to study
her and let the kite 60. Have you ever
let your mind get far away from white
muslins and pine sticks and Irvine and
glue long enough to think how ideal
match between you and Dorothy would
be 2"
mo" Whitney answered, with perfect
truth, 81 have not.
s'Then it is time you should, for | am
certain that her mind is not SO fixed upon
kites that she does not think of other
things. Here she comes and shall ask
you to excuse me. While you talk to her,
do try to pull in the kite for awhile and
watch her and think Of her as an ordi-
nary young man should think of girl as
lovely as she is. Try it as all experiment,
at least
She hurried away, leaving Whitney in
genuine bewilderment. The discovery he
had been trying to make had come. Ii
Elizabeth had her heart set on a match
between him and Dorothy, she had no
thought Of such relation for herself, and
was evidently eager to make Dorothy as
happy as she was with Latshaw.
When Dorothy came to the rustic
settee, it was quite plain to Whitney that
she wished to say something Of unusual
Importance to him. He did look at
her then as young man who is not al
ways flying kites does look at very
lovely young woman, but as he had just
been looking at her cousin with far more
admiration, he found it impossible TO
mako the experiment that Elizabeth had
advised.
''Mr. Starlamb," Dorothy said, very
grayely, do you think you could take
your mind off The GulI' for few min
utes and think of matter in ordinary
life p
"Why, yes" he answered H" think ]
could, if should try"
"Well, them" Dorothy proceeded