The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-10-20
Loves Tangled Paths.

Just before he reached the ragged,
white-washed fence that ran around
the apple orchard, Danvers paused
aud drew from his pocket a small,
oval-framed picture. For a second he
smiled regretfully at the dainty, bruno
face that laughed up into his eyes.
Then with sudden petulance he thrust
the miniature into his breast and
strobe rapidly toward the small re-
volving gate, through that and on
among the low-boughed autumn ap-
Tples.
A se~ven-days' voyage, composed
chiefly of mal-de-mer and a rain-slop-
ped deck, had not served to stimulate
the tagging spirits that had COM
menced their downward course on the
day before he left Heidelberg. And
the trip from New York to Chicago
brought no recompense; nothing, in
fact, beyond a cinder-grimed and ex-
ceedingly anxious c~ountenance.
AS he neared the familiar hedge Of
wild rose, behind which reposed an
old-fashioned, vine-laced hotel, : his
heart sank within him. Three years
ago he had told Dolly Pemberton
goodby on it's great slanting porch and
gone forth to win fame and wealth
that he might lay them at the feet Of
his ladylove.
How different this to the pictured
Homecoming.
Then no piquant face with bobbing
curls rose to dim the brightness of his
sweetheart's eyes; now no throbbing
pulses hurried him on with outstretch-
ed arms as Of old.
Poor little Dolly" he unused pity
ingly. ut is but the remnan of a
heart that I bring back to you, but"
he chicken down a rebellious knot in
his throat-'and the girl who has
given me her trust and-and love,
must never know what "a cad l have
been?" He stole a final look at the
pictured face over his heart and set
his lips to the inevitable.
Where the path b%ranched, he stop
ped for a moment under a widespread
ing russell and pulling OF his hat
brushed back the thick mop Of brown
hair that chung to his forehead.
On the grass at his feet a few over
ripe apples cleaned gold in the dapple
sunlight.
Danvers stopped and picked up
one, biting into it relectively with
his strong white teeth.
Charley"
He started and glanced about him:
then up at the fruit-weighted limbs.
"Dolly!" he exclaimed and dropped
his apple.
"A quite unexpected pleasure said
she, smiling at him through the red
dening leaves. won't you come up?"
II meant to surprise you," returned
he, swinging himself to an opposite
branch. "and I'm glad you call it a
pleasure. It is my first vacation in a
good many moons"
When did you arrive?' asked Dol
~, land who drove you out?"
II reached Chicago last night and
/ walked out this morning"
walked eight miles?"
"Of course-it was worth while.
don't you think so?"-he replied sig
niicantly.
"You were very silly"-was her
comment. Besides, how did you
know" She broke on q trifle EN-.
barrassed and toyed with the end OF
her tie.
.That you were here! oh. l found
that out, be sure. However,"
"Well?"
"You haven't forgotten"
"What?"
THAT every summer-until I came
You would be-"
"Of course" she broke in hurriedly,
II am always here, nearly"
Danvers stared 1t her curiously. Did
she care very much, then?
HAD / known that" he said slowly.
RI should have come last night"
"I'm very glad you didn't" said
Dolly, IL you mean that you would
have walked"
Love laughs at-vehicles." He put
in quickly. hating himself.