Smyrna times., 1905-03-15

- a
strange to him, he knew how she had
grown up there, the light of her fathers
eyes, the stay and comfort of an in
valid mother. They had no business to
Keep her there. 1t was that which had
made her so silent, so pale and ungirl-
lsh instead of beauty as glorious as
delicate.
She was, after all, the wife for him,
yet they had given her no chance. He
had been likewise defrauded. How was
he to know that aught so nunlike could
soften and brighten like a gray sky at
dawn? Until train time he asked him
self these things and many more over
and over. He meant to have them
answered in partebefore he got back to
the city. There fate balked him. At
the very last minute Mildred decided to
stay another day. Dicky howled de-
light and triumph when he heard it
and instantly carried her off from
everybody. Karsens made his adieus
with what grace he might and went
home more than ever dazed.
He did not sleep that night. Next
day betimes he sped him back to Hid
away. He found the house deserted.
Mrs. Barton was out driving, said the
butler. Miss Gore? He was not sure.
She might be in the grounds. She was
not in her own room or anywhere
about the house.
Wherever she might be, Master Dicky
was with her. Karsens waited to hear
nothing more. He plunged into the
shrubbery, took a short cut that led
to the pine grove and came out at the
edge of it breathless, yet content, for
he heard voices through the murmur-
ing stiffness of it-Dicky's shrIll and
gleeful, Mildred's touched with plead
ing, yet wholly good humored. Kar-
sens crept nOiselessly toward the pair.
stopped in the ambush of a big pine
six feet away and listened shamelessly
to what was said, having much ado
the while to keep himself from laugh
ing.
Mrs. Barton dotted on antiques. She
had astOunded the countryside by pay
ing fabulOusly for all manner of truck,
ancient and weather beaten. Thus it
happened she had bought from the
town authorities the old stocks rum
mayed out wheE the town hall was re-
built and had set them up in the pines.
arranging them so strollers might sit
on them and hear the tale of them.
Adventures even put their feet in the
allotted spaces of timbers still stanch
Thus Dicky had learned the trick. He
had played it this morning himself
then persuaded Mildred to do the same
When her feet were nicely settled he
slapped down the upper half, fastened
it tight and said: NOW you are my
prisoner. will not let you out until''-
Until what, Dicky, dear?' Mildred
had asked, laughing heartily. She was
asking it still when Karsens came in
sight. Dicky seemed pondering deep
ly. IT'S not fair to ask two things fol
one" he said at last, land l want tt
ask two. l don't know just yet which
1 want worse"
"Oh, well, then I'll go to sleep anC
let you find out" Mildred said, pre-
tending to sigh deeply, although Kar
sens was sure her eyes were dancing
Dicky went very near her. "You bette
not" he said, "'cause if you do
mightn't have to ask but one"
Indeed! Tell me what they are
Maybe | can decide which of them yol
ought to care most about" Mildre,
said cOaxingly. Dicky shook his head
Il know all by myself now," he said
"'cause if l said you must stay her
always you couldn't. We're only her
for summer time. So you've got t
show me-the man in the lOcket. /
you don't I'll keep you here till man
ma comes to find us. Then she wi
! punish me, and you'll be mighty sorry.
$50 sorry l cannot possibly let
happen" Mildred said, with a bubblin
! laugh. Karsens heard the faint clio
Of a spring, then Dicky's sOrrowfU
shout: why. it's nobody in the worl
but that silly Bert Karsens! What d
you want with him, Milly? l know II
, ever so much better looking!'
: "Not doubt of it," Karsens salt
rushing forward and kneeling besid
Dicky's prisoner. The telltale locke
, lay open face down in her lap, wher
it had fallen from her nerveless finger
AS he closed it after one glance he sal
t, in Mildred's ear, Darling, if you keI
that thing maybe l can persuade yo
after long, long time to take the orii
inal"
: "Not unless your mother says S
: She sent me the picture" Mildre
whispered. Dicky had scampered OF
As Karsens set her free he drew hC
: hand over his arm, saying with a shal
of the head: You're much too DANCE
:, GUS to be left at large. l shall keC
= Won prisoner. all the rest of your life