The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-09-06

couple OF weeks now Just az well az
not. There is good golf links. boat.
ing. and l have three pretty daugb.
tiers. and"
certainly can't refuse such al
Turing Inducements" laughed Thorn
TON, and l trust, Mr. Darnley, 1
won't be trespassing too much ON
your hospitality and the good ma
ture OF your household by accepting
an impromptu invitation
She household is an unconventional
one. and delights In opening doors
wide when friend knocks" replied
the elder man, taking down the tel
ephone.
Hello! This you, Madge? Mr..
thornton is in town-you have often
heard me speak of him l have per-
suaded him to remain over and pay
US visit. Yes. he'll come home with
me tonight After the transaction
OF some business which had brought
Roger Thornton, the son OF an old col
iege friend OF Mr.. Darnley's. to the
city. they took a suburban train to
the iatters country home.
The house looks rather forbid
ding, observed Mr.. Darnley. as they
came up the graveled road, but the
| girls detest lights In summer. l pre-
sumo they are back in the gardnn.
SIT down here on the porch anl ]
Will gather them up"
Roger seated himself comfortably
at the end of the vine-clad yeranda.
while his host went around the
house. 1t was still summer night
the SKY motionless and starless. AS
ne sat there musing over the pleas
ant anticipation of meeting three so
beautiful girls as were portrayed in
the photograph their fond parent had
| displayed to him, he heard a light
football behind him. Then two soft
arms encircled his neck, a velvety
cheek was laid against his own. and
beautiful voice murmured tenderly:
What made you SO late, dear?"
| Roger sat like man dazed,
stunned by the touch of lips and
cheek. After a throbbing silence he
half whispered:
Il beg your pardon!"
There was Mortified exclamation,
swift withdrawal of arms, and the
sound of vanishing skirts.
In distant part of the house he
heard echoes Of mirthful laughter.
Presently Darnley came out of the
| house.
After prowling all over the
grounds, found the girls In the din
ing-room preparing a chatting dish
| luncheon for US. Come in and meet
| them"
Through the long, dimly-lighted
rooms Roger followed his host, his
pulses tingling at the anticipation of
meeting her In the dining-room he
was presented to the three girls. In
vain he looked into the roguish faces
seeking some telltale token that
would denote the one who had greet
ed him SO affectionatey. But not q
sign Of confusion or enlightenment
did he receive.
Il must tell you a good joke, Thorn
ton" laughed Darnley. The girls
supposed it was your father was
to bring home with mel"
Indeed! And was also supposed
to be my father when sat out on the
porch just now?" he asked. mean
ingly.
There was trio of laughing voices
and knowing glances.
| No. You were thought to be me-"
explained Darnley. See If you can
guess which one made the embar-
RAISING error"
There is but one way in which /
can decide that matter" replied Rog-
er, gravely.
How" demanded the trio.
Il must close my eyes. and each
one of you can in turn come up be.
hind me and repeat the error! Then,
| / might decide"
This was positively and laughing
ly declined After a merry evening,
Roger retired, unable to decide which
of these beautiful young women he
thought the most charming. The next
! day and evening found him still I'M
| decided, and also in the dark as to
who had bestowed upon him the fleet
| ing embrace.
On the third evening of his visit.
Marie Loveridge. a niece of Mr..
Darnley's, arrived to pay visit She
was a type altogether different from
| her light-hearted, iaughter-loving
| cousins. She had a winsome. wistful
| face. a petite form, low. charming
/ voice, and a sweet. quiet manner,
| Roger found himself always waiting
for her entrance. il she We're not in
| the room. listening to her when 9TH
| ers were talking. and following her
| with his eyes and thoughts when ETH
| quette demanded his attention to
| others. He made ii entirely obvious
that his desire was to be with her ex-
clusively, and the three Darnley girls
good-naturedly made all sorts of little
devices for throwing their cousin into