Smyrna times., 1906-05-09

He pulled his cap over his eyes and
rushed down side street to escape
Bradford, whose cheerful whistle
seemed to be just behind him. He did
not want to be pestered to play cards
or golf or be pulled to the country club
dance. He wanted SOLITUDE and his
pipe and Il chance to wonder why on
earth Elizabeth Treynor should sudden
ly refuse to have anything to do with
him after she had golfed and picnick-
ed and sang with him all summer and
after she had succeeded in getting him
thoroughly in love with her.
He felt i'll treated. He did not fall in
love easily and in general he did not
care for western girls, being Con-
necticut man, Yale trained and Europe
finished. before settling to practice
medicine in the midwest. Elizabeth
was different, and as he reflected on
the difference between her and all
other girls in the world he heard Brad
ford whistling at the Treynor side gate
for Jack and then asking if Kingdom
were there.
Kingdom slipped over the fence in the
twilight and clambered up the first
conveniently low branched tree Pant
ing but triumphant he heard Brad
fOrd's account of how he had chased
Kingdom and lost him somewhere, and
that he wanted him to take Nell Som
ers to the dance they had just got up
on the spur of the moment And where
was Jacks sister? Bradford wanted
! to ask her to go with him.
Startled by the sound curiously like
suppressed snicker Kingdon decided
to climb higher He reached up for a
branch above him and seized a small,
warm slipper that gave his hand a lit
| tie kick.
keep still, can't you, and let go my
fOot?' a whisper admonished him. He
looked up and saw Elizabeth sitting
high and dry on a horizontal branch,
swinging her feet and peering toward
the house. "S-sh!' she warned again,
for her brother Jack and Bradford
came into the garden.
'Elizabethr' Jack called. Then:
"ConfOund girls anyhow! She was here
five minutes ago, and her wraps are in
|
strength of Elizabeths chuckle Dr.
John Kingdom climbed up and sat be-
side her. Her gray suit made her al
most invisible in the growing dark, but
he knew by heart the blue of her eyes,
the rich BROWNIES of her hair and the
cOldness of her manner to him of late.
What are you doing here?" She
fo har inf 81 n Il
failed
'What you are-escaping Bradford
evidently. l wouldn't go to the dance
because you were to be there"
Thanks" she replied Neither
would because you were to be there
That's why I'm here. One has to ex
plain to Richard Bradford. and he al
ways wants to know why"
. I'D like to know why myself"
"Oh, be still. Why doesn't he go?'
whispered the girl, for the eterna
Bradford sauntered under their tire,
and lighted his pipe
Don't wait for me. Jack. old man
I'll wait around a bit, and if sht
doesn't show up I'll come out alone"
THE confounded hiotr' Kingdol
s whispered and put out a protectinj
: hand when she seemed to sway bill
She frOZe instantly. and he dared no
, venture excuse or protest.
The darkness had increased, an,
when the moon came sailing up Brad
ford swOre at his luck and departed
), clicking the gate behind him.
tsNow Dr I[inUdOn I tbinI- vo,, oo
make your escape"
But | don't want to-now! May
not stay long enough to apologize 70
mtruding on your tree solitude?" II
spoke softly. with a delicate clppin
of the RS. His fine. dark face bent t.
- ward her Il have not meant to perst
cute you, but you did not answer IN
\ letter. l viii never trouble you again
| but will you not be fair enough to te
Q me just what | have done? You cOul
do an enemy that justicer' To his SUI
prise she grasped his arm.
Father and motherl'' she murmure,
r. You'll have to stay. l couldn't e,
( plain to them why l am herer' KIM
don hardly breathed, for she forgot
loosen the blessed hold on his sleeve.
Mr.. Treynor walked in portly pon
? pousness beside his anxious little wife
: Elizabeth worries me So she cor
planned. and they seated themselves {
a rustic bench. shes so difficult!
can't lay it to college and her trip
Europe, for she was lively till just
late. Now she doesn't enjoy socier
and is getting interested in the poe
And what do you suppose is her re
son for refusing to have anything
do with that nice DR. Kingdom and
"Some fool notion" her faith
or grunted.
'st "And taking up with that Bradfor'
d. / hope she won't marry him. l doI
40 care If we have always known him
doesn't seem quite nice. Well, he to
Elizabeth that DR.. Kingdom said at t
o'' club that western girls hadn't reser
bit enough-that he disapproved of coed
cation because II made girls too fl
and easy with men and lot of ST