Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-15

Alice was radiantly happy. "I never had such
good time in my life" she told Mildred, who,
thinking of her lover, pitied the other girl for
being content with so little.
'Did you never have a lover, Alice" she in
quired.
"Tve had offers of marriage" Alice replied
zone from a wealthy merchant in the town where
l teach, and one from the principal of my school,
but | did not care for either of them am
odd and old-fashioned in my views, and still
cling to the idea that somewhere in the world
is man who was made for me and l for him.
Until | meet that man L shall never marry.
81 don't consider that odd idea," said Mil
dred smiling; "I think the same way myself"
Leonard did his duty manfuy, although, as
young men were scarce in the neighborhood, it
usually fell to his lot to escort both girls on any
expedition that CHANGED to be afoot Indeed, so
far from complaining, he seemed rather to enjoy
Aces society "I like her." he told Mildred.
"She has common sense, which most girls lack,
and then she's so fond of you"
t 'Pm glad you and Leonard get on well to-
gether," Mildred said to her guest one morning
as the two girls sat sewing in the formers room.
cts such disappointment when two people
one is fond of don't like each other. You must
spend your vacations with us when we are mar
ried. You are the first one of my girl friends
Leonard has ever really liked. He said last
night that you had common sense"
Alice laughed. Zone good compliment deserves
another" she declared, $50 [ will say that con-
slider Mr.. Harvey person of intelligence and
taste. Seriously, Mildred, he is a clever, charm
ing fellow, and you are lucky girl"
Mildred's heart warmed towards her friend;
no people are so easy to love those who con-
slider us fortunate. 81 know il" she said. Leon
ard is-well, he is all I could wish him, and
that's saying a good DEAL" she ended with
happy laugh.
It was perfect afternoon. Alice and Leonard
in row boat that was drifting slowly down the
river that ran past the Harmon estate, had re-
marked half dozen times upon the satisfactory
state of the weather.
Mildred was not with them. The three had
planned a long row that would keep them out
till dinner time, but at the last moment visitors
had arrived and Mildred had insisted that the
other two should go without her.
''You can come back to the landing for me at
5 o'clock" she said 'The Cartons will surely
have gone by that time"
| So reluctantly, Alice and Leonard had started
"Pretty, isn't it," observed Leonard presently
when they were upon the water. He had been
watching Alice as she looked at the wooded shore
that seemed to be gliding slowly and magically by.
at is lovely! lovely! lovely!" Her voice had
dropped with each repetition of the world. ''The
country about here is all beautiful she went
on "Those rolling hills laid out in squares like
chess board give such pleasing suggestion
| of prosperity. Where live the land is wild and
uncultvated.'
Leonard did not reply. just then the world
| seemed all simmer and content and much talk
useless and discordant. He did not even apol
ogize for leaving the silence unbroken, for he
| felt without taking the trouble to think about
the matter, that Alice would not misunderstood
silence any more than she had speech. He had
noticed that she never had to have things ex-
| planned to her.
And so it was a long time before he finally
looked up and said: Tell me about your life.
You seldom speak of yourself, and 1 really want
| is to visit us often when-when we are mar
ried" The pink glow of Leonard's skin deep
ened as he bent over the oars.
Alice obligingly gave him short sketch of her
history. 1t was not a dramatic story, and would
certainly have been dull but for the droll, whim
scal touch she contrived to put into the tell
ing Apparently she had that precious gift,
denied to some women, a sense of humor, and
it had served to lift even her coloress life above
commonplaceness.
When Leonard remembered to look at his watch
it was 5 o'clock, and they were two miles from
the landing. Some time before he had moved
to comfortable seat in the bow, letting the boat
drift now he took the oars again. the pleasant
CLEAN that seldom left them gone out of his eyes,
After telling Alice the time he did not speak
again, but bent to his task with quiet, determin
ed energy that sent the boat rapidly along. He
had forgotten Mildred. This was the thought
that burned in his brain and made the very still
ness seem to cry out reproach. He did not
know whom he hated more, himself or the
an in the other end of the boat. And yet it was