Smyrna times., 1906-04-18

1t is so fatally easy for a misunder-
standing to arise.
Johnson, galloping swiftly through
the long lane of Overarching June \
green, was musing somewhat bitterly
upon this fact. 1t was over month
now since he had seen Helen Grannis
a month which had done a great deal
toward quickening spark hitherto not
entirely. recognized into a vivid flame.
He had tried to see her, but unsuccess-
fully, and now his thoughts were
brooding, as so often before, over that
last unfortunate meeting. Was he to
blame or she? Yet how could the
fault be his?
Once again he went back mentally
to the beginning-that day when he
had telegraphed to ask if she would
ride. They had often spoken of so do
ing, and this had been his first oppor-
tunity. The answer had been that she
would be at the club at o'clock. John
son, prOmptness itself, cantered over
from the stable at precisely. There
he waited. He waited until half after
4; he waited until a quarter of 5.
There was no sign of Miss Grannis.
At last reluctantly he rode toward the
park, wondering what could have hap
pened. The first person he met, walk
ing her horse slowly down the main
drive in the direction of the gate, was
the girl herself, and with her, talking
eagerly, was Ransome Sinclair, the
man of all others whom Johnson most
detested.
For a moment Johnson had stared,
really incredulous, unable to trust his
eyes.
Then, with formal lifting of his hat,
he was past, the dark red mounting to
his cheek and rage in his soul. Had
she forgotten the engagement, or had
she deliberately thrown him over for
Sinclair-Sinclair with his millions,
who could give her everything?
In the sudden blackness revealed by
the flash of jealousy Johnson realized
for the first time how much this slen-
der, dainty girl, with her pretty little
air of stateliness, meant to him.
He had hardly gone mile before the
impulse which had made him bow and
pass on looked the height of ridiculous
ness. OF course there was some mis-
take. Why had he not stopped and ask
ed? But, although he turned at once, il
was too late; the two had vanished.
He had telephoned that night. Miss
Grannis was out for dinner. He haC
called the next afternoon. Miss Gran
mis- was not at home. He could no
write, for there was nothing to say
One could not ask a lady why she ha(
chosen to ride with another. The weel
after, when he tried calling once more
the house was closed He found tina
the family had departed for their coun
try place.
Johnson was in despair, but it wa
not entirely a bad thing for him;
taught him a lot.
: AS he turned in now at the Newland
: place and dropped off his horse som
one moving down by the tennis cOur
suddenly brought his heart into hi
! mouth. Could it be she? He knew tina
Miss Grannis and Ida Newlands wer
great friends. Was it possible sh
4 might be stopping here for a week end
: With tingling pulses he went forward
1t was-it was! And he might nevt
have known. Somehow he managed
answer properly the greetings of Id
/ and the men grouped about, then l
e turned to Miss Grannis.
! He was unreasonable enough to |
disappointed when the girl gave hi
l. merely conventional smile. He fe
= that he was the one with the right
IS be angry. Ida Newlands looked shar1
ly at them both. She knew Hele
: Grannis well enough to divine tn;
y something had occurred.
te Now, as she saw Johnson, after a N
ment, turn aside, her nimble wit leapC
to a sudden guess at the truth. And ;
she caught Johnson's flush as 81
clair came across the lawn her convi
ton deepened. But what could
- done? In this last month Sinclair hi
been pushing his advantage hard. s.
knew that Helen was wavering. 1,
i did not fancy Sinclair; it was b
I brother who had asked him today. Al
~ she did like Johnson. With swift
spir- ion she jumped to her feet.
Lets haze some tennlsv' she {
claimed. "Helen, will challenge Y
and Mr.. Johnson to try to beat
Sinclair and myself Here's your RAJ
et," pretending not to see the girls
luctance. 1t was tie only way s
could think of to bring them togeth
Johnson could put up strong gar
He was tall. with long legs and ar
that seemed to cover every corner
the court. And Helen had a Gle
telling stroke Sinclair, however, v
no mean adversary. They would hs
10 play up. But Johnson was not thi
ing of tennis. This was his chan
He rlust make the most Of 1t Def
she ioined that chattering group.
:, he brought the balls to Miss Gran
: for her service he looked down at