The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-30

answer this time You can stay ever a
couple of weeks now just as we'll as
not There is a good golf links. boat
ing. and have three pretty daugh.
ters and
= certainly can't refuse such al
Turing Inducements, laughed Thorn.
ton. "and l trust Mr. Danlcy.
won't be trespassing too much on
your hospitality and the good ma
ture OF your household by accepting
an imprompta Invitation"
The household Is an unconventional
one. and delights In opening doors
wide when a friend knocks" replied
the elder man, taking down the tel
ephone
Henol This YOU Medgeg Mr..
Thornton IL in town--you have often
heard me speak OF him have per
suadod 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
lege friend of Mr. Darnley's, to the
the latter's country home
"The house looks rather forbid.
ding. observed Mr. Darnley, as they
came M the graveled road, but the
girls detest lights in summer l pre-.
sumo they are back in the garden.
SIT down here on the porch and |
will gather them up"
IN -. 4. -.
at the end of the vine.clad verahda,
while his host went around the
house. IL was still summer night
the sky motionless and starless. As
he 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 light
football behind him. Then two soft
arms encircled mis- neck 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
check After a throbblng silence he
half whispered
Il beg your pardoni"
There was a Mortified exclamation
a swift withdrawal OF arms. and tn,
sound of vanishing skirts
In distant part Of the house b,
heard echoes Of mirthful laughter
Presently Darnley came out of The
house
After prowllng all over th,
grounds, found the girls in the din
ingroom preparing chaBng disl
luncheon for us. Come Ia and NEE
them"
Through the long, dimly-llghte,
rooms Roger followed his host, hii
pulses tinging at the anticipation o
meeting her In the dining.room h'
was presented TO the three girls II
vain he looked into the roguish facei
seeking some tell.tale token tha
would denote the one who had greet
cd him so arectionately But not
sign OF confusion or enlightenment
did lie receive.
u must tell you good Joke Thorn
ton" laughed Darnley The girl
supposed Il was your father / wa
to bring home with met"
Indeed! And was / also suppose,
TO be my father when ! sat out on tn,
porch just now?" he asked. mean
ingly
There was a trio of laughing voices
and knowing glances.
No You were thought 10 be me,
explained Darnloy. See II you car
guess which one made the embar
rassing err ,r'
There Is but one way in which
can decide that matter" replied Roe
er, gravely.
"IIow?" demanded the trio.
II must close my eyes and eacl
one OF you can In turn come up be
hind me and repeat the errorl Then
might decide"
This was positively and laughing
ly declined After merry evening
Roger retired. unable 10 decide whicl
of these beautiful young women h
thought the most charming. The mex
day and evening found him still M
decided, and also IN the dark as q
who had bestowed upon him the feet
lnB embrace
on the third evening OF his visiI
Marie Loyeridge, a niece OF Nj
Darpley's. arrived 20 pay a visit Sh
was type altogether different froI
her llghthearted laughter-loyin
cousins She had q winsome, wistfu
face. a petite form. "a low. charmln
voice. and a sweet quiet manner
Roger found himself always waitin
for her entrance. n she were not q
the room, listening 10 her when on
ers were talking. and following he
with his eyes and thoughts when OF
quette demanded his attention I
others he made It entirely obviou
that bis desire was TO be with her e,
clusiyely. and the three Darnley girl
goodnaturedly made all sorts OF iittl
devices for throwing their cousin int