Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-21
The Way of
Escape
BY JOANNA SINGLE
copwl0u, no. b. r q. Easlmont

He pulled his cap over his eyes and
rushed down II side street TO escape
Bradford, whose cheerful whistle
seemed To be- just behind him lie did
not want to be- pestcr,rl 10 play cards
or golf or be- pulled to The country club
dance. He wanted solitude and his
pipe and chance To Wonder why ON
earth Elizabeth rrcynOr should sudden
~ refuse To- have anything To do with
him after she had golfcd and picnick-
ell ana sang with him all summer and
after she had succeeded in getting him
thoroughly In love with her.
lie felt III treated lie did not fall in
love easily and In general he did not
care for western girls, being n Con
necficut man. Yale trained and Europe
finished. before settling 10 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 whstlng M the Treynor side gate
for Jack AMI then asking If Kingdom
were there
Kingdom slipped over the fence IN the
twilight and clambered ~ the first
conveniently low branchcd tree Pant
ing but triumphant he heard Brad
ford's account Of how he had chased
Kingdom and lost him >oiiie where. AID
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 T. 90 with him
startled by the sound curlously like
Il suppressed smoker Kingdom decided
To climb higher lie reached up for a
branch above him aud seized small.
warm slipper that gave his hand a III
tie kick
Keep still. can't YOU, and let 20 my
foOtT whisper admonished him. He
looked up and saw Elizabeth sitting
high and dry on horizontal branch.
swinging her feet and pcering toward
the house ssh she warned again.
for her brother Jack ana Bradford
came into the garden.
elizabeth Jack called. Then:
"Confound girls anyhow. She was here
five minutes ago. ana her wraps are In
the hall She must be near" ON the
strength of Elizabeth's 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 provinces of her hair and the
GOODNESS Of her manner TO him OF late.
What are you doing hcref" She
tried 10 get hautcur into a whisper and
failed
What you escaping Bradford
evidently. | wouldn't 20 to the dance
because you were to be there"
Thanks" she replied Neither
would because you were 10 be there
That's why I'm here. one has To ex-
plain to Richard Bradford ana he al
ways wants 10 know why"
I'D Ike TO know why myself"
"Oh. be stIll Why doesn't he go?"
whispered the girl, for the eternal
Bradford sauntered under their tree
and lighted his pipe.
Don't wait for me, Jack. old man.
I'll wait around bit. ana If she
doesn't show up III come ont alone"
The confounded IDIOT" Kingdom
whispered and put out protecting
hand when she seemed TO sway bit
She froze Instantly, and he dared not
venture excuse or protest.
The darkness had increased. and
when the moon came sailing up Brad
ford swore AT his luck and departed.
clicking the gate behind him
"Now. Or Kingdom. think you can
make your escape"
but | don't want to-now, May |
not stay long enough TO apologize for
intruding on your tree solltude?" He
spoke softly with delicate clipping
OF the RS His fine, dark face bent to-
ward her. II have not meant to perse-
cute you but you did not answer my
letter will never trouble you again,
but will you not be fair enough 10 tell
me just what have done; You could
do an enemy that Justice" TO his sur
prise she grasped his arm.
Father and mother" she murmured
You'll have to stay. couldn't ex-
plain to them why am here King
don hardly breathcd for she forgot to
loosen the blessed hold on his sleeve.
Mr.. Treynor walked In portly pom
pousness beside his anxious little wife
Elizabeth worries me SO" she com
planned and they seated themselves on
a rustic bench shes so diiIlcultl
cant lay il 10 college and her trip 10
Europe, for she was lively TIL Just Of
late. Now She doesn't enjoy society
and Is getting Interested In the poor.
And what do you suppose Is her rea-
son for refusing 10 have anything To
do with that nice Or Kingdom and
"Some fool notion" her father
grunted.
"And taking up with that Bradford?
| hope she won't marry him. | don't
care II we nave always known him-he
doesn't seem quite nice. Well, he told
Elizabeth that Dr Kingdom said at the
club that western girls hadn't reserve
enough that he disapproved Of co-edu-
cation because II made girls too free
and easy with men and lot Of stun