Milford chronicle., 1906-05-11

too old, after all. to ask her to be sun
more than her fathers friend"
At the end OF two weeks, however,
he Acknowledged to himself his mis-
take The party had secured new
guide, a handsome young Canadian
Frenchman with soft voice and lus-
trous eyes. lie knew every inch of
ground and every trick Of deer hunt
ing.
Lyle, romantic. willful and head
strong. took snapshots of him in ev-
cry conceivable pose. She demanded
Lis services on all occasions and chat
ted with him in French, a language
not understood by John Browning,
who was deeply concerned at the
young girls fancy.
He reasoned with her father one
night that the weather was getting al
together too severe for Lyle up there
and it would be prudent for her to re-
turn with the Crosbys the next day.
Vaughn acquiesced. lie usually did
acquiesce in any suggestion from
Browning.
W A4NAl AtNA AHAAANl tAAAAARAlAe1N ~ ~ az
the next morning that she was to go
home that day, to Browning's surprise
she did not raise any objections He
thought. though. that she seemed very
serious when lie bade her adieu
The life and light went out of the
party for him after her departure, and
he was glad when the season ended
En- route for lower Michigan, he re-
ceived a dispatch calling him further
west on business, which detained him
until April. He arrived In New York
to learn that Lyle was in college. In
the latter part Of the month war with
Spain was declared and as an officer
in the national guard he was mustered
into the United States service and went
to Cuba. Peace declared, he again re-
turned to New York This time Lyle
and her parents We're abroad. He fol-
lowed, just missing them at every
place in their erratic tour.
Then had come the war i'm Africa
and the "siren song of the bullet
lured him to the cause of the Beers.
Now he was again in New York and
was to see in the morning his little
friend Of the long ago who had grown
into a charming woman.
She teased him when he came into
the library the next morning: "Sdll
jealous of Plympton, John? You were
such a stupid! Those cabin partitions
were regular sounding boards. heard
your counsel to papa about my return.
OF course the severe weather was
not the reason you ordered removal
from station You really thought 1
was in love with that handsome half
breed"
"And weren't you|
"Johnr'
"But you talked of him, to him and
with him incessantly. You must have
had 127 photographs Of him."
"That was partly because it plagued
you"
Partly! What was the other rea-
SOM"
"BIaybe I'll tell you some time"
"When"
"After another lapse Of seven years"
"StilI." lie persisted you looked sad
when you left for home"
"That was for the same reason"
"As what?'
"As the one am to give you seven
years hence"
Il am not going to wait seven years
to tell you what 1 have known since
you were a little schoolgirl, and you,
with your powers of divining, Lyle,
you surely must know that too"
NO" she half whispered, Il don't
know"
''You don't know, Lyle, that have
always loved you! l should never have
had the hope and courage to tell you,
he said presently, IF had not seen
you with the inane Herbert last
night"
She laughed a soft, happy little
laugh.
'I believe 1 won't wait seven years
to tell you"
mo; tell me now"
81 have loved you ever since you
gave me my first doll