Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-12-18
the 1I.ll: hsa |. ] WITH TI!l
THE SCART PIN
BY CLIFTON FAME

Raymond found the scarf pin on the
beach of Lake Geneva during the Sec
ond week Of his vacation. He stuck
1t in the left lapel Of his coat, think
ing to leave 1t a. the desk OF the
hotel, where the owner might inquire
for It,
He wandered along the lakeside I'M
til he came to the twin birches, where
he paused and began to dream oil the
girl with the violet eyes.
Then he saw her coming down the
path, and waited, hardly daring TO
hope that she would lift those lovely
eyes toward him.
At the birches she paused, glanced
at him shyly, looked at the ground
and then looked at Raymond again
and smiled just the faintest, sweet
est, shyest smile in the world.
"G-good morninS," stammered Ray
mond, lifting his hat.
She did not speak, but she fingered,
and once again she smiled
81 have so wanted to speak to you"
began Raymond, desperately, but |
did not dare, and there was no one |
could find to introduce me. You
seemed almost as lonely here as my
self"
See here" broke in harsh voice.
''Wlat are you doing with my scarf
pin? I've been locking for it every
where"
Raymond turned with start and
saw a tall, sporty-looking man he
had seen at the hotel the day be-
fore.
Il found your scarf pin near the
boathouse," said Raymond quietly. II
just stuck it in my coat, meaning to
leave it at the hotel"
"O!" exclaimed the girl
The sporty-looking man snatched
the scarf pin almost rudely from Ray
mond's outstretched hand Then he
turned to the girl
you see it is my scarf. PIN" he
smiled. 81 lost it somehow, and
waited to look for it, or would have
been here sooner"
20, beg PARDON said Raymond,
turning toward the girl, 81 did not
know the gentleman was a friend of
yours"
He is not" she said firmly.
But you came here to meet me,
the sporty-looking man insisted. You
know, | am the man with the scarf
pin.
The girl with violet eyes looked
puzzled for moment and then she
comprehended the truth. She blushed
with embarrassment and then paled
with anger.
Put the stranger who had claimed
the scarf pin did not seem to realize
that her anger was directed at him
He smiled at her in a way that he
evidently thought was winning
co." said the girl. Il see. 1t was
plot, was tia mean, low plot with
gypsy fortune teller to trick me into
an acquaintance with you"
Would you mind moving on?"
asked the sporty-looking man of Ray
mond. Il have a date with this young
woman"
Raymond looked at the girl ques.
tioningly. She moved a step nearer
to him and laid her hand on his arm,
as if asking him for protection.
THE gentleman is mistaken" she
said Jelly. He has no date with
me- l have no desire to make his &C.
quaintance. He annoys me"
Clear out of this!" said Raymond
Clear out, now!" He doubled his
fists and advanced toward the. sporty
looking stranger The latter did not
wait for the attack With a short
nervous laugh he struck off up the
beach.
Shall go, too" asked Raymond
appealingly.
"N-not unless you want to- she an
swered, after little hesitation, 81
thank you for Kidding me of that
man"
Let us take a turn on the beach"
said Raymond. Il am in the dark
about the scarf pin. Won't you please
explain things to me?"
u nearly made a fool of myself,
confessed the girl with the violet
eyes. Il met gypsy fortune teller
on the hotel veranda last night, and
she tcId me, so solemnly, that | would
meet my fate to-day. She said she
could see him standing between the
twin birch trees by the lake, and that
would know him because he was
tall and dark
Il am tall and dark, interrupted
Raymond
And he would be wearing horse,
shoe scarf pin in the left lapel of his
coat"
4 was wearing it, said Raymond
And you know" she confessed
that While didn't Just believe her
didn't think Of it being trick, ant
so came here to-day at the houl
wondering If would meet any
one"
"And you found me here, wearinl
the scarf pin" exclaimed Raymond
joyously. "Pl never believe 1t wa