Smyrna times., 1907-08-28

come here to play am a drvad."
Elspeth said, smiling wickedly at Hin
don as he tOiled after her up the steen
ana narrow steps that led to a rallied
platform, weather beaten. but still
sound and weight worthy. set in the
lower branches of a giant oak Hin
uoh thought the climbing a crazy per-
1ormance, but love which makes the
tool often wise man makes the wise
man often fool. And he did not
deny to himself he was in love and
with the bit of quicksilver he was so
painfully following.
HIM! seem to remember that dry
ads were not always all they should |
De- he said, sitting down so ponder |
Ously the branches quivered. Elspeth |
| laughed softly. You are to have re- |
ward for coming up with. me. l adore
stories. You may tell me one instead
of writing 1.-THE very best story of
them all.'
Impossible" HindOn said gravely.
Don't you know there are but seven
stories in the world, and six of them
unfit for ladies'? That leaves only one.
l had much rather live it than tell it,
g mo! You must tell it," Elspeth said
dccisively. Begin! This is much bet
ter fun than private theatricals''-
Il tell you l can't begin. The story
has to begin ITSELF" Hindon interrupt
ed. Again Elspeth laughed. AT least
you can say how it begins she muir
INJURED. HindOn smothered a growl
Il can tell you what it takes to make
a sOry," he said. First, of course,
there's a girP'-
That's me-" Elspeth interjected.
1 HindOn nodded. And a man in love
with her.
THAT fits you" Elspeth said incor-
rightly. HindOn flushed in spite of
| himself and bit his lip, but somehow
kept his voice gay as he ran oil: And
an Obstacle-any sort, some sort. The
obstacle, you know, is what really
! makes the story"
! Dear me. What a pity Elspeth
} said. "Yet l quite understand. But for
the obstacle the sweetheartS would
have to marry right at the start and
live happy ever after. l think-yes,
I'm sure-the obstacle is looming up.
See! Jack Delany is getting down al
h the steps"
"a plague on him, on all DelanyS
:. everywhere" HindOn began. Elspetl
Il shook her head at him, saying: How
l, ungrateful. You said there had to be
ID an obstacle Could you ask a more
proper one than JackT'
Or "NO That's just the trouble" Hin
ID don admitted You might easily fal
in love with Jack-if 1 were not in hi
way"
Il believe he has cast you for tn
obstacle role" Elspeth said demurely
. yet with dancing eyes. You don
'h play fair-not in the least" she wen
on. Il asked you for story-an
I'D here I'm making up one for YOU
II. you've reduced it to its loves
to terms-anyway don't like it," Hindo
tie broke in, his chin in the air, the ligt
of battle in his eye. He saw JAG
Delany sauntering toward the oak, h
hat in one hand. the other swinging h
n ivory mounted crop. Jack was yout
of parts-rich. we'll bred and DISCUS
u ingly good to look at. Moreover,
was new. Until month back Elspet
had never seen him. HindOn had di
covered the real Elspeth at about Il
same distance of time-when he h;
come down to Worlds End for silen
. and measure Of solitude. After yea
Of struggle his latest book had hit t
public hard He wanted its success
to go above and beyond it. Then, ju
when the opening of it was fairly
NJ fIp
and fallen under Elspeth's spell.
There had been a week of rebelliC
then submission to the inevitable.
had had conceit of knowing womC
kind, also the verb to love, in all
moods and lenses. Elspeth had sho'
A him how greatly he was mistake
Hindon had way with him that M
women had found irresistible. Afte
= surfeit of sweets one relishes who
u A some bitter. Elspeth's artless joy o.
his subiugation had not misled b
. into thinking she was to be had for
asking. He had two minds about he
- one curiously aloof, wholly detach
~ ever noting the effect of unlikely C
quest upon a nature girlishly vain
human and marshaling it's impressi
as for future reference; announcer,
pitantly masculine and possess
alert to win and keep her against
- comers.
IL Now the virile impulse domino
him. AS Jack came within hail
don swung himself to the head of
steps, clutched hand upon the
ing at either side and half shouted: ~
I'm life saver. You can't come VI
"Can't-eh! Why notY' Jack
manded. moving forward.
"Oh. because you're quite too
looking and much too vain-so
Id this cranky structure would never
the weight of it," Hindon flung bac
him, settling himself more hrmi!
lfIIce his seat.
Jack laughed heartily I'm