The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-10-12

ct all MS usual, she had salu she WOui'
not. Her refusal was unbreoleditate'
. and almost as much Of a surprise L
herself. as It was to jack but sobel
second thought seemed to Justify it.
N was foolish. so argued Elinor Il
. hefAelf rs she hung up the receiver L
let Jack take so much for granted u
LET him think she was always ready
. "a Z, matter Of course, TO answer DIS
heck and call. She would show him
thingsor two. There were other mel
to b considered, and she didn't Intend
to marry Jack any more than-well
; perhaps not as much as she INTENDED
70 marry some one else! still II was
such q lovely afternoon, and she DID SC
love to go automobiling!
The Telephone rang again.
Hello" answered Elinor languidly
"Oh, Mr.. Norris? Yes. Go automobil
ing with you this afternoon? | shall
lie delighted. Three o'clock All right
I'll be ready Goodby."
Elinor clapped her hands and gave
herself a little squeeze of congratula'
=
ton.
Half an hour later, her little round
chin tilted saucily above the big blue
bow of her gauzy veil, Elinor stood
waiting on the porch, picture OF pert
ness and prettiness.
At the "honk, honk," Of an approach
ing automobile she ran quickly down
the steps to greet Vernon Norris, but
TO her establishment the car did not
stop, and, looking after ii curiously'
she discovered that il was not Vernon,
after all, but Jack, and-could she be-
lieye her eyes?-he was not alonel
There was funny little tight feeling
about Elinors heart that she didn't
care to nnalyze. She turned her back
on the vanishing apparition of Jack
and there on the top Of the hill, like
q coming event that had cast its shad-
ow before II (alas, that IT was such
corporal shadowD, she saw Nernon's
car looming into sight.
Anyway. reflected Elinor, If Yer
mons auto wasn't such a beauty ms
Jacks, il was still an auto, and u
Vernon wasn't, perhaps, as handsome
as Jack, he was still man, and when
II came to a matter Of comparison, a
man far more solicitous Of her happi-
ness. Jack had way of spinning
through the country without appar-
entity, the least consciousness Of her
presence beside him. Vernon, on the
other hand, was always on the alert TO
rescue the hayward end OF her veil,
to inquire for her comfort and to ask
what speed best pleased her present
mood. With him she herself, not the
machine, was the center Of his
thoughts.
AS a result Of these reflections, Eli
nor greeted Vernon with an unusually
winsome smile and extended her hand
with charming graciousness, a favor
which that young man, most natural
", hattered himself was stimulated
by his own Irresistible powers OF at
traction.
Elinor followed up the cordially OF
her welcome with such a chatter OF
merry talk as they went flying
through the country and seemed so
radiantly happy. that Vernon, bring.
Ing the machine TO a sudden slow
down, simultaneously with his inspira-
ton, decided to learn his fate then
and there.
It proved most literally a popping
Of the question. His declaration was
cut short with a sound as of spontane-
Gus combustion. The noise. together
with vernon's unexpected proposal.
took Elinor of her feet, both mentally
and physically. AS she sprang up
Vernon caught her to him.
''It's all right, dear" he murmured,
with extravagant tenderness. You're
not hurt: only frightened" and he lift
ed her veil 80 that he might look into
her face.
Elinor freed herself with effort.
mo" she said. sadly. I'm not hurt
and I'm not frightened" She felt
suddenly an indescribable shrinking
from the man. He had been too quick
to take advantage Of the situation.
Had 1t been Jack, he
NtIlOn AutCtIuplcu ueI uuin Oi
thought by shouting to some men in
the distance for help. They did not
hear him.
lawfully sorry" he said finally,
"but I'm afraid I'll have to go across
the fields for help. There's a farm
house over there. I'm very much like
Humpty Dumpty, you see. / don't
know how to put myself together
again" Elinor saw, but somehow
was not amused) "will you be timid
here aloneT
"Not at ALL" she answered firmly,
ignoring the sentimental look in his
eyes.
."I won't be long," he assured her
as he jumped out OF the car. stay
Just where you are and make yourself
comfortable. The car won't bulge"
After Vernon had disappeared from
sight, Elinor, not at all confident, in
spite of his assurance, as TO what the
inconstant auto might do next. jumped
out and perched herself on the post Of
q nearby fence.
She was a most bewitching little
vision as she sat there, her fawn col
ored coat outlined against the green
meadow background. and her flmy
vail xrhfcb cha baH toacanad foo ffuo