The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-08-30

In sight far down the road he strolled
to the gate with an elaborate assump-
ton of carelessness and was leaning
against the fence as the Girl came up.
The dried mud had been shaken
from her dress, and with a smile she
called his attention to the fact. "You
see it's all right" she declared.
"But ] think you need a guard" he
declared, with sudden bravery that
startled him. with your permission,
I will form an escort to ward off dogs.
dragons and other insects"
He fell into step beside her before
she could refuse, and they walked
briskly On. Fabian wondered If it was
possible that she had been going past
the farm every morning while he was
at breakfast and without his knowl-
edge. 1t seemed now as though he
could feel her presence through stone
walls. Never having been in love
before, he was swinging the length OF
Cupid's pendulum, and he exerted him.
self to be entertaining. So we'll did
he succeed that when he reached tllt.
gate Of Glen farm, all to soon, Miss
Semple agreed to go for Il walk in. the
afternoon.
Fabian went into the house with
her that Kerr, whom he had met tile
year before. might complete the intro
duction more formally. and wen
smiled when Kerr introduced him as
"the human time table," with a laugh
ing dissertation upon, the e%xactness Of
his habits.
The rest Of Fabian's morning sched-
ule was completely upset, though he
returned to Brook farm and there
was nothing to interrupt. the even
tenor of his routine save his thoughts.
He could only pace the piazza and
think that Marcia Semp!e was to walk
with him that afternoon. The hours
dragged interminably, but at last he
could with decency present himself,
and together they started for the falls.
GLOW much time have we?", said
Marcia as they started out. "Mr. Kerr
warned he that you had probably al
lOtted a certain time to our walk and
that this must not he exceeded"
"Kerr," said Fabian %viciously, 'suf-
ASAo AAOLh oolSSAlhS VI llC olOlu. VIC
are going to make this walk! just as
long as we possibly can"
Marcia laughed her ripping laugh
that seemed to Fabian the most divine
music he had ever heard, but she re-
turned to the subject again when they
had reached the falls and were sitting
o the messy bank for a rest.
impulse is better than SYSTEM" she
declared. Nov, suppose that you had
not followed impulse, but had gone
in to breakfast. l should not have
known you and should have lost a de-
lightful walk"
1.-The argument is most potent" he
said gravel.y. Behold in me a back
slider from system"
Thine will tell,'' she declared. I'VE
shall see"
favor. To hasten the cure he went to
an opposite extreme. Instead of the
most regular life he led the most er-
ratio existence, aided and allotted by
Marcia. The day before his return to
town she declared his cure complete.
"You have not done a single thing
today at the time you usually do it."
she declared as they leaned over the
bridge that spanned the tiny stream
and let their eyes feast upon the MOON
lit landscape. "You did not wen have
dinner"
eyes, the cure is complete" he said.
II think / rather like doing what I
want to do instead of following a we'll
ordered plan. But you have got me
into worse trouble"
Marcia did not answer. Her eyes fol-
lowed the ripple of moonlight across
the water, and the hand that rested
upon the railing gripped the wood
more tightly.
"You should ask what the trouble
is," he said after a moment. "Then
should tell you that instead of a sched-
ule the most important thing in life Is
you. You have lifted me out of my
humdrum existence into the new world
of love, dear. Is there hope that some
day my love will be returned"
81 think 1 had better say yes" she
said, with a happy little laugh. 1T
will insure the permanency Of the
cure"
"And do you love me a little?" be
asked humbly.
A soft little hand stole into his.
"Dick. dear" she said softly, why
else should | have worked SO for your
cure?'