Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-07-18
ThermopyIae
By MARTHA
M'CULLOCH-WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted. 1907, by E. G. PARCELS.

Elspeth said, smiling wickedly at Hin
don as he toiled after her up the steep
and narrow steps that led to a rallied
/ platform, weather beaten, but still
sound and weight worthy. set in the
4 lower branches of a giant oak. Hin
don thought the climbing a crazy per-
/ formance, but love which makes the
fool often a wise man makes the wise
man often a fool. And he did not
deny to himself he was in love and
with the bit Of quicksilver he was so
painfully following.
'H-mi | seem to remember that dry
ads We're not always all they should
1 be-" he said, sitting down so ponder
| ously the branches quivered Elspeth
laughed softly. you are to have re-
ward for coming up with me. / adore
stories. You may tell me one instead
of writing 1.-THE very best story of
them all.'
sImpossible!" 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.
had much rather live it than tell it."
mo. You must tell it," Elspeth said
decisively. Begin! This is much bet
ter fun than private theatricals"
II tell you I 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
81 can tell you what it takes to make
a sory," he said. First, of course,
there's a girl'-
That's me-" Elspeth interjeeted.
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 on: And
an obstacle-any sort, some sort. The
obstacle, you know, is what really
makes the story"
Dear me- What pityr' Elspeth
said. sYet l quite understand But for
the obstacle the sweethearts would
have to marry right at the start and
live happy ever after. I think-yes,
I'm sure-the obstacle is looming up.
See! Jack Delany is getting down at
the steps"
"a plague on him, on all Delanys
everywhere" Hindon began. Elspeth
shook her head at him, saying: How
ungrateful. You said there had to be
an obstacle. Could you ask more
proper. one than Jack?"
ffNot fThot,c. jr1cf fI,o fro1.I,lf, ITf,,
don admitted. You might easily fall
in love with Jack-if were not in his
way
Il believe he has cast you for the
obstacle role" Elspeth said demurely,
yet with dancing eyes. '.You don't
play fair-not in the least" she went
on. 81 asked you for story-and
here I'm making up one for YOU
you've reduced it to its lowest
terms-anyway don't like it," Hindon
broke in, his chin in the air, the light
of battle in his eye. He saw Jack
Delany sauntering toward the oak, his
hat in one hand, the other swinging his
ivory mounted crop. Jack was youth
of parts-rich, well bred and disgust
ingly, good to look at Moreover, he
was new. Until month back Elspeth
had never seen him. Hindon had dis
covered the real Elspeth at about the
same distance of time-when be had
come down to Worlds End for silence
and a measure of solitude After years
of struggle his latest book had hit the
public hard. He wanted its successor
to go above and beyond it. Then, just
when the opening of it was fairly in
mind, he had dined at the dean house
and fallen under Elspeths SPELL
There had been a week of rebellion,
I then submission to the inevitable He
had had a conceit Of knowing women
kind, also the verb to love, in all its
moods and lenses. Elspeth had shown
him how greatly he was mistaken
Hindon had a way with him that most
women had found irresistible After a
surfeit of sweets one relishes q whole
some bitter. Elspeth's artless joy over
his subjugation had not misled him
into thinking she was to be had for the
asking. He had two minds about her
one curiously aloof, wholly detached
ever noting the effect of unlikely con-
quest upon nature girlishly vain and
human and marshaling its impressions
as for future reference; another, pal
pitantly masculine and possessiye,
alert to win and keep her against all
comers.
Now the virile impulse dominated
him. AS Jack came within hail Hin
don swung himself to the head of the
steps, clutched hand upon the rails
at either side and half shouted: "Jack,
I'm a life saver. You can't come up!"
@Can't-ehl Why not?, Jack de-
manded, moving forward.
"Oh, because you're quite too good
looking and much too yain-so vain
this cranky structure would never bear
the weight of it" Hindon flung back at
him, settling himself more firmly in
his seat.
Jack laughed heartily. "I'm COM
ing! Look outr' he admonished, max
ing dash for the stair foot. AS he