The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-05-15

until III throw an Ink bottle at the
chief some day and be discharged for
disorderly conduct"
he laughed at her petulance. 81
would never dream that you were az.
fiIcted with nerves. You make a Joke
Of life and enjoy everything IKE an
oyergrown child. You are the essence
or youthfulness, yet you must be thir-
ty, aren't your" de gave her a frank.
Is critical look.
She selected a comfortable looking
log and sat down on It In lazy aban-
don.
20 man, man. do they teach you out
in the wild and woOlly west that to
ask womau's age is an objectionable
sins"
He was filling her lap with masses
OF purple flowers that grew waist deep
around them,
NO, the west is not artificial. Ma.
ture Is the teacher. we learn TO ad.
mire, but perhaps express even our ad.
miratiOn clumsily."
Her eyes sparkled with appreciation.
THAT was well turned compliment
I'm convinced that you are a diamond
| In the rough. II you were not going
away tomorrow, might polish you up
considerably"
"Tm sure you could do a great deal
In that line" He sat down beside her
and took cigar from his pocket. You
IGdpe alfealy done a areat apal,
estiy, you've done more fdF me thaa 7
thought could be done. f5tiive made
me feel a touch of boylshness; was
recovering from an attack Of fever
when came here. had lost my grip
Of things. School might keep or be
banged. II was all the same to me"
Il understand. I've had the feeling
often. You had reached a point when
your query was What's the use?' and
| your answer was Nothing matters.
you've Lit 1t exactly--bullseye! he
Burrcd his ciglS fnd thought how well
she hrmJnize1 Nth the scene-the red
Of the gan trees. the carpet Of yellow
hickory leaves, the purple and white
Acid Mowers growing everywhere. sic
lea'ucJN against a gray tree trunk ana
held r7th ol!c arm the flowers he liqi
lpi!ed in her lap High above her head
a black and yellow woodpecker ham.
raered away.
This is nature, and you are the only
woman | ever saw who would not
make a iarring note in the general
motif You seem to be living thing
bit Of nature itself"
Its my holiday-my playtlme-and
liz l bubble over with nonsense you
must lay It to exuberance of spirit.
really lave a serious side. but don't
want to use it while I'm here. When
y9u leave, try to forget the nonsense l
have talked I'm truly ashamed of IT."
I'm going to remember every bit OF
It" he avowcd sturdlly. Il want to
keep my touch Of boyhood. l wonder
how much daring and recklessness you
have in your disposition" His face lit
up with sudden thought.
Heaps. quantities, and It has been
smoldering for seven monotonous years.
I've been in office until l feel like a
latter day vesuvius. I'm longing for
something big and real and exciting to
happen"
Lets make something happen he
suggested eagerly. you don't know
me except as you see me. l don't
know you except from the vivid I'M
preston Of the joy Of living that you
have flashed upon my rather listless
brain. I'd like to keep the touch that
knowing you has added to me. Sup
pose you marry meT he finished alb
ruptly.
The mass Of flowers fell from her
lap TO the ground. You are certainly
the most primitive mang' she gasped.
do you realize that we are absolute
strangers to each other-that you may
be a professional burglar for all that
know and that have a mother that
would prove an awful mother-in-law|
Her eyes were wide open with wonder,
but the corners of her mouth were full