The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-09-10
Ttlern1opyIae
BY MARTHA
M'CULLOCH.WlLLIAMS.
Copyrighted, 1907, by E. c. PARCELS.


ION. 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
lower branches of giant oak. Hin
don thought the climbing crazy per-
Torrance. but love which makes the
fool 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 We're not always all they should
be-" he said. sitting down so ponder
ously the branches quivcred. Elspeth
laughed softly. You are to have re-
ward for coming up with me. adore
stories. You may tell me one instead
IF writing 1.-THE very best story of
them ALL"
impossible" Iindon 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,"
"No. You must tell it" Elspeth said
dccisively. begin. This is much bet
ter fun than private theatricals''-
Il tell You 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
II can tel you what it takes to make
sorry" he said. First. Of course.
there's a girl
That's me-" Elspeth interjected.
IIindon nodded. And a man in love
with her
That fits YOU" Elspeth said incor-
r:gib!y. HiuIon flushed in spite of
himself aud hit his lip. but somehow
kept his voice gay as he ran on: And
an O5stacle-any sort, some sort. The
obstacle. you know. is what really
makes TIE story"
Dear me. What a pity" Elspeth
said. Yet quite understand. But for
the obstacle the Sweethearts would
have TO marry right at the start and
live happy ever after. think-yes.
I'm SURF ;he obstacle is looming up.
See. Jack IIclmuy is getting down at
the steps"
"A plague on him, on all DeIanys
everywhere" Hndon began. Elspeth
shook her head at him. saying: How
ungrateful. You said there had to be
an obstacle Could you ask a more
proper one than JackT'
mo. That's just the trouble" Hin.
don admitted. You might easily fall
in love with Jack-if / were aot 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 la the least" she went
ON. Il asked you for a story-and
here I'm making M one for you
you've reduced 1t TO its lowest
terms-anyway don't like It." Hindor
broke In. his chin In the air. the light
u battle In his eye. He saw Jacl
Delany sauntering toward the oak. hi,
hat In one hand. the other swinging hi,
ivory mounted crop Jack was you'll
VI partS-riCh. well bred and disgust
ingly good to look at Moreover. h,
was new. Until month hack Elspetl
had never seen him. Hlndon had dis
covered the real Elspeth nc about thu
same distance ~ time when he haC
come down to Worlds End for silenc,
and measure cf solitude. After year,
NJ struggle his latest hook had hit III,
public hard lie wanted It's succeSso
Ia 60 above and beyond f. Then. jus
when the opening of II was fairly II
mind. h. nd dIncd ri the dean hous
and fallen under Elspeth'S spell.
There had lwrn week ~ rebellion
then submission - the Inevitable. H.
had hal cnucrit of knowing women
Kind. ais" 'hc verb to love. IN all II
moods anil 'ruscS Elsppth had show,
him how greatly he was mistaken
IIlndnn hatl way with him that mos
women had found Irresistible After
gurfrlt If sweets one plIShcs n whole
some bitter I.lSprth's artlcSS Joy owe
his sul'lurGtiou had not mi~lcd hir
| into thinking she was To- I've had for oh
: | asking. Tie 'lnd two minds alUut her
0ne curiuu>lr alocf. wholly detached
ever no;iug tile effect ~ unlikely COZ
quest upon nature gIrlishly vain an
human ard mnrshalIng ifs impression
as for future reference: another. pa
pitantiy masculine and posscssiv,
alert 70 win and keep her against n
comet.
Now the viriIe impulse dominate
him. As .Iack came within hail Iii
don swung himself 20 the head Of Oh
steps. clutchrd n hand upon the raj
nj either side and half shouted: "Jacl
I'm life saver. You can't come up
"Can't-ch. Why notT' Jack d
mandcd. moving forward.
"Oh. hccausc you're quite too GOO
looking and much too vain-so val
this cranky structure would never bea
thc weight IT t." IIIndon flung back I
him. settling himself more firmly
his seat.
Jack laughed heartily. ''f'm con
ingl Look out!' he admonished. mai
ing a dash for tire stair foot As I
touched Il IIindun looked down. Wit
twinkling eyes. 10 say: ''Rememb'
Thcrmupylaci lichoId me, a new lie
midas, holding the pass
"IIang Thermupylae-and all tho
other sissy gaines" Jack said. vii
frank sruru. II tell you. there's I