The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-02
ThernlopyIae
By MARTHA
M'CULLOCH-WlLLIAMS.
Copyrighted, 1907. by E. C. PARCELS.


II come here to play am dryad."
Elspeth said, smiling wickedly at Hin
don as lie tofled after her up the steep
and narrow steps that LED to Il rallied
platform. weather beaten, but still
sound ana weight worthy, set in the
lower branches of a giant oak. Hin
don Thought the climbing a crazy per-
Torrance, but love which makes the
fool often q 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-n. seem to remember that dry
ads were not always all they should
be-" he said sitting down so ponde"-
Dusly 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
"lmposslblew 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.
l had much rather live it than tell it,"
mo! You must tell it," Elspeth said
dcclslvely. Begin! This is much bet
ter fun than private theatricals''-
II tell you l 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
y can tell you what it takes to make
a sory," he said. First, of course,
there's a girl'-
That's me-" Elspeth interjected
Hlndon nodded. "And 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 a pityr' Elspeth
said. "Yet 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 Derany is getting down at
the steps,"
"A plague on him, on all Delanys
everywhere" Hinddn> 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?"
'No! That's just the trouble" Hin
don admitted. you might easily fall
in love with Jack-if l were not in his
way"
II 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. Il asked you for a story-and
here I'm making I'D 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 he had
come down to Worlds End for silence
and measure of solitude. After years
Of CTR ruIn ie, loto I,oI hi
public hard. He wanted its successor
to go above and beyond 1t. Then, just
when the opening of 1t was fairly in
mind, he had dined at the dean house
and fallen under Elspeth's spell.
There had been week of rebellion,
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.
Hlndon had way with him that most
women had found irresistible. After a
surfeit of sweets one relishes a whole
some bitter. Elspeth's artless JOY over
his subiugation 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 possessive.
alert to win and keep her against all
corners.
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 life saver. You can't come up!'
"Can't--eh, Why not" Jack de-
handed. moving forward.
ooh, because you're quite too good
looking and much too vain-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 OUT" he admonished, makA
ing q dash for the stair foot. AS he
touched it IIindon looked down, with
twlnkllng eyes, to say: Remember
Thermopylae! Behold me, new Leo
midas, holding the pass!''
"Hang Thermopylae-and all those