The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-23
How 1t Began.
rOrigfnaL1

daily newspaper she noticed this an
nouncement:
Bradford Elliott. whose books on birds !
are delighting thousands. Is pursuing his 4
studies IN the mountains.
Miss Cumbuton was one whom Mr.. /
ElhOtt's books had delighted, and she
hoped she would meet him. She was
accustomed 10 take long walks, accom- /
panied only by g big dog. and one
morning while in a gorge. through /
which flowed q mountain torrent, she
suddenly came upon man sitting on a
rock looking up into tree. AS she ap-
preached a bird few out of the tree.
The man rose and stood uncovered
while she passed.
Il do believe" she said to herself, |
that's Bradford Elliott. I'd know him
anywhere by his printed pictures"
LAS sure as my name is Stevenson"
said the man, that's Evangeline Gray,
the vaudeville queen. I've seen her
face on posters many a time"
Miss Cumbuton had no mind to let
the opportunity pass. Turning, she
asked in her sweetest voice:
Can you tell me how l will know
the road leading up to the Mountain
House when l reach itY'
Not very Well" said Mr.. Stevenson
in his own most modulated tones. but
I Will be happy to show it to you if
you viii permit me. It's not far"
Miss Cumbuton knew very well that
the distance was more than a mile
and that it would give her quite
walk with the great bird fancier, so
she accepted the offer. She at once
turned the conversation on birds.
u saw you looking at a bird in a
tree" she remarked, "as 1 approached.
Did you make out its genus?"
Bird? What bird? 1 was looking at
a white flag upon the ledge. 1t indi-
Gates a bear trap"
q suppose you don't know anything
about birds?" she said archly.
Certainly not"
"Hm! Sometimes it is convenient
to remain incOg.Y
Mr.. Stevenson stopped and looked
the lady full in the face. How In the
world did you know that?" he asked.
Il
"A little bird up in tree2"
''Yes."
"That I'm up q treeT
Miss Cumbuton chuckled.
"Are you doing the mountains IN
~ he asked
It was Miss Cumbuton's tuxp to look
serious. "Why, 1 suppose IN" hest
tatingly. q
For what purposeT
"Tell me your purpose and I'll tell
you mine"
81? Oh, I'm a big gun, and If all
these people about here should know
who I am they'd overrun me with at
tention. Now for your reason"
ooh, Tm-Pm trying to escape an
engagement"
she chuckled again, and so did her
companion.
Il supposed" said Stevenson, that
people of your profession sought en-
gagements."
my profession! What is my profess
sion?"
Threading boards"
Threading boards! What's that?"
what do you think my occupation
| is7'
Yours? Why, you are an ornitholo-
gist"
Mr.. Stevenson looked at her inquir-
ingly.. Would you mind giving me
that word again?"
"Orn1thologist," she repeated. de-
| lighted with his pretense Of ignorance.
He had never heard the word in his life.
"Oh, l know-ornithorhy kind
of monkey. 1 saw one in a menag-
| erie once"
Miss Cumbuton laughed and said to
herself, isn't he delightful
At that moment the tete-a-tete was
interrupted by party from Miss Cum
buton's hotel, who dragged her away
with them-against her will-for a walk
to the falls
That evening Stevenson sought her
at her hotel, and they passed much of
the evening together, continuing their
banter. Neither of them kept the Sc
cret Of the others prominence, and
the next day Stevenson was requested
to give a lecture on birds, while Miss
Cumbuton was urged to give q read
Ing. Both declined, and both stimuli.
taneously left the mountains. They
were astonished to meet at the station
why did you tell people was an
actressT asked the lady Indignantly
'They won't believe I'm not and have
given me no end of trouble
why did you tell them that was
an-an ornithorhynchus?"
81 didn't" She laughed In spite OF
herself.
Come" she said when they were
seated in the train, Tets confess. Why
are you here incog.?"
That's a woman's way of confess.
ing. What are goH here fort"
"As I said, to escape an engage
ment A certain person wants me "a
marry him. I don't want TO do It."
l A -<snEw -~faFs