The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-03-08
A TRUE LOVERS
KNOT

"Oh, have some more tea," urged
the Tomboy.
Not any, thank YOU" responded
young Harrington, stiffiy and he put
down his cup with clatter of finality.
Then won't you have-have an
other cake? You haven't tried one
of these little pink ones with cherries
on the top. They're awfully nice.
Hazel made them"
Young Harringtons face darkened.
II won't have any more, thanks"
he enunciated with great distinctness.
And I'm afraid | must really be-"
"Oh, don't go yet" pleaded the
Tomboy.
Young Harrington laughed, the
short, cynical laugh OF disillusioned 90.
In his ears rang the warning of
man quite two years older than him.
self.
Don't you get let in for making a
fool of yourself over that girl. Very
pretty, very charming, but she's an
absolutely hardened flirt! I'll tell
you the kind of thing she'll do-en-
bent, say he may call, fix day even,
and then, when he turns up she's out.
IL you please. and he's left to have
tea with that leggy Tomboy of a Sis
ter"
He glanced at the clock.
1T is an hour and a half" he OBJ
served. icily. after the time your sis
IN. he ~
ever. it doesn't matter in the least.
Will you say good-by to her for me?
| shall be going back north to-mor-
row."
He rose and held out his hand.
Where whereabouts in the
north?" inquired the Tomboy, as it
were with a feverish interest.
Was the girl making fun of him?
Newcastle. he answered. CURLY.
"Oh, yes. they take Goals there or
something, don't they?" responded the
Tomboy with an odd, hysterical sound
ing tremble in her voice.
Yes. She was laughing at him. She
was in this arranged scheme to make
fool of him.
"Good-by," he said without looking
at her. Il have to get back now-to-
pack"
IN come with you to the gate"
gasped the Tomboy, hurriedly. Il
mean III show you the short cut
! through the orchard. Wait one Sec
ond while | tie up my bootlace-"
She stopped with one of her coltish,
] angular movements.
! AS she rose young Harrington took
step forward to the door, stumbled
and almost fell.
what"
oh" exclaimed the Tomboy in 40
| cents of despair. Il am so frightfully
sorry. D'you see what I've done? I've
been and tied your bootlace to mine
by mistake"
Young Harrington realized as never
before in his life the absolute futility
OF human speech.
The Tomboy bent again and FUN
! bled.
Cant you do it," demanded young
| Harrington almost savagely.
IT'S very hard" painted the girl
raising a flushed face. It's what my
sailor cousin called a true lovers
knot and l seem to have lost the trick
of it."
"This'll do it." he said, and with a
glance of purpose brought out busi-
notwithstanding pocket knife.
The Tomboy gave a little scream
and clutched it.
"Oh, no." she demonstrated, excit-
eddy. Not that! I'm very supersti-
tious," she explained. And to cut a
bootlace means-means murder in
the house"
oh, does it?" he growled. 81 al
most wish"
What"
Il almost wish you weren't super
stitious, of course" he said, desper-
ately.
Would the girl keep him in this
ridiculous position until dinner time ?
He chafed. Worst of all, was Hazel
to come in and find him still here?
1t was unbearable. For what seemed
hours he stood, inwardly raging, while
that odious and detestable child
fidgeted and sighed over the lace. AT
last!
All" she exclaimed. that's done
II! l remembered the trick. I'm 30
sorry. Mr.. Harrington"
I'm so sorry. Mr.. Harrington? -
Her speech was echoed by Hazel, who
fiuttered In as her sister rose to her
feet. oh, l am so sorry! II wasn't
my fault--a little boy / met in the
lane-he'd lost his way''-she was the
picture of pink-cheeked penitence and
altogether adorable-"and | took him
homeland then II was the wrong adj
dress and II took us hours to find the
right one. Oh"-she lifted betwitch-
ing troubled eyes-"I thought I'D
never be back"
Il thought so" responded Ted Har'
riagton, seemingly unconscious that
he was still holding her hand.
She murmured: ut was so good OF
you to wait so long,"