The Washington herald., 1907-08-06

cry did Fabian anathemize the cook.
He had wakened with little appetite
but ever since he had begun to order dur
ing his life he had had breakfast at g.
It had been the sole recommendation OF
this boarding place that they had break
fast at his accustomed hour instead Of
7:So. as seemed TO be the custom in most
OF the boarding houses in Carrsville.
Because Fabian always took the first
two weeks Of August as his vacation he
followed this custom. too, though the
break in the even routine Of the office
annoyed him. But habit was Fabian's
fetch. Habit decreed a two weeks vaca-
ton in August, and so he continued to
seek a resort where the orderly routine Of
his life would be in the least interrupted
This year he had rather fancied Glen
Farm, but they had breakfast at 7:15
Fabian had inquired irritably why not Z
or 7:30, and had decided in favor of Brook
Farm. where meals were served at about
the hours 70 which he was accustomed In
town, though it annoyed him to have to
eat his dinner in the middle Of the day
and cold supper at night.
Ever since he had reached his seven
teenth year Fabian had been alone in the
world, and he had fallen into a rut Of
system His orderly habit Of mind made
him q valuable man IN his office, but his
unwillingness 10 depart from custom drew
few friends, and at twenty-six he was still
heart whole.
The delayed breakfast was far greater
annoyance than a more serious disap-
pointment might have been. and he
gnawed at his mustache as he strOde up
and down the piazza. He caught the first
jangle as the bell was lifted from the
shelf. and turned TO enter the house, for
Just then there was a scream from the
road, and he turned to see a girl endeav-
oring to beat of the farm dog. whose
muddy paws had already left their i'm
print upon her dainty skirts.
Something IN her pose caught Fabian's
fancy, and he went racing down across
the grass plot to her rescue. whistling to
the dog as he went. But Carlo was de-
termined TO make friends with the girl,
and paid no attention to the calls. until
Fablan's hand rested heavily upon his
collar and the toe of Fabian's boot en-
phasized lightly the indiscretion OF ac-
costing strange young women on the pub
lie highway.
Hes a dear old thing" smiled the
girl, as Carlo picked out the shortest route
TO the backyard, his tail tucked inglori-
ousIy between his legs. I suppose L
is more my fault than his. I walk down
TO the pOst-office every morning and he
always barks his good morning but to-
day he seemed 10 want 20 shake hands,
and he did not realize how dirty his
paws were. You won't punish him,
please?"
He's not mine to punish" said Fa-
bian. absently He was thinking not of
Carlo, but the girl. No woman had ever
made a strong appeal 10 him before, but
he felt dazed IN the presence of this
radiant girl with the gentle eyes and the
smile that made the whole landscape
seem brighter. He was on his knees in
the road now trying to remove the worst
Of the muddy paw prints with his hand
kerchief. 1t was a clumsy effort for
he only made the smudges worse, and,
with a laughing word of thanks, the girl
stopped him.
1T will be all right when it dries"
she said, with her wonderful smile. You
are very kind, but It really does not
matter. BY the time I get back from
the village it will be all right. It's just
a little wash skirt. anyway. and a trip
to the laundry viii remove all traces
of the dogs impetuOsity."
With a nod and another smile. she
started down the road, and presently Fa-
bian pulled himself together, and went
in 10 his delayed breakfast He sat In
a trance through his brief meal, and hUr-
ried back 10 the piazza.
After breakfast it was his custom to
read the morning paper. but he sat with
It in his hand this morning, and did not
even scan the headlines. He was watch
ing the road for the CLINT OF a white
dress, and when It came in sight. far
down the road, he stTOlled 10 the gate
with an elaborate assumption of care
Iessness, and was leaning against the
fence as the girl came up.
The dried mud had been shaken from
her dress. and with a smile she called
his attention to the fact. you see it's
all right" she declared
But I think you need a guard" he
declared with sudden bravery that
startled him. with your permission,
viii form your escort to ward off the
dogs, dragons. and other insects"
He fell into step beside her before she
could refuse and they walked briskly on.
Fabian wondered If it was possible that
she had been going past the farm every
morning while he was at breakfast, and
without his knowledge. It seemed now
as though ne could feel her presence
through stone walls. Never having been
IN love before, he was swinging the length
4. L.
self TO be entertaining So well did he
succeed that when he reached the gate
OF Glen Farm. all too soon, Miss Semple
agreed to go for a walk in the afternoon.
Fabian went into the house with her
that Kerr, whom he had met the year
before, might complete the introduction
more formally, and even smiled when
Kerr introduced him as the Human
Time Table with laughing disserta-
tion upon the exactness Of his habits.
The rest OF Fabians morning schedule
was completely upset, though he re-
turned to Brook Farm, and there was
nothing to interrupt the even tenor of
his routine save his thoughts. He could
only pace the piazza and think that Mar
cia Semple was to walk with him that
afternoon. The hours dragged inter-
minably but at last he could. with de-
cency, present himself and together they
started for the falls.
How much time have we?" said Mar
cia as they started out Mr. Kerr
warned me that you had probably al
lotted certain time to our walk and
that this must not be exceeded
Kerr" said Fabian viCiOusly, ''suf-
fers from sOftening Of the brain. We
are going to make this walk Just as long
as we possibly can"
Marcia laughed her ripping laugh that