The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-03-01
The House By The Lake
By Wallace Leonard.

water, and II only made 1t all tn
harder for her to so away.
But there was the singing but pc
lite little note informing her tina
her services were no longer required
and enclosing the customary week
wages and her ticket back to tn
city. She knew she was not dis
missed because Of incompetency, bu
because of the scarcity Of ellgibl
young men and the uperabundanc,
OF marriageable young ladies witt
overambitious mothers.
She had known there were OBJ
Jections because of the attention
paid her by some of the male guests
and which she had tried hard t.
avoid Her self-possession and re
fined manners had all been discussed
by the mothers with the marriage
able but less attractive daughters
ana Tor once they had united ane
sent a comittee to the Management
ard demanded Natailes removal
The very idea of her being al
lowed to use the boats on the lake
and walk around on the lawn and
veranda like one OF the guests" in
dignantly remarked Miss Allen CON
spicuous for her brick colored red
hair, turned up nose and an impedi-
ment In her speech, but whose mo-
Their occupied one of the most ex-
pensive suites In the hotel and enter
tanned largely.
Such impertinence!" chimed in
Miss Clark, school teacher of I'M
certain age. Why, she actually curls
her hair, yet fiaunts her innocence
and good manners in the ewes of
men, thinking to dazzle them.
And so II had been until the note
had been the result. Poor Natalie.
All she wanted was to be left alone
to earn her living and she had been
delighted at the prospect of spending
the hot summer months at the Lake
side, but now she would have to go
back to the sweltering city and haunt
the employment agencies, and even
I she was successful, as she could
scarcely hope to be at this duh sea-
son, she would be obliged to live in
! stuffy furnished room in a moor
quarter, made even more miserable
~ Its crowded condition.
She packed her simple belongings.
md tears came to the great blue eyes
Is she closed the door and slowly
made her way to the managers office |
o bid him good-by
She did not find him in, and as |
Ter train did not leave until night |
he walked towards the lake out into |
he woods all white with dogwood |
nd purple with yiolets, and thought |
# her past,
Her mother had died, leaving her |
lone, and when the estate had been
ettled there was but little left for |
'atalte. She had faced the situa- |
ion brayely and had secured this po-
ltion. She thought as she walk
d along OF the cool months she
ad spent with her mother in the
and these woods seemed
My a tantalizing reminder of that
Their and happier life.
At last, unable to restrain herself
niger, she sank down on the soft
reen grass and burst into soul
tears. She was still cry.
g when she heard a rustic of the
lshes near her and looked up. She
Nv the bushes part and Malcolm
oodrich stepped into the open.
He started, almost falling back
nong the bushes.
why, Nat" he exclaimed, "in
,ayens name, what are you doing
re? Is it really YOU and where
we you been all this timer"
Il have searched everywhere for
II, and to find you this way! Tell
!, Nat, what did YOU run away for?' |
Why, | have been right here part
the time she answered, trying
I'd to hide the traces of her tears
d smiling bravely. you know
ere was nothing left, SO / left col
ye, and after a course in short
nd accepted the position of stem =
rapher at the hotel up there for
e Summer"
Then she told him Of the note and
cause. He listened attentively v
d said: Poor little grille, why,
'wn that hotel and these woods and
at castle-like house on the hill.
ught il as a Summer home. Do
u like it? The hotel is leased for
s season. | was just looking over III
: place a bit when / heard Won a
,bing and now Nat, there is no nj
! of happiness In store for you" y
But leave this egening for the OF
y. | must find another position ST
Now, look here. Nat. You know "a
owe you and | intended to tell you "A
and ask you to marry me as soon "a
got out OF college. Then your q,
Their died. and knew / must wait, so
I then YOU disappeared as com
tely as though the earth had open
and swallowed you.
She did not answer. but sat silent
thinking of the note and the hot
Z. and turning suddenly, she ask 20
is 1t because you are sorry II
me that you are asking me this. r.
lcom2 ar
Why. bless you. Nat; it's because re-
I'VE you and have loved you ever 81
e We were Riddles. and your hat re
int Ia hrn..h - Y.