Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15

A"N H"iIO dIIdlHeu Ill llle meanwhile the average
stature of a man.
l could only clasp her two hands in NINE now
trembling with excitement and holding her off at
arms length, feast my eyes upon her loveliness
my heart filled with wordess longing, for she
seemed somehow to have gotten away from me-
was loath to let her hands go, lest she would
escape me entirely
A terrible feeling of shyness stole over me as
we stood for moment exchanging greetings My
blood was racing through my veins, flushing my
cheeks and making me hot all over.
| wanted to speak to her. to ask her what had
happened; how she had seemingly so outgrown
me; could ever catch up with her; would she wait
for me as she had promsed?-and thousand and
one things that crowded my tongue for utterance
but that beasty voice of mine; could not trust
it. How could l know when l opened my mouth
whether would begin on high key, a low
key or run the sweet word Dorothy a chro-
matte scale?
She all of this time speaking to me, her
voice sweet and low, and as even as the tones of
bell lost my head, scarcely hearing what she
saying.
Finally pulling myself together with a mighty
grip, managed to say
"Dorothy-I suppose ought to say Miss Dor
Othy-yOu must bear with me. AS you see, am
overpowered in the presence of grownup young
woman, instead of the girl. left behind me-some
two years ago. l seem somehow to have only ar
rived at my puppy age' while you have skipped
over your kitten age leaving us mismatched." At
this she smiled adoraby.
Have patience" begged of her. 81 am told
that this youthful malady which afficts me is not
fatal,-uness-by this mischance, I deprived
of-of-Dorothy; is it Miss Dorothy?"
My sweet Dorothy laughed just as she always
did 1t made feel better; it strengthened me;
it encouraged me- l did not feel my hands and
feet much in the way
Call me Dorothy, you always did," was her
answer.
This positively emboldened me to say:
'If remember Alright, did not always call you
Dorothy. 1t first 'Dorty',-then Sweetheart.
Which shall it be?"
"At this she smiled so sweetly that lost my
head again. forgot what | wanted to v. for
second or two Then after moment of hesitation
I switched back and asked again, as though in
doubt
(Which is it:-Dorty Dorothy, or-Sweet-
hearth"
She hesitated; ;-then--as if in doubt, asked,
How I tell?-It depends-Are you The
Boy?-or Percy?- ?-or-or-"
"Your sweetheart THAT'S what | ami Don't
you forget it. You ask Nam Chloe; she gave
you to me; right over there'-nodding my head
toward the park-"and can tell you all about it."
Across the way, in the little park, a wide
spreading tree which had grown up since that
day first made Dorothy's acquaintance. pointed
it out an indication of how my love for her
had grown, and spread into every artery and fiber
of my being l told her all about that first day
and subsequent days, have already narrated
elsewhere.
1t so happened that she dressed very much
the same as then; all in fmy things, white and
soft, with frills of white lace baed up in ribbons
about the waist and elbow sleeves My heart beat
a tattoo as looked at her, and recalled those days.
and all other days, we had passed together-my
sweet Dorothy and I.
We found great deal to say about those days;
many "reminiscences to recall; my stories told in
tones ranging from pianssmo to fortissimo
cendo or staccato while my dear Dorothys were
told in notes as soft and sweet as the cooling of
dove. She did not seem to mind. This encour-
aged me- and-I began to find for my hands
After awhile smiling adorably-as only she
could smile-she held out her hand for me to see
the little ring which she cut in the birthday cake