The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-12
The Mood
OF g Maid.
Ry CECILY ALLEN.
Copyrighted. 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

rho Girl leaned forward after scan
ning the road in both directions and
Nod the chauffeur's arm. The
o+ crimson car came to a painting,
deliberate standstlll.
The girl did not wait for the chauf-
+our TO help her, but sprang lightly to
tho road and vanished into the wood
,a IN the right. The chauffeur turn
- +bo car as If his thoughts were con-
.+roted on the necessity of making
tho smallest possible turn in time of
sofo+v in order to be prepared in time
- emergency. And then the great GRIM
oor car shot back in the direction from
whence it had come.
Safely screened by the underbrush,
+bo girl found a clearing in the wood
land and sat down on moss grown
n, Deity she unwound the swath-
inrs of chiffon from her hat, barring
foca delicate and sensitive as the
anomones opening at her feet.
cbo drew off her gloves and felt OF
.ho velvety moss on the old log, then
STONED to gather flowers. Finally,
.r;tb the blossoms forgotten in her
I'm she leaned forward, her elbows on
bpr knees, her chin propped in the
nalms of her hands, watching the
woodland life around her.
Chipmunks and squirrels scampered
efte oteenG he edge Of the clearing. Where
tho sun shone upon tangle OF fern
and lack in the pulpit two robins
nerched pertly on dry twigs and dis
cnssed the troubles of May moving
dov From the shadows of the wood
hevond came the persistent hammering
of a woodpecker.
Bevond the screen of underbrush au-
tomobiles and smart turnouts spun on
toward the race track, where the world
of fashion was foregathering. An hour
nassed. and then at the distant wall of
q peculiar siren whistle the girl spranS
to her feet, dropped her lapful Of flow
ers and ran to the roadside.
Bearing down upon her was a GRIM
son car, twin of the one which had
dropped her so unceremoniously an
hour earlier.
But the resemblance stopped with
the car. The chauffeur in the first car
had worn spick span uniform in tan
color from the tips of his highly polish
ed boots to the crown of his heavy red
cap. The man in this car wore a dis
reputable looking storm coat of Eng
lish cloth, shabby visor cap and a
pair of goggles which had certainly
seen more prosperous days.
He was scorching along at q fine
pace. But the girl calmly stepped to
the edge of the road and waved a de-
tanning hand-a bare hand at that.
The machine slowed down, and the
man made Preparations to descend, as
became one hailed by maiden in dis
tress. But again the girl raised de-
tanning hand.
"hIy car met with an accident. l
thought perhapS-I am very anxious to
reach Dalton this afternoon. Perhaps
you were going that way. Would you
give NE Il lift?"
She looked up eagerly into his star
xed face Then the man coughed dis
creetly. swallowed a smile and sprang
from the machine.
81 was-or thought l was-going to
the races. but l am sure it will be
much more pleasant at-er-was it Dal-
ton you said?'
The mans accent was English. The
admiration in his eyes was the sort
that knows no nationality. The girl
flushed beneath it and sprang into the
car before the astonished man could
assist her.
For a few minutes the car ran on in
silence Then the girl spoke abruptly.
Let US take this crossroad. Then
mile farther we will strike the old
Dalton turnpike. There we will not
meet
Il understand" he interrupted grave
~ And the great car swerved into
the crossroad, running through a
stretch of woodland.
Again the girl seemed plunged in
thought. But at last the man remark
ed a bit lamely:
Perfect day, isn't it?'
The girl looked up at him shyly. Her
eyes were soft and luminous.
Oh, have had the most beautiful
nour there in the woods. I've never
seen anything half so wonderful as
taose little creatures doing just as they
pieased. Just as soon as the birds
ured OF one tree or bush or fern they
new OF to another. They did not mind
me nor each other Just think of being
IKE that all your lifew
Inc man looked at her curiously, as
She were new specimen of the
genus feminine and entirely worthy Of
deep study.
II Is all so different from what I've
eeen used to. I wake up knowing that
.aarle Will be right there with my
snocolate. And then will come cards
auu mail and flowers and Aunt Mar
safe1 Ut course Aunt Margaret is a
aesf, out ten years Of doing things
.Isht under Aunt Margaret's eyes are
y uresome. Don't you think so?"
am quite sure it must be a terrible
' replied the man gravely.
anu then seeing the same people
veryWhere sus you go and being quite
e mat you will see no one that
n' ~, Margaret has not seen first.''
fession. - '--''' ' -
DO you know" said the girl waxing