Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-02-18
Where the
Heart Is.
By GRANT OWEN.
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.
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Ine nanSOm rolled Slowly up the
avenue through the mellow sunshine
of the Indian summer afternoon. Its
sole occupant, very broad shouldered
young man, leaned back on the cush-
IONS and smoked a contemplative ciga-
iFette, abstractedly watching through
half closed eyes the stream Of traffic
whirling past.
He was a good uatured, indolent
looking young man, one of the kidd
who very evidently enjoyed being at
ease. Yet in the dark eyes was GER
tain light of determination, certain
hint of latent power that made one
quite inclined to forgive his apparent
iaziness.
Suddenly the young man sat erect
He leaned far forward, peering intent
ly at figure on the crowded side
walk. He watched it steadfastly for
a moment, while his Incidence fell
from him like useless cloak, and his
eyes opened wider and wider.
Impatiently he ficked the cigar cite
10 the pavement and stood up to open
the trap above his head.
s'Hiv' he called to the cabby. 81
say, there, pull up to the curb and set
me down, will you? And be quick
about it,
The hanson swerved sharply and
drew up at the curb. The young man
scrambled out, quite forgetful Of his
usual slow dignity in his haste. He
thrust up bill to the cabby, and with
out waiting for his change he went
briskly up the avenue in pursuit Of the
figure he had just seen.
He elbowed his way along, now side
stepping some group which blocked
his headlong progress, now all but
breaking into a run in his eagerness.
Ahead of him he caught feeting
glimpses of large hat with a blue
feather that seemed to serve as nee
essary incentive to his hurrying steps.
When he had almost reached it the
blue feather turned corner into a
quiet side street, and the young man
In hot pursuit followed after
Here the sidewalks, being less crowd
ed, gave him better opportunity for
speed. In moment he had overtaken
the blue feather and touched it's wear
er lightly on the arm.
She turned, and her eyes rested on
him with a sudden eager light in them
''Ted" cried the girl happily. Ted,
of all the people in the world!'
|You have led me frightful chase,
Patty" he painted. with mock severity.
--I?' she laughed. "How?'
'''I was in Il hanson on the avenue,
and saw you passing" he explained.
s'I pulled up and gave chase afoot."
N'What are you doing here?" she de-
manded, although her eyes told plainly
that she knew very well the answer to
her question. And why are you here,
anyway? Surely you are not up here
with horses this time of year. l didn't
suppose there was any power on earth
that could drag Northcroft from Vir-
ginia at this season."
ga little clipping from a morning pa
per early in the week is responsible for
my appearance" said he. at stated
) that you and your mother had just
returned from abroad"
ooh, really" she Knocked. 81 suppose
II should feel vastly flattered to be able
10 bring you up here. Think of it!
The wild turkey shooting must be
something wonderful now, to say moth
Eng of the Redfelds hunt. They're rid
ing just now, of course"
Eyes, they're riding" said he. "But
somehow it's pretty tame sport when
you're not along, Patty
She looked at him suddenly, and
faint red crcpt into her cheeks. "Oh,
yshaw" she laughed. "You Virginians
certainly know how to pay compli'
;ments, don't your"
: She said it lightly enough, but her
voice was not altogether steady. The
young mans sudden and unlocked for
appearance seemed to have discon-
certed her somewhat.
1--WE Virginians," he repeated thought
fully. '"Then you don't count yourself
rene of us any longer, Patty?"
well, l fear I'm bit weaned from
eHuc Olu place, Sic COuleSSeu. Iou
see, since father died and we came
hack here to live with my mothers
. people I've been made to feel that L.
or part of me at least, belongs up
here. Father was the Virginian, you
know"
The young man stiffened. you've
e. ael" "red, Patty" he said fatty and
wiz something like disappointment in
his vaice. you used to say that you
wegA Virginian to the backbone-that
there was no place on earth like it,
'"That was before l had seen the
other places" said she.
''I see" said he, with a certain odd
constraint, ''of course"
Bit by bit he drew out of her an ac-
count of her travels and experiences
during the past three years. He lis
tened thoughtfully, but with clouding
hrovyS