Smyrna times., 1909-06-16
TIT FOR TAT,
sy CLARA 4. HOLMES.

AOOpVFiSntco, lSOy, by Associated Literary
Press.l
The train from the west pulled into
the station, putting breathlessly from
Its long race, and Ben Hildreth drop
ped off the rear car and looked about
expectantly.
Hilda" he calculated 1oyfully.
STOPPING to kiss the SLENDER young lady
who approached him with extended
hand
Her naughty withdrawal and very |
indignant look surprised him. and her |
critical glance made him painfully |
aware of his forty-three years and his |
dusty and very ordinary dress.
Her glance said plainly Mercy, how
old he is, and look at his clothesp'
After five years betrothai their
cherished love dream became at once
intangible by reason of a misfit coat
and a plainly shown girlish contempt
for an accumulation Of years.
But when Ben clasped hands with
Hilda's mother he forgot the bitter
tang Of disappointment. She was un-
changed. Her face wore the same con-
tented look, and the welcome be re-
ceived might have been leaf torn
from the book of past happenings.
Even the hot biscuit at supper time
had the well remembered relish Of for
mer days. And the thoughtful man.
ner of saying, Now 90 and take your
smoke, Ben; / know you are wanting
1t badly" seemed like the picking mp
of the raveled threads from the tan
gled skein Of time.
Somewhat of Hnda's a4OOfness wore
Off after the first few days-whenever
she could forget the humiliation of be-
ing kissed in public
''The very idea! Any one would
know he was from the westy' she con-
cluded wrathfully when telling 1t to
her mother.
Mrs. Stevens laughed heartily. "Are
people so different in the west? had
supposed that they were merely ener-
getic persons who needed elbow room"
"Oh, you can laugh. but just look
at his clothesp'
"Yes; clothing does make a differ
ence in the flavor Of Kiss"
Whether It does or not, am not 60
ing out there to live with a man old
enough to be my father" was the an
CRY reply
''Tcll him so, not me. You knew
where he lived and his age, didn't you.
when you gave him your promiseT
81 suppose So but didn't have sense
enough to know what It meant" she
grumbled, land bessdes hes so much
older than he was them Why, it's five
years.
"Yes, he is five years older, and SC
are you. Excuses are so easy to find
If We seek them"
81 don't care; he isn't one bit as he
used to ber
when people say they don't care
they acknowledge that they are II
fault and know It think that the
change is In you, Hllda."
As the days went by Hilda's dislike
seemed to increase. She would FIRE
) quently go out and let her mother en-
tertain Ben for a whole Afternoon
without the courtesy of an apology.
Ben did not appear to be annoyed II
the least Instead he chatted merrilI
with Mrs. Stevens and easily fell int
? the old time habit of calling her Lottie
Occasionally he would regard Hilda s.
teasingly that she would grow restfv
under his gaze and fly out Of the room
: storming to her mother: II hate him
hate him."
We'll. why not tell him 80 and ent
j the engagement? You are in a happ,
frame OF mind for a prospective bride.
: To this HiIda made no reply.
!. The wedding day drew near. Be
had been out Of town one Afternoon
and. being delayed by business. 1t wa
: late when he returne@
) do you know where Hilda is?" b
n questioned of her mother.
"Why. yes" she replied. "She sal
that she was going over to her cousi
4 Nettie's"
= "Oh. she did. did sheP" answere
Ben so quizzically that Mrs. Stever
- said nervously. What is wrongT"
There's nothing wrong" he reptile
with a light laugh and settled himse
for a smoke His laugh was too ligl
to be reassuring. Mrs. Stevens drum
med on the table restlessly.
'It's all right. Lottie." be assure
her, laying his hand over her inge
to st!T their restless movement. Aft
a moment he remarked. How hom
ike you make every place. Lottie!
have been thinking Of the hills all da
and-.it makes me homesick. wiz
you and were there" he finish'
wistfuly.
I eft would be nice. I'd like to see Il
II mountains When you and Hilda ha'
been married a year or so, III Wis
YOU. perhaps" a doubling hesitation
her tone.
He regarded her with wTfnkled ey
for a minute. Then he asked wi
seeming irrelevance, "Do you kne
y Charlie Dupont?"
- VUfxr 10 won QqK that