The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-09-02

tssso-sus>ar1=erz1s -
ID sight Tar down the road he stroIIed
to the gate with an elaborate assump-
ton Of careleSSness and was leaniE:
against the fence as the girl came uu.
The dried mud had been shaken
from her dress. and with a smile she
called his attention TO the fact. "You
See its all right" she declared.
But 1 think You need a guard" he
declared. with sudden bravery that
startled him. With your permission,
l viii form an escort TO ward off dogs,
dragons and other insects
He fell into step beside her before
she could refuse. and they walked
briSkly on. Fabian wondered if it was
possible that she had been going past
the farm every morning while he was
at breakfast and without his knowI-
edge. 1t seemed now as though he
co2!d feel her presence through stone
walls. Never having been in love
before, he was swinging the length of
Cupid's pendulum. and lie exerted him
self to be entertaining SO well did
he succeed that when he reached the
gate of Gen farm. ali to soon, Miss
Semple agreed 10 go for walk in the
afternoon.
Fabian went into the house with
her that Kerr, whom ne had net the
year before, might complete the intro
duction more formally. and even
smiled when Kerr introduced him as
"the human time table" with laugh
ing dissertation upon the exactuess of
his habits.
The rest Of Fabian's morning SEIZED.
ule was completely upset. though he
returned to Brook farm and there
was nothing to interrupt the even
tenor of his routine save his thoughts.
He could only pace the piazza and
think that Marcia Semple was TO walk
with him that afternoon. The hours
dragged interminably, but at last he
could with decency present himself.
and together they started for the falls.
How much time have We" said
Marcia as they started out Mr. Kerr
warned me that YOU had probably al
lotted certain time to our walk and
that this must not be exceeded"
Kerr, said Fabian viciously, "suf-
ferS from sottening of the brain We
are going 10 make this walk just as
long as we possibly can"
Marcia laughed her ripping laugh
that seemed to Fabian the most divine
music he had ever heard. but she re-
turned to the subject again when they
had reached the falls aud were sitting
on the messy bank for rest
Impulse is better than system" she
declared. Now, suppose that you had
not followed impulse, but had gone
in to breakfast. should not have
known you and should have lost a de-
li%ntfui walk"
The argument is most potent" he
said gravely. behold in me a back
slider from system"
Time will tell" she declared 1--WE
shall see"
But time told strongly in Fabian's
favor To hasten the cure he went to
an opposite extreme. Instead of the
most regular life he led the most err
ratio existence, aided and abetted by
Marcia. The day before his return to
town she declared his cure complete
You have not done Il single thing
today at the time you usually do it,
she declared as they leaned over the
bridge that spanued the tiny stream
and let their eyes feast upon the moon
lit landscape. You did not even have
dinner
Yes, the cure is complete" he said
Il think l rather Ike doing what |
want to do instead Of following a we'll
ordered plan. But you have got me
into worse trouble"
Marcia did not answer Her eyes fol-
lowed the ripple of moonlight across
the water, and the hand that rested
upon the railing grippcd the wood
more tightly.
You should ask what the trouble
is lie said after a moment. "Then
should tell you that instead of Il sched-
ule the most important thing i'll life is
YOU. You have lifted me out of my
humdrum existence into the new world
of love, dear. Is there hope that some
day my love Will be returned"
Il think had better say yes" she
said, with a happy little laugh. 1T
will insure the permanently of the
cure"
And do YOU love ME a little?' he
asked humhly.
A soft little hand stole into his.
"Dick, dear" she said softly, why
else should ! have worked so for your
cure"