The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-17
COUNTING CHICKENS

just wondering what I should do with
myself down here an alone"
F She inclined her head sympatheticauy.
Every one IN the office knew how hard
he had been hiL but she was too wise L.
refer directly 10 his trouble
How fast the days sped-the summer
I days OF steamer trips and lazy l0afng
on the clirs or in the "c0ziesT Of the
dear old jetty.
He had said no word Of love; that
would come later. when she had laid a
sure foundation. but she saw that his
face frightened as they met each DAY.
always for some pleasant jauut. or a
] spell OF delicious Incidence by the swell
OF the sea
, And then came the last evening of her
/ holiday. On the morrow they would go
back 20 town together 10 resume lie old
work side by side, but she had sowu The
seed and was rad.antly happy, not know
ing that his holiday extended for yet an
other fortnight
What time are you going up to-mor-
row, Miss Spencer he asked. as they
parted at her agHJs gate. and she
named a train in the forenoon
Good, That's the one I always take. %
he said We'll. ! shall see YOU al the
station. We have had a good time.
haven't We
Il have never had one Ike g." she
murmured. I will look out FOR you ON
The platform" And then be went away.
II is good old saying "Time and tide
wait for no man." and Douglas Graham.
who had gone out for sail. expert
enced the truth of it when he looked at
his watch.
BY Jove. can't DO it, he said
Surely she won't think il was q put-up
thlng?" But, with a strong wind blow
ing off shore. and the tide against him,
he only made the harbor mouth at the
very time Maud Spencer's train was due
to start
I'd better go up to the aunrs and ex-
plain matters" ne thought. COT 1t viii
look beasty rude" And later I'm the
/ day he presented himself ar the neat
little house on the cliff surprised 10 see
q fly al the door laden with boxes.
she can't have gone. after ALL" he
thought She had waited for him. then,
putting of her departure till the last
possible train. But he was wrong. for
the girl who met him on the threshold
was Daphne, and her start of surprise
was very genuine.
Maud never mentioned that YOU were
down here. Mr.. Graham" said Daphne.
We We're afraid from her only letter
that she was having a very dun holiday
Didn't you see her?"
Yes. I saw your sister," he replied.
! after a long pause. IND I don't think
| she had such a dull holiday, after alL
have really come 10 explain why did
not see her OF to-day"
He had never met Mrs. Spencer. but
the moment he was introduced she re-
minded him strangely OF the mother he
had lost. and the immense love tha-
existed between Daphne and the invalid
( touched him deeply and made him silent
We'll, we shall see whether the Cor
lesion air will not bring the roses back
to your checks" were his parting words
10 Daphne. as he took his leave. and he
added 70 himself: 1T won't be my fault
If YOU don't have as good a time and
/ better than your sister had, YOU little
angel Of mercy
The moon was rising, and the soft
/ breeze brought the distant strains OF
music from the band stand under the
shelters yOnder 10 their ears
a few folk passed the jetty. couples
mostly-the bulk of the visitors We're
! herded around the band. and Douglas and
Daphne, seated in one OF the coolies
out Of the wind, watched the steady glow
on the point across the bay from the
LowestOft Lighthouse.
II don't Know what your mother would
do without you. Miss Spencer he said.
breaking a long spell of silence: "and
yet, suppose you We're to marry. how
then?"
1T is very improbable that such a
thing could ever happen that I have
never thought about it," she replied.
but l would not leave her for the best
man in the world"
Suppose" he said, that one who IS
not by any means the best man In the
world were TO say TO you that life has
become impossible TO him without your
presence, and that far from making any