Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-01
Tomlinson was disgruntlca. Notwith.

her heart with him. With the girls
Tomlinson had met he was surfeited
Here was a girl so preoccupied with
another that she couldn't even be com
pauionable. This is a specimen of the
way she talked about Mieklejohn:
do you sing? No, Mr.. Mieklejohn
has such n lovely tenor voice. When
he sings he thrills me. He used TO sing
parts from Faust and almost
wished had been Marguerite. Mr..
Mieklejohn is very versatile. He is the
best whist player. the best billiard
player, the best horseback rider. the
best swimmer
Did you tumble out OF the boat
when he was here that he might swim
ashore with you?'
How ridiculOus." She pouted- Tom
llnson asked her to go on with the cat
alogue of Mieklejohn's accomplish
ments, but she turned away from him
as from one who had slapped the face
of her idol and, pulling on the port
rudder rope. headed the boat for the
bungalow.
After dinner Alice sat at the table In
the living room with her mother. her
brother and Tomlinson-that is to say.
she was going to sit there. but the
guest spoiled 1t all and drove her away
by asking il Mr.. Mieklejohn read poet
~ to her by the dim light of the kero-
sene lamp. At this reference to the
dear departed Mieklejohn Mrs. Stetson
cast frightened glance at her daugh-
ter Roy was reading a book on the
game Of football and was obliviOus to
the shock to his sisters sensibilities.
Alice arose and. with her eyes bent to
the floor, left the room. Tomlinson
could have bitten off his tongue. for
long evening was before him with no
other companions than an elderly lady
and a boy, the room in which they
were being lighted by a dim lamp.
Mrs. Stetson retired at 0 and Roy half
an hour later. Tomlinson vowed that
IL the period of this seclusion ever ex-
pired-it seemed to him that 1t never
would-he would not get into such
trap again. Besides. he was much
piqued after having been sought by
finer girls to be completely ignored,
considered a parsonage Of no impor"
lance whatever compared with the i'm
maculate Mieklejohn. A desire came
to him to supplant Mr. Mieklejohn and
when he had done so leave Lake Was
sapogie with his nose in the air.
The next morning Mrs. Stetson. evil
IDENTIFY still concerned about her daugh-
ter's sorrow. suggested another boat
ride. Alice didn't seem to care what
she did so long as Mr. Mieklejohn was
absent She yielded possibly to her
mothers wish. The boat was taken
out. and the guest Of the house. with
the listless girl, again left the bunga-
low
Tomlinson bore the references TO
Mieklejohn. gritting his teeth. but
making no reply. His object was
rather to draw Alice's attention away
from this remarkable man to other
subjects from which he might the
more easily direct it to himself. he
exerted whatever lady killing faculties
he possessed for an hour. at the end OF
which time his companion seemed
really to have plucked up some inter |
est in her surroundings. Then for an
hour she failed to mention the lost one |
Tomlinson was encouraged
Two weeks passed. each day being a
gradual drawing away Of Alice Stet-
son from a man who was absent TO a
man who was present All the deli |
cious little hooks which bordered on
the lake were visited again and again. |
and at last Tomlinson chuckled TO /,
himself:
Now bring on your Mieklejohn-"
One bright morning they were drift +
ing idly through some rushes. There's
nothing like some rushes. some smooth /;
water, a little brush and a few over
hanging trees. with a man and girl
in a boat, to make picture Of young
love. Tomlinson was making an effort
to complete the SCATTERING OF the sa-
cred image-SIieklejohn. lie overshot
the mark and made use Of the word
.'love." Had Miss Stetson been sitting
at the other end of the boat from him, !
possibly what happened might not
have happened. at least not then But
they were sitting side by side Alice's
head fell on Tomlinson's shoulder ,
What could he do? He completed the
transition. The burden was removed
from the shoulders Of the dear de-
parted and placed upon those Of the
newcomer.
This is a letter written by Alice Stet-
son to her bosom friend Molly Bawn
announcing her engagement:
"You see. dearest. mamma knew
from Mrs. Tomiinson that Ned was be
set by a lot Of society girls Of that
class which is trying to live in swell.
dom without having the means to do
so. Mrs TomlirSon was afraid some
Of them would get him and, knowing