New Ulm review., 1910-08-03

for Miss Suarez an elderly widow,
Mrs. Stott, who was addicted to the
writing of poems Of a lovelorn nature
Virginia's opinion of her new uncle's
worldly wisdom rose at this provision
for chaperonage. But she gave him
too much credit. He merely thought
of Virginia's becoming lonely.
He could not depart until sure that
miss Virginia" would not feel sHghted
should he push on.
Craighead's kilograms came in from
the east, still Delphic in significance.
One reported that New York was prac-
fically sErrounded," another that the
country would soon be "gridironed."
Theodore was deaf to voices from the
outer world. A letter from Harrod,
proving that the news of his return
had reached the cabin in the dunes,
lay On the old escritoire one morning.
Theodore inserted paper knife in the
envelope, half cut it open-and saw
Virginia's dress glimmerimg outside.
The half opened letter fell to the desk,
and Uncle Theodore leaped cut On the
Veranda.
Morning, uncle!" said she. "Have
you slept well?"
"Fine."
"You don't look it, said She Your
eyes look dull. You devote too nuch
time to business while your family is
asleep, don't you?"
''Uncle" thought Of the unopened let
ter, the unanswered teiegrams, the
neglected business. Mr.. Waddy's mon
ey, the uncompleted aeronef, the Sleep
less nights, tormented by-not business
at all, not business! Decidedly not!
i'I slept too soundly," said he.
They spent most Of their time out of
doors Theodore ate wolfshly each
day and drank great quantities of cof-
fee to show that he was in fine fettle-
quite unable to pick up his end of the
conversation. 1t was youth and spring
and sweet fellowship, though the
items made him sick Of Mrs. Stott's
table talk. He wanted the river and
Psyche, knowing that he ought to go
and leave her Every night he vowed
TO go next morning-and laid plans for
another day with her.
Early one morning they started out
on berry picking expedition. The
girl trOd in hollow and fell in a
heap on the Bermuda grass. Theo-
dore found her with her ankle gripped
in her hands and her lips tight to hold
back cry A hurried question, a
CHEEKY reply cut in two with a twinge
of pain, and he picked her up. She
threw her arms about his neck to ease
the burden. Alas, it made it heavier!
The fervor Of his embrace did the an
kle no good and nearly crushed poor
Virginia. The color rose slowly to her
brow as he set her down on the veran-
da and stood over her, breathing hard.
She rose on the sound foot and tried
the other carefully.
''It isn't bad at ALL" said she.
Taking off the shse, she held the lit
tie foot in her hand, examining the an
kle critically.
''Do you think it's swelling?" she
asked.
Theodore tenderly squeezed the
shapely ankle and rose to his feet.
II don't know" said he. "I-Vir-
ginia"--
He had seized her hand and was
looking at her With none Of the i'm
personality of the surgeon or physi-
clan. She did not take her hand
away. He dropped it and ran-ran-
toward the river. ...-
Theodore was absent at dinner with
out apology, and the women were in
bed before be stole to his room and
lay tossing again. Desperate, he rose
and went to the library, lighted a
lamp, saw the still sealed letter from
Captain Harrod and slashed it open as
If it had been the breast of his mortal
foe. 1t ran:
T hear that you are back south. I
hope you can come right soon. The en-
gines is here for ten days. The man that
lost the flying thing the young lady come
in is back. He is right crazy, Mr.. Theo-
dore, from losing his machine. He keeps
trying to git into the shed and yells he
Is rooned. They is a lot of letters ana
kilograms at Palmetto Beach.
Theodore struck himself on the
breast and started to his feet deter
mined to fee to his work and from
the romantic dangers of his unclehood.
trembling with excitement, he attempt
ed a note to Virginia Wilmer at the
cabin, messages at the beach, meant
danger and disgrace if he neglected his
task longer, infamy if he toyed on
with temptation. He told Chloe
through her door that he had been
called away and that she must explain
to the ladies'. He hastily packed a
bag, ran down and unmoored the
launch and fed down the river.
Captain Harrod, dignifed, barefoot
ed, soft voiced, unkempt, kept his
lonely vigil on the white straight edge
OF beach that lay from Fort Morgan
70 Perdido bay. Captain Harrod, ig-