The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-18

boat, her chin in her hands, staring
cut 10 sea. The soft tide Of the bay
Tapped almost at her feet, and the
draperies Of her white gown melted
hazily into the sands. She looked like
wrath, despondant phantom of
the soa. although the adjective Is re-
dundant. Nobody ever thinks Of a
cheerful phantom Strangely enough,
considering her evident sadness, She
was whistling softly TO herself over.
and over some dreary little minor air
that sounded like a Bohemian dirge.
She glanced up quickly when | made
q misstep and my dishes jingled All
considered the tray was out of the
picture; the sea, the misty starlight,
the girl, with her beauty-even the
sad little whistle that stoppeS now
and then to go bravely on again, as
though it fought against the odds of
q trembling lip. And then came,
accompanied by a tray Of little silver
dishes that jingled and an unmistak-
able odor Of broiled chicken!
"Oh!" she said quickly; and then,
"Ohl | thought you were Jenkins"
"Timeo Donaos--w what's the rest Of
it?p | asked, rendering my Offering.
"You didn't have any dinner, you
know" ! sat down beside her. "See,
I'll be the table. What was the old
fairy tale? Little goat bleat; little
table appear' I'm perfectly willing
to be the goat too
She was laughing rather tremu-
iously
1--WE never do meet like other peo-
pie, do we?' she asked I'VE really
ought to shake hands and say how
are you"
Il don't want to meet you like other
people, and suppose you always
think Of me as wearing the other fel-
lows clothes" | returned meekly
I'm doing it again; ! don't seem to
/ be able to help it. These are Grang-
er's that | have on now"
+ She threw back her head and
laughed again, joyously, this time.
"Oh, it's so ridiculous she said
"and you have never seen me when
was not eating! It's too prosaic! F"
(Which reminds me that the chick
en- is getting cold, and the ice warm,
suggested. AT the time, thought
there corld be no place better than
the farmhouse kitchen--but this is
I ordered all this for something
want to say to you--the sea, the
Sand, the stars"
How alliterative you are!" she
said, trying 10 be fiippant. you arc
not TO say anything until | have hat
nly supper Look how the things are
spilled around
But she ate nothing, after all, apt
pretty soon | put the tray down II
the sand. said little there was NJ
hurry. We were together ana tinit
meant nothing against that age-lonI
wash OF the sea The air blew hel
hair in small damp curls against he
face, and little by little the tide re
treated, leaving our boat an oasis il
waste of gray sand.
III seven maids with seven mop
swept it for half year
Do you suppose, the walrus said, tha
they could get it clearg
she threw at me once when sh
must have known was going Il
speak. ! held her hand, and as loni
as merely held it she let it lie warn
In mine But when | raised it to M
lips, and kissed the soft, open palm
: she drew it away without displeasurt
: 'Not that, please" she protested
and fell to whstling softly again, he
: chin in her hands. II can't sing sh
said. to break an awkward pause
"and so, when I'm fdgety, or hay
something on my mind, ! whistle.
hope you don't dislike it?7
Il love it, / asserted warmly.
did. when she pursed her lips lik
that was mad to kiss them.
81 saw you--at the station, sh
said suddenly "You-you We're in
hurry to go" | did not say anythin.
4 and after a pause she drew a Ion
Y breath Men are queer, aren't they?
I she said, and fell to whistling again
After awhile she sat up as If sh
had made resolution. 81 am goin
to confess something she announce
suddenly. You said, you know. ths
you had ordered all this for sometAin
you-you wanted to say to me. Bt
= the fact is, | fixed it all--came her
l / mean. because--I knew you woul
i come. and | had something to te
J. you. 1t was such miserable thing
> needed the accessories to help n
I out"
! Il don't want to hear anything thi
= distresses you to tell" assured he
y 81 didn't come here to force your CO.
fldence. Alison. | came because
8 couldn't help it, She did not obje'
= to my use of her name.
!, Have you found the-your p
:, pers?" she asked, looking directly
= me for almost the first time.
/, mot yet. We hope to-"
i "The-police have not interfere
Il with you?'
z "They haven't had any opportunity
'. / eouivocated You needn't distre
Yourself about that, anyhow"
IS Continued tomurruw.l