Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-01
Mr..
|Mieklejohn.
He Was a Fine Fellow and
Served al Important Purpose
By r. A. Mitchell
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

elu duhiii aDiS SdtSu. ne WdS u hhc
fellow in every way and when he
came OF age fell heir TO fortune of
some 100000. He was besieged by
fortune hunting girls.
1t was something of relief, there
fore, when Mrs. Stetson. an old friend
of his mother. reminded him that he
was promised TO her for a visit at her
unpretentious bungalow on Lake Was
sapogle for the last two weeks in Sep
TENDER He had engaged for this visit
in the spring to please his mother and
before he had made his round of house
parties. At that time be looked for
ward to two weeks In Mrs. Stetson's
bungalow as burying himself in the
woods. There was to be no other
guest, and the family consisted only of
Mrs. Stetson. her son. Roy. aged six
teen, and her daughter. Alice. aged
twenty. TOmljnson was told that it
would not be necessary TO bring even
ing dress; that he would need flannel
shirts and any old clothes he might
possess. His days would be passed in
rowboat and his evenings in the liy-
ing room of the bungalow with the
family sitting around a table reading
by kerosene lamp.
After being hunted by spinsters
Tomlinson rather liked the idea of get
ting away by himself True. there was
Alice Stetson. who might be lying in
wait for him. but it was not improb-
able that be could get away occasion
ally alone for a pull over the waters
Of the lake.
II was near the 1st of October when
Tomlinson was driven up TO the rear
door Of the bungalow-the house faced
the lake and was built on its verge
and the foliage had already begun tc
take on its variegated hues. Mrs.
Stetson and Roy welcomed the guest.
Tomlinson noticed the absence of Miss
Alice and was so well bred as TO say
that he hoped she was not from home.
He was told that she was In the house,
but would not appear before dinner.
Her mother vaguely limited that there
was a reason for her keeping her room
for the present. and from the sympa-
thetic tone in which the statement
was made TomIinson-iuferred that
some sad event had occurred.
Alice came out Of her room as din
ner was announced. She did not say
anything about the lugubrious event.
but she looked intensely sad. Indeed
her eyes were red. an evidence that
she had been weeping. The effort she
made to seem cheerful was touching.
Tomlinson was tempted to inquire
what was the cause of her melancholy,
but was too well bred to trespass on
the sacred feelings Of a young girl.
Alice retired to her room early in the
evening.
The next morning her depression
continued. though Tomlinson noticed
that she ate heartily. Mrs. Stetson
suggested that she show Tomlinson
the beauties of Wassapogie lake. Alice
cast a look OF appeal at her mother,
as much as to say. Its cruel that
must exert myself to entertain stran-
ger when my heart is crushed" but
the mother insisted. telling her daugh-
ter that the fresh air would raise her
spirits and that she should make an
effort.
What kind Of an effort she should
make the mother did not explain Roy
got out boat, and as Alice stepped
into it dressed in a very becoming
blouse aud a short skirt Tomlinson
noticed that she possessed foot and
ankle the curves of which were very
delicately turned She asked Roy IL he
was not going with them and when
he said he was going instead for
ducks she gave him n reproachful
glance. Tomlinson. relieved at Roy's
refusal, took the oars and pulled away
from the front porch. which served as
a landing for the little bungalow bur
fed under trees and shrubbery. dip
ping his oars into water lilies. then
gliding away into deep water
There was an autumn crisppess IN
the air. and TomIinson wished the lady
were in a better condition to enjoy it
with him He drew her into converse
ton and soon learned the cause Of her
distress. When he admired clump or
trees on the crest OF a knoll she said
mfr. Nieklejohn always admired that
When ne pulled into a little cove with
a tiny beach overhung with wildwood
and remarked what charming spot x
was she replied sadly. MIR. Miekie-
John and ! always used TO pull in here
when we came out boating"
May ask who Mr.. Mieklejohn is?'
oh This was an exclamation as
though she had unwittingiy betrayed
herself Mr. Mieklejohn is a very
good friend OF ours He left US yester-
day morning Just before you came"
Il was all out. This bee M.ekiejohn
had been there. had captured ihe prize
and there was no sweetness left for
poor Tomiinson.
Pardon me- ho said. with a sus-
-. - H--.4r~~~ II did not know fh0t