The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-09-24

Mrs. Moore packed the luncheon
baskets with skilled rapidity.
Ready" called her sister, Char
lotte Owen, flying down the stairs.
Yes, dear Has Peter brought the
car around?"
He's coming now, Ruth. I'll send
him in for the baskets"
Charlotte dropped her burden into
the hands of the chauffeur on the
veranda and joined the party of young
people assembled there.
At the foot of the steps stood the
large seVen-passenger car which would
have to make two trips to convey the
party of a round dozen to Mosey Dell,
ten miles distant. The first load bore
Mr.. and Mrs. Moore, the host and
hostess of the occasion, her sister
Charlotte and the other girls. Mr..
Moore ond the men waved a gOodby
to the f1uttering handkerchiefs that
disappeared down the long driveway.
Dick Fletcher watched Charlotte's pale
blue chiffon veil rather wistfully until
the bending trees hid the car from
view.
The girls scattered among the trees
Sunnybank for the men. Mrs. Moore
busted herself with the tea basket, for
the maids had been given a holiday
and she had preferred to assume the
preparation of the feast. Charlotte
joined her, unusually grave and silent
for one so merry. Under large pine
the sisters made their kitchen, ar
ranging spirit lamp and tea kettle in
readiness for the meal
Charlotte had pulled out the tea
caddy and sat dreamily regarding her
own sweet reflection in it's polished
oliver surface. Mrs. Moore watched
her covertly. At last she spoke:
Were you surprised at Dicks ar
rival, Lotte?"
The girl started
"Rather-how did it happen,
Ruth?"
Jack met him in town the other
day-he mentioned the picnic and in
vited Dick; hardly thought he'd come
after the way you had treated him. -
Mrs. Moore's manner was reproach-
full.
Treated him." echoed Charlotte,
Indignantly. "Why, Ruth, do you real
~ OOllSNG II 10 lluSIuS d Lldu W re-
fuse his offer of marriage-if one
doesn't carer"
Il don't see how you can help car
ing, Lotte-Dick is one of the finest
fellows in the world"
yet you married Jack Moore-how
did you escape Dick F1etcher's fasci
'nations?" she Queried.
| Ruth emerged from the basket with
! wide opened eyes. "Of course Dick
had no attraction for me, child!
was in love with jack 1t is differ
ent with you-you don't care for any
( body else and"
How do you know?" interrupted
Charlotte quietly.
Lotto Owen-are you still in love
with that-that yokel Joel Crane
That towheaded, awkward, freckly
country pumpkin? | am surprised
Charlotte arose and leaned agains
the pine tree looking very fair ant
young and slender in her pale blue
gown with the sunshine turning he
hair into a thousand tints of bronz,
and copper. The rose had faded from
her face, leaving it white,
What if | ann" she asked in re
ply.
But Lotto. you can't marry him
Would you spend your whole lif
down there buried on that little farm
When have you seen him? l SUP
posed you had forgotten all that rub
bish about his saving your life year
ago"
Il haven't seen him for ten years,
confessed Charlotte.
Ruth Moore laughed you silly
romantic thing! He's probably maj
ried long ago and forgotten all abou
you. Well motor around by that lii
tie farm when we return and 20
shall see all the tow-headed childre
playing about the door among tn
chickens and pigs! l believe your
merely joking, Lotto. after all VIII
would look at Joel Crane after know
ing that Dick Fletcher. handsome
rich, charming-wanted to MARI
one?"
Ruth, did you invite Dick dow
purposely?" demanded Charlotte
II did, Lotto, and l think you're a
ungrateful goose not to take adva1
tage of such an opportunity; Die
would buy the Cedars, that charmin
place next to Sunnyside, and"
But Charlotte had vanished aroun
the trunk of the tree and Ruth's il
dignant glance followed her filth
among the brown pine trunks unit
the pale blue gown disappeared b,
yond the waterfall Then she turne
to welcome the coming automobil
with its gay party, and vainly trie
to think Of some reasonable explani
ton of Charlotte's disappearance.
Charlotte clambered up the stee
rocks moist with spray from the fal
ing water. Up here in the highe