The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-30

y
the voice like fathers (almost) at his very
elbow. He twisted about, and there was the
Doctor smiling up at him from purring
automobile. He began to Chamber down.
"Hellop he said; II guess I'll go with
you. It's hot up here.
"Right-oh!" said the Doctor, and tk.
steadying help Of his strong hand eased the
ache most wonderfully. The grocer's boy
was very humble, for such desperate char
acter. He merely observed that the red
headed girl wanted the kid back by sun
down.
Shutdown it is, said the doctor; then, to
St. John: Do you know what tea party
is, bub? A Aregular grown-ups' tea party?"
St. John nodded.
My mother has 'em-but she calls EN-
just teas
"Oh, wisdoml Teas, then" And the
doctor laughed. what say we 60 to one2"
I'D just as soon"
As the car took hill, leisurely, they met
young man coming down, walking fast, at
sight Of whom the doctor stopped short on
the incline.
"Hi, Hodl' he called. whats up?"
The young man stopped, looked straight
ahead an instant, then came over to the
machine and rested his hands on it; he wore
white flanncls, grass-staincd and dusty, his
eyes were tired, his yellow hair mussed, and
he held an empty little pipe between his
teeth so hard that it seemed as if they or it
must break. He talked with it there-not
opening his teeth at allan interesting thing
to watch; and he spoke senseless things, as
grown-ups often do, jerking them out.
WHAT Well got mine. That's all.
This mornin'. Don't blame her fIcan't
buck up--in hurry. Will pretty soon.
Make 'scuses for me, will ,cu3 Someone
may ask. The aunt won't, .,AsH be glad.
She never wanted me"
"Hod-what are you" The doctor
jcrked exactly as the young man did, and
St. John was glad to hear him shocked
because the dirty young man was not
wanted. The young man stood away, turn
ing to go.
as all right-don't fret, Dick. III walk
myself straight Say--you get busy.
The aunt's got her to say she'll 60 to New
port. Understand"
The doctor made queer noise--so queer
that St. John turned TO look at him; but the
doctor was staring with all his might at the
young man. That person half smiled-the
oldest, crookedestquirk, because Of the pipe.
"You--blithcrin n'--idiotl" he said. "She
can't wait forever-you've never said any
thingl Lately there's been too much other
lady. Mrs. A., | meanv-see2 Be man
frst-M. D. aiterward. Folks are talkin'--
made me wonder, even. Don't gawp--
makes me feel better t tell you. Martyr
virtuous--ail that, y'know. S'long" He
started.
1t was pretty at the tea-rugs and
tables and bright cushions on the lawn near
the tennis-court; but there was large,
iloury laced lady in a silky lavender gown
who set and talked in high-up voice 10 the
people about; and she put up her glittery
glasses and looked at the doctor as though
she wasn't quite certain whether she knew
him, and said: g Dear ME, I'm afraid the tea
is ouil And who is this boy?" She was
nicer when she heard ST. Johns name, and
said, How quaint when he made his
bow; and pretty lady in big hat, who sat
bya tea cart, called the doctor aad gave him
a cup OF tea and talked long ti..,c to him;
and people whispered something about
Mrs. Appleton's nephew" and came up
onI co.1 etllx. th,pn- ~. II, t..l1
young lady in white, with no kat, appeared
bringing cookies and big glass ei milk on a
tray; and when she bent down and smiled
and spoke, St. John put his hand in hers
instantly. They went to long seat, and he
drank all the milk and ate the cookies and
then leaned back against the lady, whose
name was Lydia, and who was talking to
people, and looked for the doctor. Strangely
enough, the doctor was looking at them; and
St. joan slipped down, went over to him and
took bis hand.
Come over where we are, " he urged; and
the doctor all but crushed his fingers "Bub
--you're wonder" said he.
The lady looked up and nodded when
they got to the seat, but went on talking
with others. Once in while the doctor
spoke to people; but mostly he hunohed
down, crossed one knee over the other and
swung bis foot -and ST. John saw some
thing that made him start. The young
lady felt it, smiled around on him, and
bent low.
"What is 1t, dear7" she asked. Because
he liked and trusted her he told her; and be
had never seen lady turn so very red She
hall smiled. but her eyes looked as though
she were going to cry; and the doctor must
have been watching, for be said, short and
sharp; What's up, John2 What you
want2' St. John turned candid eyes on