Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-07
DAILY SHORT STORIES

standing that this was very different
from the social life he had been en-.
joying he would have liked the
this pretty girl. had not Micklejohn
spoiled 1t all by going away. taking
her heart with him. With the girls
Tomlinson had met he was surfeited
Here was girl so preoccupied with
another that she couldn't even be com.
panionable. This Is a specimen OF the
way she talked about Mieklejohn:
DO you sing? No. Mr.. Miekleiohr
has such n lovely tenor voice Whel
he sings he thrills me. He used TO sinr
parts from Faust and almost
wished 1 had been Marguerite. Mr.
Mielllejohn is very versatile. lie "a
player. the best horseback rider. til,
best swimmer
did You tumble out OF the boat
when he was here that he might swim
ashore with you"
How rtdiculous." She pouted Tom
linson asked her to 60 on with the cat.
alogue of Mieklcjohn's uccomnl.sh
ments, but she turned away from him
as from ono who had slapped the face
of her idol and, pulling on the port
rudder rope. headed the boat for tho
bungalow.
After dinner Alice sat ut the table fl
the living room with her mother. nc,
brother and Tomlinson- is Ia sny
she was going To sit there. hut The
guest spoiled It all and drove her away
by asking IL Mr.. Mleklejohn read poet.
| ~ TO her by the dim light OF the kero.
sene lamp. At this reference TO the
dear departed Mieklejohn Mrs. Stetsop
cast II frightened glance at her dnuch.
| ter. Roy was reading n book ON The
| game OF football and was ohlivious IL
the shock TO his sisters scnSibilit!cS
Alice arose and. with her eyes bent 10
the floor. left the room TumllnSop
could have bitten Off his tongue. for n
long evening was before him with n,
other companions than an elderly lady
and n boy. the room in which the,
were being lighted by dim lamp
Mrs. Stetson retired at and Roy half
an hour later. Tomlinson vowed thai
II the period of this seclusion ever ex
pired-it seemed to him that St never
would-he would not get into such
trap again. Besides. he was much
piqued after having been sought by
finer girls TO be completely ignored.
| considered parsonage OF no impor-
tance whatever compared with the i'm
maculate Mfeklejohn. A desire came
to him to supplant Mr.. Micklejohn and
| when he had done so leave Lake Was.
sapogie with his nose I'm the air.
The next morning Mrs Stetson. evi.
IDENTIFY still concerned about her tnugh
ter's sorrow. suggested another boat
ride. Alice didn't seem TO care what
she did so long as Mr. Mieklcjohn was
absent. She yielded possibly to her
! mothers wish. The boat was taken
out. and the guest Of the house. with
the listless girl. again left the bunga
low
Tomlinson bore the references to
Mieklcjohn. gritting his teeth. but
| making no reply His object was
rather 20 draw Alice's attention away
| rom this remarkable man TO other
subjects from which he might the
! more easily direct It to himself He
cSertcd whatever lady killing faculties
| he possessed for an hour. NJ the end Of
which time his companion seemed
really TO have plucked up some inter
est in her surroundings. Then for an
hour she failed TO mention the lost one.
| romlinson was encouraged
| Two weeks passed. each day being n
gradual dra wing away of Alice Stet-
son from man who was absent TO n
| man who was present. All the deli
ciOus little hooks which bQrGercd on
| the lake were visited again and again.
ind ut last Tomlinson chucklcd 10
himself:
"Now bring on your Mleklejohn."
One bright morning they were drift
| ing idly through some PUSHES. There's
nothing like some rusbes. some smooth
| water. n little brush and n few over
| hanging trees. with man aid girl
IN boat. TO make picture Of young
| love. Tomlinson was making an effort
| 10 complete the SCATTERING OF tile sa-
cred image Mieklejohn lie uycrshot
| the mark and made use Of Tie word
| "love." Had Miss Stetson been sitting
| ut the other end OF the boat from him
| possibly what happened might not
| have happened. at least not then Itut
| they were sitting side By side Aices
| head fell on Tominson's shoulder
| What could he do? He completed the
! transition. The burden was removed
| from the shoulders OF the dear de
| Parted and placed upon those OF the
! newcomer.
This Is letter written by Alice Stet-
FoE TO her bosom friend Molly Bawn
| announcing her engagement:
"Tou see. dearest mamma knew
from Mrs Tomlinson that Ned was be
| oct by n lot Of society girls Of hat
! class which is trying TO live in swell.
dom without having the means 10 do
| so. Mrs. Tomlinson was afraid some
! 81 them would got him md. EnnNnlno