The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-28

That was what she had craved
TO know. That was the question that
/ had embttered every glance she
met from her kind aunt, who knew
nothing. And now the stone was
rolled away. She knew that Jen
was safe-and she had not thought
So She had decided that between
them lay a barrier that no friend
ship could pierce. He had taken his
chance to tell her of what meant
so much to him, and she was earn
estly grateful to him. Now there
was no obstacle, which could not
be removed, between him and his
love for little Selma.
You thought-not?" he asked
huskily. after a long interval.
Il did not know" she stumbled.
But / am very glad. Oh, MIR. Bards-
ley beg your pardon"
She spoke with humility, doubt
fully, pleadingly.
That's a funny thing, from you
to me-" said Jem. Il should have
thought the boot was on the other
leg"
This Grass colloquialism seemed
the one thing that could have saved
her from sentimentality. She burst
into a little laugh OF sheer relief.
"Oh-there they come" she cried,
There are the baby swans! Why,
there are five of them" and
springing from her seat, she went
down to the waters edge, and sue
ceeded in mopping the two ridicu
lous tears before Jem saw them.
She could hear that he had risen,
and followed her Here" he said,
holding out his hand with some
thing in it, Il brought some bits
of bread for you to entice them
with"
Why, how thoughtful of you."
she responded gratefully.
And there followed an amusing
half hour, of coaxing the shy wild
birds. And at last it was one OF
the ugly, scraggy, mouse-colored
babes who first dared touch
floating morsel, and gobbled It with
rapture. That was enough for papa
and mamma They thrust aside theif
helpless infants, and devoured the
delicious fragments with a most un-
seemly eagerness, making Jem and
Vernon chuckle with appreciation.
Look at your WATCH" she said
at last; we must not be too late"
I'VE ought to start back this min
ute he said, 80 as not to hurry
you. But it is downhil nearly all
the way till we get to our own
gate.'
Come along said the girl gay
ly; 4 have enjoyed this afternoon!
feel in such riotous spirits, /
could sing for joy. If this is the
result of cycling, ! should like to
go cycling every day of my life.
It's not bad, is it?" said Jem, evi.
IDENTIFY gratified. Has your tired
feeling gone off,"
Rather! l hardly feel a bit tired"
And he went on in a low tone.
as they Jared up the slope together
to find their machines. You'll trust
me now more-won't you? You-you
won't think I'm an utter black.
guard"
Il do trust YOU she said EN-.
phatically, "and if you are ready
to be friends, so am /. We are a
sort of kind of cousin, | suppose,
are We not? And if l can do you
good turn, | will, so there"
Thank you he said, in a some
what subdued way. Then perhaps
you wouldn't mind calling me Jem
i do hate to hear you saying Mr..
Bardsley. l always feel as if you
were vexed with me about some
thing"
Why, it would please Aunt Emma
if we used each others names,'
Vernon said cheerfully; "she told
me so. All right, l am willing, II
you are"
You mean, l may use yours"
why, of course, we must both
do it, or neither of u.s."
l dare say you're right Very
we'll"