Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1911-01-20

from the front porch. when sefv yea as
a landing for the little bungalow bur
led under trees and shrubbery, dip
ping his oars into water lilies. then
gliding away into deep water.
There was an autumn crispness in
the air. and Tomlinson wished the lady
were In a better condition to enjoy II
with him. He drew her into conversa-
ton and o learned the cause of her
distress. When he admired n clump of
trees on the crest of a knoll she said.
"Mr. Mieklcjohn always admired that"
When he pulled into a little cove with
n tiny beach o%verhung with wildwood
and remarked what a charming spot It
was. she replied sadly. Mr.. Miekle-
john and l always used to pull in here
when we came out boating"
MAY / ask who Mr.. Mieklejohn tsp
"Oh.' This was an exclamation as
though she had unwittingly betrayed
herself. mr.. Mieklejohn is a very
good friend of ours. He left us yester-
day morning just before you came"
1t was all out. This bee Mieklejohn.
had been there. had captured the prize
and there was no sweetness left for
poor Tomlinson.
picion of hauteur. 81 did not know that
! was trespassing on sacred ground"
"oh, no. = assure you you quite mis-.
take me-"
"In what respect?"
"It's as I said. Mr.. Mieklejohn is q
very good friend to us all-mother.
Roy, all OF u.s."
But when he goes away you do the
mourning"
She looked very much hurt at this.
almost offended.
Tomllnson was disgruntled. Notwith.
standing that this was very different
from the social life he had been en-
joying he would have liked the
change, especially for the company of
this pretty girl, had not Mieklejohn
spoiled it all by going away, taking
her heart with him. With the girls
Tomlinson had met he was surfeited.
Here was n girl so p%reoccupied with
another that she couldn't even be COM
%panionable. This is a specimen Of the
way she talked about Miekletohn:
DO you sing? No! Mr.. Mieklejohn
has such II lovely tenor voice. When
he sings he thrills me. He used to sing
parts from Faust and / almost
wished l had been Marguerite. Mr..
Mieklejohn is very versatile. He is the
best whist player, the best billiard
player, the best horseback rider, the
best swimmer
did you tumble out Of the boat
when he was here that he might swim
ashore with your"
How ri%diculous.' She pouted. Tom
linson asked her to go on with the cat
blogue Of Mieklejohn's accomplish
ments, but she turned away from him
as from n who had slapped the face
OF her idol and, pulling on the port
rudder rope. headed the boat for the
bungalow.
After dinner Alice sat at the table in
the living room with her mother, her
brother and Tomlinson-that is TO saw.
she was going to sit there, but the
guest spoiled 1t all and drove her away
by asking II Mr.. Mieklejohn read poet
~ to her by the dim light OF the kero-
sene lamp. At this reference to the
dear departed Mieklejohn Mrs. stetson
cast a frightened glance at her daugh-
ter. Roy was reading a book on the
game OF football and was oblivious to
the shock to his sisters sensibilities.
Alice arose and. with her eyes BEN to
the floor. left the room. Tomlinson
could have bitten or his tongue. for a
long evening was before him with no
other companions than an elderly lady
and a boy. the room In which they
were being lighted by a dim lamp.
Mrs. Stetson retired al 0 and Roy half
an hour later. Tomlinson vowed that
II the period OF this secluslon ever ex-
pired-lt seemed to him that II V
would-he would not get into such a
trap again. Besides. be was much
piqued after having been sought by
finer girls TO be completely ignored.
considered a parsonage OF no impor-
lance whatever compared with the I'm
maculate M%ieklejohn, A desire came
to him to supplant MI. MieklejOhn and
when he had done 80 leave Lake Was
sapogie with his nose in the air.
The next morning Mrs. stetson. evil
IDENTITY still concerned about her daugh-
ter's sorrow, suggested another boat
ride Alice didn't seem to care what