Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-09-16
6he
Blond Giant
1t is Not Safe to Jump at
Conclusions
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

Mark Ellsworth bought a magazine
OF the train boy and settled comforta-
bly, back in his seat. The book opened
OF Itself at one Of Eunice Wards
charming little love stories, and Mark
scanned the columns eagerly for the
paragraph that introduced the inevita
bic man in the case. He was vexed
with himself even as his eyes fell upon
the offending paragraph.
AS usual in Eunice's latest stories
the hero was everything to be ad-
mired-manly, lovable and big and
blond and handsome.
Mark slapped the pages together and
cast the magazine from him. staring
moodily at the heeting scenery. He
was rather below the medium height,
dark and pale and square jawed and
very American. Quite the opposite of
Eunice Wards ideal as depicted in her
stories OF course the big fresh faced
! English type must be the sort Of men
Eunice admired. for her heroes were
all of that description.
! The train drew to stop before a
little terra Gotta station, and Mark
gathered up his traps and FASTENED
out into the October sunshine.
He had cherished vague hope that
Eunice might be there to meet him
once in the earlier stages of their ac-
quaintance she had come for him-but
no, Mrs. Raymond, his hostess. sat
alone in the motor smiling a warm well
come.
"Eunice was coming, too" she said
as they sped along the oiled road to-
ward Windymere. "but at the last mo-
ment Mr.. Punderson reminded her of
a promised walk, so she went with
| him."
"Who is Mr.. Punderson?" asked
Mark grimly. Not Percy Rainier Pull
derson, the poet chap?"
"Yes; and you will like him so
much" returned Mrs. Raymond enthu-
siastically, her dark eyes flashing one
glance at his stern profile.
mo doubt" said Mark dryly. Hes
an Englishman. isn't he?"
"Oh. yes"
big and blond and something of a
giant" There was an unconscious
note of anxiety in his deep voice.
why, yes-in a way" laughed Mrs.
Raymond, as she gave him her hand
alighdng. 81 didn't know you men no
ticed each others looks much"
1--WE don't as a rule" returned Mark
deliberately, but we observe and ad-
mire poets as we do women, you
know"
You will like Mr.. Punderson," pre-
dicted Mrs. Raymond, as she directed
him to his room.
Mark Ellsworth was sure that he
must detest Punderson the poet. AS he
dressed for dinner his fine forehead
was creased with dark frown as he
went over the months of his acQuaint-
ance with Eunice Ward. He had been
bosom friend of Dick Raymond's be-
fore that gentlemans marriage and
since then had been frequent guest
at Windymere. Eunice was Mrs. Ray
monds cousin. and it was at Windy
mere that Mark had met and fallen in.
love with her among the winding paths
of that most fascinating of homes
The presence Of Percy Rainier Pun
derson at Wiudymere was significant
Mark had heard of him as a dreamy,
soulful individual, and he could not as
sociate Mrs Raymond's description of
the Englishman with the dropping,
10 iY,,o 1, 4
jured.
Eunice gave him a cool little hand
and f1eeting glimpse of sea blue eyes
that were hidden at once by thickly
fringed white lids.
I'VE had about given you up" she
said reproachfully. you've promised
to come down every Saturday for the
past month and now, the first week in
October, our expectations are at last
realized!" The mock regret in her
tone quite hid something that Mark
was too miserable to recognize.
I've been very busy" he said alb
sently, land in town the weeks do slip
away. You have not been dull?" His
eyes involuntarily turned toward Pun
derson's broad back.
Not at all"' she cried hastily. "NIr.
Punderson is quite as ardent a pedes-
trian as l am. and together we have
tramped over every road in Mereton,
coming home with the most appalling
appetites."
II hope you will walk with me-" said
Mark, speaking more wistfully than
he knew.
"Of course" she replied quickly. IT
know the loveliest place in the country
side. We will start tomorrow morn
ing while the others are at church."
The prospect of having Eunice all
to himself for several hours put Mark
in the best Of spirits and during the
course of the evening he came to like |
the big quiet blond giant who seemed
a living representation of the heroes
who marched through the pages of Eu- !
aice's stories.
AS they struck into long amber |
lighted wood road the next day Mark
turned and looked at Eunice. she STEP |
ping easily beside him She wore a
simple walking skirt of white serge
and white knitted coat. with white