The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-11-07

Make haste and marry duke
this head deserves strawberry leaves
at least" Leslie had said, touching
the golden softness admiringly.
Amy nad smiled-she did not aspire
to dukes, but 1t was pleasant TO hear
she deserved them. After all, Leslie
was a good sort. When she herself
was safely married, she would set
about helping her friend to a like hap
by estate. Just now such thing was
out of the question. So she had asked
young Danforth by way of balancing
Leslie. He was her stand by--they
had grown up together upon adjoining
farms, and though gossip had been
matching them since he put on long
trousers, she had never thought of
him as lover.
Leslie might do worse, from world
ly point. Danforth II not rich was
comfortably off. withal energetic. But
Leslie would never in the world look
at him--he bored her, Amy knew II.
though Leslie had been always too
courteous to say 80. Somewhat will
full, also high-heatled was Leslie. She
might have had half the mission-mil-
lion, if only she had agreed to give
her life to the cause. Yet now she
stood laughing and talking with Dan.
| forth, as If he were the one creature
in the world she cared to entertain.
| Amy stared at her, frowning family
then her brow clearing magically.
she said mentally:
1T is coming out beautifully-Lenox
Carlyn will think they are sweet
hearts, If not engaged"
Lenck might have thought So but
for certain prior happenings-the
fact that a year ago Leslie had been
mis- betrothed. But since she gave no
sign of recognition. he accepted the
role of new acquaintance with what
grace he might. Clearly, he could not
say to wholly new acquaintance:
Il was a jealous idiot! Forgive, o.
forgive me-"
Lenox said 1t in his heart over and
over throughout the high tea. More
than ever he said 1t when, after the
meal, they went In the twilight again
out on the lawn.
1t was wide and level, richly turfed
and set sparsely with giant trees.
There was swing in the biggest OF
| them--a tall oak, but branchy. 1t
stood apart from all the rest. the big
boughs spreading many yards on each
| side. From the stoutest OF the boughs
| big hempen cables dangled. The seat
was broad enough for two-Amy and
| Leslie, side by side, were tossed up
many times through wide arcs OF
! dusk But they were considerable
tossing them was hard play for mid
summer, no patter how gallant the
| tossers.
When the swing dangled empty
! Danforth stepped into 1t and began
to swing himself with a pumping mo-
ton, slowly at first, but quickening
quickening, all the while strengthen
] ing, until cables stood taut and
straight at the check, the circle OF
motion bounded only by their length
| Any exhibition OF strength fascinat-
ed Leslie. The full moon rising round
and red. showed her heart In the
eyes that watched Danforth. Lenox
Carlyn, watching her, set his teeth.
This pumpkin should not win by mere
| brute force. AS Danforth stepped
down Carlyn flung Off his coat and
leaped into the swaying seat, saying
over his shoulder, Il could do that
a long time ago-wonder If have for.
| gotten the trick?"
DO you forget things easily?" Les,
| lie asked, merrily.
Still over his shoulder he answered
| Depends on what they are-and how
much | want to remember" Then he
set the swing in motion as deftly as
Danforth had done.
| Back and forth, back and forth, he
sent 1t, crouching, swinging upward
the arc OF motion ever and swiftly
widening He had not forgotten-the
old-time aptitudes came back to him
But they could not bring with them
| boyhood's absolute nervelessness
| Higher. higher, he went-the swoop
ing was like the flight of some great
bird. Then he felt himself suddenly
| dzzy-blind, sick-his muscles grew
haccid With last desperate rally, he
| chung trembling to the cables. but on
the downsweep his hands unlocked
themselves--he toppled to earth and
lay a crumpled heap on the turf.
"Lenox! Oh! You are dead?" Leslie
cried, flinging herself wildly beside
him, making to lift his head In hei
arms. He stirred, moaning falnt-the
others ran to him.
Call his mother" Leslie sale
clearly. "But-tell her please he is
only hurt"
AS Lenox groaned again, she laio
his head back upon the turf. but left
her arm underneath 1t. Amy, white
faced betwixt frigh. and anger. hac
hard work not to scream.
"Lenox! Say only you forgive me-
Leslie whispered-but Amy heard. Sc
did the inert man. spent and breath
less. "I--love--you," he murmured
family. "it-is-yours--to forgive.
Then he lapsed into unconscious
ness. II took weeks to come out o
It. Only by miracle had he es
caped death. Leslie did not leave
him-his mother would not hear tt
It even II her own heart had no
nromnted her to stay. When at las