The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-02
IN SYLVAN SETTING
It Was Only a Stage Scene, With
Birds and Trees for an
Audience.
BY MARIAN JORDAN.

to catch the 1890 train for Stillwa'
ter. He did not unfold the newspa'
per he had bought nor did he enter
the smoking car during the hours
journey. He sat perfectly quiet IN q
corner of the seat, pulled his hat down
over his eyes and dreamed Of the glad
surprise in Elinor Blaine's face when
she saw him coming.
He was the only passenger to alight
at the little red-painted station and ne
watched the dusty train crawl away
among the scrub oaks before he turn
ed into the narrow, wood-bordered
path that was a short cut to the
Blaine's place.
Birds sang in the tall trees and
there were murmurings and scurry-
ings of insect life among the dry
leaves under foot, and the faint, elu'
sive scents of the deep woods
Suddenly the tall trees thinned to
cleared land, and beyond lay the green
canopies of hundred apple trees. 1t
was the Blaine orchard. Here Jerry
would hide and initiate the call of the
wood thrush-many time during the
past two summers had he lured Elinor
from the house with his magic futing
and she had confessed that some
times she had been deceived by the
actual brown bird himself.
The brown trunks of the apple trees
made long golden-green aisles OF the
orchard. AS Jerry stepped softly
along the springy turf he glimpsed a
touch of the pale color from the house
and he saw that Elinor herself was
coming to the orchard What luck!
The low branches of a tree tempted
him, and he swung up until he was
quite hidden in the green foliage.
From his perch he could see Elinor's
golden hair glinting in the sun. Pres
emily she was in plain view. stepping
slowly down one of the green aisles
toward him.
What a picture she made-her deli
cate blonde beauty enhanced by the
pale blue muslin gown she wore, with
it's round neck and short sleeves
edged with a foam of dainty lace.
From pink ribbons she swung a white
leghorn hat laden with pink roses and
her little whiteshod feet looked like
white mice. This was Jerry's thought
He wondered II she was thinking
Of him-at least she should have been
he argued-for her lovely head was
slightly lifted and her blue eyes were
dreamily fixed on the vista beyond.
Before Jerry could flute the first
thrush-like call Elinor had paused and
with glad eyes and tremulous smile
fixed straight ahead, she waited.
Jerry craned his neck. and as hasti'
ly drew back, his mind in a tumult
his heart hammering in Jealous de-
spair.
A man was coming-such q man
too! He was handsomer than homely
Jerry Wayland; man dressed IN
white serge, with q white Panama hat
tilted back on his dark curly hair and
his white teeth cleaning beneath q
tiny black mustache. AS he drew
nearer Jerry noticed with another
pang that the stranger wore a laven-
der silk scarf and lavender socks
The two-the girl waiting and the
man slowly advancing with love-light
in his eyes-made picture in the
sunlt orchard.
At last they met and the man gath.
cred the girls hands in both his own
and lifted them to his lips
French" muttered Jerry dazedly.
Elinor hung her head shyly.
81 thought you would never come,
Paul" she said In her low, sweet
voice Dear heart" he kissed her
hands once more before he reluctantly
dropped them you were waiting
for me?"
Yes" she sighed.
"And you meant what your letter
said-that you-care for me-there Is
no one else?" he asked softly.
There is no one else." she re.
turned.
There never has been-another
that you loved?" he persisted.
Never" she said. turning her blue
eyes trustfully to him.
There was a fallen log nearby and
Elinor sat down upon 1t, instantly
forming another picture Of beautiful
innocence. Paul rested one foot on
the log end bent gracefully over her
Dearest" he said holding the little
hand she lifted confidingly to his, If
your father were not so obdurate.
would be the happiest man In the
world"
Elinor sadly shook her head HE
Is cruel" she faltered
"Of course, | am penniless, but
am young, and have two strong
hands to conquer worlds for you"
cried Paul with sudden passion. "and
yet-yet your father holds to his
promise that you shall marry-that-
that-what shall call him?" he asked
brokenly.
"A mercenary ape" framed Elinor's
sweet lips.
THAT you shall marry a mercenary
apt." went on Paul angrily, What