The Green Forest tribune., 1913-07-25
WAS A DARK HORSE"
By BELLE MANIATES.

turing inducements.s laughted Thorn ton, "and I trust, Mir. Darnley, l won't be trespassing too much on your hospitality and the good nature of your houshold by accepting an i'm promptu invitation"
 The household is an unconventional one, and delights in opening doors wide when a friend knocks" replied the elder man, taking down the tele- phone.
 Hello! This you, Madge? Mir. Thornton is in town-you have often heard me speak of him. I have per suaded him to remain over and pay us a visit Yes, he'll come home with me tonight" After the transaction of some business which had brought Roger Thornton, the son of an old college friend of MT. Darnley's, to the city, they took suburban train to the latter's country home.
 "The house looks rather forbid ding" observed MT. Darnley, as they came up the graveled road, "but the girls detest lights in summer. l pre- sume they are back in the garden Sit down here on the porch and l will gather them up.
 Rogers heard a light footfall be- hind him. Then two soft arms en- circled his neck, a velvety cheek was laid against his own, and beautiful voice murmured tenderly:
 What made you so late, dear?
 Roger sat like a man dazed stunned by the touch of lips and cheek After a throbbing silence he half whispered:
 T beg your pardon!"
 There was a mortified exclamation, a swift withdrawal of arms, and the sound of vanishing skirts.
 In a distant part of the house he heard echoes of mirthful laughter. Presently Darnley came out of the house.
 After prowling all over the grounds, I found the girls in the din- ing-room preparing a chafng dish luncheon for us. Come in and meet them"
 In the dining-room Roger was pre- sented to the three girls. In vain he looked into the roguish faces seeking some tell-tale token. But not a sign of confusion or enlightenment did he receive.
 T must tell you a good joke, Thorn ton," laughed Darnley. ''The girls supposed it was your father I was to bring home with mel"
 Indeed! And was I also supposed to be my father when I sat out on the porch just now?" he asked, mean ingly.
 There was a trio of laughing voices and knowing glauces.
 No. You were thought to be me, :" explained Darnley. See if you can guess which one made the embar- rassing error"
 There is but one way in which I can decide that matter" replied Rog- CT, gravely.
 How" demanded the trio.
 q must close my eyes, and each one of you can in turn come up be- hind he and repeat the error Then, I might decide"
 This was positively and laughing iy declined. After merry evening, Roger retired, unable to decide which of these beautiful young women he thought the most charming. The next day and evening found him still un- decided, and also in the dark as to who had bestowed upon him the fleet ing embrace.
 On the third evening of his visit, Marie Loveridge, a niece of MT. Darnley's, arrived to pay visit. She was a type altogether different from her light-hearted laughter-loving cousins.
 By one or two skillful moves, Roger drew her apart from the gay crowd and sought secluded retreat in the rose garden.
 Do you know" he said, suddenly, "I had very strange experience the first night of my arrival We're"
 That was before I came" remind ed Marie
 MT Darnley left me on the porch while he went in search of his fam. 1 fly, and while waited there alone in the darkness, felt two soft arms about my neck, a cheek laid against mine and a light kiss, and the most beautiful voice I ever heard say: What made you so late, dear? When I spoke, she fled. Marie, from the first moment I saw you, I knew 1t must have been you who came to me there in the darkness and taught me what love might bel"
 But" she said, her voice trem- bling, you know I did not come un- til two days later"
 T know. But still 1t was you-in a dream, perhaps. but. Marie, will you not make the dream come true? Can you not love me?"
 With a little, glad laugh, she turned to him. and he held her in his arms.
 Roger" she said, presently, "l came a day before your arrival, and stole out that night, thinking to meet Uncle Will and reproach him for being so late. When I found my mistake, ran in and told the girls and begged them to keep my secret They were lovely not to betray me but every time was alone with you I was conscious of what I had done"
 "So was l, Marie" he replied. | Copyright by Daily Story Pub. Co.)
 Farmers Feast.
 A farmer who was taking his first