The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-21
WAS A OZARK HORSE"
BY BELLE MANDATES.

Thornton, l won't take no for an
answer this time. Yoa' can stay over
q couple Of weeks now Just as we'll as
! not. There is good golf links, boat
ing, ana I have three pretty daugh'
! ters, and"
Il certainly cant refuse suct' II
furing inducements" laughted Thorn
ton, "and ! trust, Mr.. Darnley,- ]
won't be trespassing too much on
your hospitality and the good nature
Of your. HOUSEHOLD by accepting an i'm
promptu invitation"
The household is an unconventional
one, and delights in opening doors
wide when friend knocks" replied
the elder man, taking down the tele-
phone.
"Hellol This you, Madge! Mr.
Thornton is in town-you have often
heard me speak Of him. have per-
suaded him to remain over and pay
US visit. Yes, he'll come home with
me tonight" After the transaction
Of some business which had brought
Roger Thornten, the son Of an old
college friend Of Mr.. Darnley's, to the
city, they took 4 suburban train to
the lattsr's country home.
1.-THE house looks rather forbid.
ding" observes MIR. Darnley., - they
came up the graveled road, but the
girls detest lights in summer I pre-
sumo they are back In the garden.
Sit down here on the porch and I
will gather them up
Rogers heard . light football be-
hind him: Then two soft arms en-.
circled his neck, = velvety cheek was
laid against his own. and q beautiful
voice murmured tenderly:
what made, you so late, dear?"
Roger sat like q man dazed,
stunned by the touch of lips and
cheek After a throbbing silence he
half whispered:
II beg your pardon!"
There was Mortified exclamation,
a swift withdrawal of arms, and the
sound Of vanishing skirts.
In distant part of thu house he
heard echoes of mirthful laughter.
Presently Darnley came out Of the,
house.
after prowfing all over tho
grounds, found the girls In the dim
ing-room preparing chatting dish
luncheon for us Come in and meet
them"
In the dfnisg-room Roger was pre-
sented to the three girls. In vain he
looked into the roguish faces seeking
some telltale token. But not a. sign
of confusion or enlightenment did he
receive.
II must tell you a good joke, Thorn.
ton," laughed Darnley. "Ths girls
supposed it was YOUR father I was
to bring home with mel"
Indeed! And was ! also supposed
to be my father when sat out on the
porch Just now%' he asked. mean
ingly.
There was a trio of laughing voices
and knowing glances.
mo. You were thought to be me-"
explained Darnley. "Ses II you can
guess which one made the embar.
RAISING error"
There Is but one way in which I
can decide that matter" replied Rog.
er. gravely.
"How?" demanded the trio.
II must close my eyes, and each
one of you can in turn come up be-
hind he and repeat the error! Then,
/ might decide"
This was positively and laughing
ly declined After a merry evening,
Roger retired, unable to decide which
of these beautiful young women he
thought the most chnrn.iNg. The next
day and evening found him still I'M
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 Loyeridge, a niece of Mr.
D2rnleys, arrived to pay visit, She
was a type altogether different from
her light-learted laushterloving
cousins.
By one or two skillful moves,
Roger drew her apart from the gay
crowd and soueht secluded retreat
in the rose garden.
DO you know" he said suddenly,
81 had very strange experience the
first night of my arrival here
THAT was before / came" remind.
ed Marie.
"Mr. Darnloy left me on the porch
while he went in search of his fam.
lily, and while | waited there alone In
the darkness, I felt two soft arms
about my neck, a cheek laid against
mine. and light kiss. and the most
beautiful voice ever heard say:
What made you so late, dear" When
I spoke, she fed Marie. from the
first moment saw you, l knew It
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 | did not come I'm.
til two days later"
II know. But still 1t was youth .
dream, perhaps. but, Marie, will you
not make the dream come true? Can
you not love me?"