Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-08-28

W tne AFTERNOON Hawthorne had climb
Ell the wall The sound of steps on
the path from the house beyond sent
him into hiding behind dilapidated
summer house just as a very young
and very pretty girl entered tie gur-
den. The girl moved forward, eagerly,
as if expecting some one. A shade of
usefulness crossed her face as She
found the place seemingly deserted.
Reaching the sundial. she leaned down
and kissed its numbered face. Then.
turning quietly, she discovered Haw-
thorne coming ont Of his hiding place.
Il hope l didn't brighten you" he
stammered. "You-you were expecting
me, weren't you.'
why should he expecting you:"
she asked. with an effort at aloofness
II can't imagine. he returned meek
ly, except perhaps because said I'll
be here. Why why were you kissing
that sundial?'
Because it said it was O'clock"
was the odd reply.
"Geer he murmured. "In my time
I've wished was Il lot Of things. But
this is the first time ever wished
was 8 o'clock But why does that espe-
cial hour make such a hit with you?"
Oh evaded the girl. "it's-it's as
good an hour as any, isn't it,"
"A million times better. I've known
that ever since you told me you walk
in this garden every afternoon at s.
Over in our country we call sundial
a lovers clock You see. when lovers
meet they forget there's such thing
as time. And sundial's too sympa-
thetic to bawl out the hours at them
the way regular clock does. 1t doesn't
tick a pious warning that the seconds
are passing. 1t never wakes lovers
from their fond dreams. Good old sun
DIAL"
Then" laughed the girl, "lm glad
kissed it. hate to hear It's time to
go. Don't you?"
ITS the one thing do hate--today.
Say-not that it's any business Of mine,
as you were about to repartee-why
were you standing by the sundial the
first day came here? Were you kiss
ing at o'clock then?"
mo. was giving audience"
Giving which?"
Audience. It's foolish little game
play sometimes. Don't laugh at NE
i was pretending this was my court
was giving audience to hero-a pre-
server of our country. Then | looked
F.; up and saw
"Nle. You looked like a princess out
! of q story book wondered why you
spoke as you did Say, it's dandy
game. Let's play it again. You can
pretend you're royal princess the
Princess Of Borrovina, If there is one
and III be-I'll be-let's see. What sort
! of a face card shall be-"
''The minister of foreign affairs! she
cried delightedly, entering into the
spirit of the game. i've sent you
around the world to report oil other
nations, and you've just returned Now,
enter the royal presence
| Hawthorne started forward with as
much of an ambassadorial air as he
could summon.
Hello, princess!'' said he How are
they running? Pm just back from
around the world Thought Id drop in
! to report =
No, not laughed tue girl in comic
despair. "Thut isn't the way at all.
You must advance and kneel before me
and kiss my hand and-no, no. Not lik Q
that" she broke off, as Hawthorne
promptly flung himself on his knees
! and covered her little ontstretched hand
| with kisses
That's all wrong"
| liked that part best Of all What do |
do hext?"
| you have our gracious leave to
make your report, she said In pretty
| stateliness
Well" declaimed Hawthorne. lat
your royal command I've encircled the
globe. I've sure Travelled some. And l
have to report that from Kamchatka
to Kalamazoo and from Peru to Pomp-
ton I've seen not one soul that Is q
| patch Oh your royal highness. Not an.
other girl anywhere is a tenth so beau
tiful, So
IL must not play the game II
you're going to talk like this" she in.
terpolated hastily. Then. dropping back
into her role of princess. she continued:
Proceed with your report. sir. Speak
first Of that great country-America."
"Well, your royal highness," answer
ed Hawthorne solemnIy. I'm violating
no confidence when tell you America
has every country beaten both ways
| from the jack"
And 1t compares with BorrovinaY"