The Parker post., 1913-09-13
WAS A OZARK HORSE"
BY BELLE MANDATES.

ThOrntOn, | won't take no for an
answer this time. You can stay over
a couple of weeks now just as we'll as
not. There is good golf links, boat
ing, land | have three pretty daugh-
ters and"
II certainly can't refuse such al
Turing inducements, laughted Thorn
ton, "and l. trust, Mr.. Darnley,
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 teIe
phone.
"Hello! This you, Madge? Mr.
Thornton is in town-yOu have Otter
heard me speak of him. I 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 Thornton, the son of an ole
city, they took a suburban train tt
the latter's country home.
"The house looks rather forbid
ding" observed Mr. Darnley as 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
will gather them up.
Rogers heard a light football be
hind him. Then two soft arms en-
circled his neck, a velvety cheek wa:
laid against his own. and a beautiful
voice murmured tenderly:
What made you so late dear?"
Roger sat like a man dazed
stunned by the touch of lips ant
cheek. After a throbbing silence ht
half whispered:
Il 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 chatting 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 sign
Of confusion or enlightenment did he
receive.
"I must tell you good joke, Thorn
ton" laughed Darnley. 'The girls
supposed it was your father I was
to bring home with met"
Indeed. And was I also supposed
to be my father when l sat out on the
porch just now?" he asked, mean.
ingly.
There was a trio of laughing voices
and knowing glances.
"No. You were thought to" be me-"
explained Darnley. See if you can
guess which one made the embar.
RAISING error.
'"There is but one way in which |
can decide that NATTER" replied Rog.
er, gravely.
How demanded the trio.
81 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
ly declined After a 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, niece of Mr.
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 a secluded retreat
In the rose garden.
do you know" he said. suddenly,
81 had a very strange experience the
first night of my arrival here"
THAT was before I came" remind
ed Marie.
Mr. Darnley left me on the porch
while he went in search of his fam
lily, and while I waited there alone in
the darkness, I felt two soft arms
about my neck, cheek laid against
mine, and a light kiss, and the most
beautiful voice | ever heard say:
What made you SO late, dear?' When
spoke, she fled. Marie, from the
first moment | saw you, I knew it
must have been you who came to me
there in the darkness and taught me
what love might be-"
Put" she said, her voice trem-
bling, you know l did not come un-
til two days later"