The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-11


chains 70 a massive limb, flight OF
stone steps led up the bank ana into
hut artistically matched ana "al,eu
with palm leaves to harmonl1e WIN
its setting.
After staring about him for q long
time he took lingering, fare"eii look
and turned to retrace his steps, wnere-
unon some one laughed at him SOFT.
". He paused abruptly. then turned
around. Then with the sweetest LOT
eign accent imaginable he heard some
one say:
"You had better cross upon the wa.
terfar. sir. There is no bridge ABOVE.
After an instant. during which ne
strained his eyes to find the owner OF
the voice, she laughed again.
Here am in the tree across the
pond .
"Ohr Looking over the fork OF
free trunk, perhaps twice the height OF
his head above the ground, Anthony
beheld ravishing face and two very
bright eyes. Without removing MS
gaze he leaned his gun carefuliy
against a bush-frearms have an abom-
Unable effect upon hamadryads-and
said How did you get up there?
Il climbed up"
why didn't you hide under the wa
terfall?'
Il did not hide, senior. am trying
to reach my orchid"
4 little hand appeared beside the
face, and a finger pointed to one OF the
bic air plants above her. Kirk beheld
a marvellous white, dove shaped flow
or nodding upon slender stalk.
40 you wish to cross the stream:'
she asked.
If you please"
wait" The face disappeared. There
was a sound from behind the twisted
tree trunk; a twig fell, then piece OF
barl.. and the next instant the girl her
Self stepped into Wow
Il WIS afraid you'd gone for good"
acknowledged the young man grayely.
He took up his Gun and stepped oct
upon the crest of the dam.
You must look where you GO" she
ndnoushcd, "or You will fall-splash.'
She laughed deightedly at the thought.
will you promise not to whisk Your
SELF away if look down. he asked.
Yes
Eut even with this assurance he
found it difficult to remove his eyes
from her even for the brief instant
necessary for a safe passage, and
when mt last he stood beside her he
felt an irresistible desire to seize her
gently 50 that She could not escape.
I "Well:" she said at length, and he
found he had been standing stock still
staring ut her for several seconds.
"EHcuse ne. l really took You for
q wood urmpA. I'm not sue yet You
see. the place is NJ We'll suited. It
it was natural mistake"
She dropped her eyes shyly and turn
/ cd away At Lis look.
1T is only our swimming pool.
There have been no fairies here since
| was a very little girl. But once upon
a time there Wore many-oh, 4 great
many" 1t was impossible to describe
the odd, sweet sound her tongue gave
to the English words. 1t was not a
dialect. hardly an accent. just a deli
ciouS. hcsitating mannerism born OF
unfamiliarity.
did you ever see them:
"N-no. arrived always a little too
late. But there are such things
She pointed to a path. saying:
"This way will bring you to the road,
sir, if you wish"
"But-I don't wish-not vet He
sought wildly for an excuse to stay
and eXclaimed ooh, the orchid. |
must ret it for YOU
That will be very nice of you, sir.
For two years | have awaited its
blooming. If you had not arrived |
would have got it anyhow
Girls shouldn't climb trees, he said
severely. 1T tears their dresses"
"Oh, one cannot tear a dress like
this" She glanced down at her skirt.
Allowing his eyes to leave her face for
moment. Kirk saw that she was
clad. oddly enough, in a suit of denim
which was buttoned snugly clear to
her neck.
He broke his gun and removed the
/ shells; then leaving it beside the bath
house, Went to the tree where he had
first seen her With one hand resting
upon the trunk, he turned to say:
Promise YOU won't disappear while
I'm up there or change into squirrel
or bird or anything like that"
"Yes, yes"
| Then instead of beginning his climb
the young man lounged idly against
the tree.
Funny how found you, wasn't it,"
he remarked. II mean it's funny |
should have stumbled right on you this
way. There's only one of you and one
of me, and-cr- this country is so big.'
But the orchid, senior. Do you fear
to climb SO high?" she inquired, with
the fdinteSt CLEAN of amusement at
his obvious effort to prolong the con-
yerSation.
"Oh. no."