The Detroit times., 1914-02-05

From her affection for him or an ab
surd belief IN his Judgment and com
mon sense. she had never rallied q,
follow his advice hut the present SIT
uatlon was somethine mech bigger
than either OF them had ever 'faceC
before. For the first time t1eldIns
recognized the narrow limitations 81
his own worldly wisdom. and that h'
was facing a condition that he was
wholly INADEQUATE 20 combat. llis
knowledge OF New York and the liz
which Lusk had offered a. an alter
native 10 Fay's uneyentful existence
in the country was absolutely nil and
he VAS conscious that his opinions
and advice would have no more rea
value than so many empty words. tic
had set himself task which ne now
regarded with the keenest regret, but
he had given his word 10 Lusk. and
az present the latter stood sponsor
for every hope OF the fulfilling OF
Fielding's own ambitions
Il was at Lusk's suggestion that
they stopped at the Clayton cottage
before going 20 the hotel. and with,
out telling Fay why he wished 10 talk
to her. Fielding arranged 10 meet her
late that afternoon at the landing
where she kept her sailboat.
He found ner waiting for him, sit
ting in the stern OF the boat, the
sail up and everything ready. Once
away from the pier. he took a seat
Just across from where she sat and
in silence they watched The breeze
fiji the little sail and heard the gentle
tapping OF the tiny waves as they
were carried toward the opposite
shore of the river
Isn't il good. she said at last TO
be alone. just you and l. drifting along
i'm the same Old lazy way Tell me,
Porter. has it helped or mas Ne"
York spoiled YOU for this sort Of
thing
He looked at her barred throat, at
the brown strong arms ana hands
grasping the tiller, al the strands OF
the wonderful hair broken loose and
blown across her pretty sunburned
face. AS she sat there smiling ar him
with her lips and eyes, il seemed as
if she were an essential part Of the
ripping water. the cloudless, deep
blue sky and the distant green banks
and sandy pebbled beach. IL did not
seem quite possible 20 imagine her a
part OF any other scene just then.
Has II help ID" he repeated. Has
Il helped? don't believe | ever
cared FOR the old place before as |
10 at this moment. That's what makes
il so hard 70 say what I've got 10 say
To you. Fay
Is Ii as bad as that she laughed.
Go ahead, Porter; I'll make Il as
easy az | can for you.
"On our way down here. be began,
'Lusk and I had long talk about
YOU. he thinks you are wasting your
life at Pleasantyille Wants you TO
30 TO New York and make career
for yourself
The smile suddenly faded from the
girls face.
Did Mr. Lusk tell you how vas
10 make career?'
Yes. be says he lras aAchance for
you to go on the stage"
And what did you say"
Fielding looked up at FGys serious
eyes and then beyond to the white
;urving beach and the green banks.
- only said that | would tell you.
thought it best that ! should speak
10 YOU first. That's about all | could
say. except talking over your position
lere and how You were situated with
he Claytons But, OF course. he knew
all that as well as did /"
There was a lulu In the breeze, and
FOR moment Fay turned her eyes
10 the gently faping sail and then
back TO Fielding
Would you like meito 90. Porter? ?"
she asked.
Fielding looked at her with frank
surprise
why. don't know. Fay II never
really occurred 10 me that you would
give the idea a serious thought. You
lnow what it would mean 10 those
.wo old people. II they thong that
you"
Il know that. Porter" she interrupt
ed, understand all that. but I'm not
thinking OF them now The time has
come when | have 30 think OF myself
every man and every woman mas 10
come to il sooner or later Much as
love them. and / DO really love
them Porter. I know that they can
" hat is going % become % me- II
might be roo late for me TO make =
start then
And Msrgsiret2" ne asked
The chances are. Fay hurrled ON.
that Margaret VIII marry some one
IN Pleasantville. and she viii prob
ably be very cuntenOcd and very
happy ! wish ! could be. but can't
Tom Maggie, the butchers boy. asked
me 20 marry him last spring. and
Billy Carter. who works over az the
hardware shop. tried ME best 20 pro-
pose two or three times. bat I can't
marry Tom Maggie or Billy Carter aud
spend the rest Of my days IN Pleasant
vile. / Just couldn't do It, You're
the only thing that kept me alive
here, ard now you've gone away
Fieldhg looked AT her aud nodded.
] ursiegstand OF course. he said.
u SUPPOSE you've been thinking OF
this for some time"
No. only for the last TWO weeks.
Lusk suggested thu idea 10 me as "a
iokel and Il kOrt\of appealed, ID me
as allway out OF my TROUBLES Whpn
you Nent away. and III tel you hon,
esuy, Porter, I'VE missed ySu. ter.
ribly."
Fielding laid bis hand gently over
Fays that rested on the tiller. The
breeze died AWAY. and the boat was
only drifting
Eel me. Fay he said what are
your real trvubles?'
The girl looked up az him and tNen
across the river 20 the great scarlet
disk OF IRE >slowly disappearing be.
hind the rlgh gree,ts ksasss
TROUBLES, she rel.ats'f ',bIst tse