The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-28


spired by the juvenile spirit Of tn
age, would slip OF the years while b.
shouldered them until there could b.
no sympathy between them.
There was only one thing to do
either to give up his hopes of q quie
old age with his sister-or else to slil
of some Of the staidness that his ag'
and profession had brought him.
Il believe l really could enjoy goot
time." he said wonderingly a. he wen
to bed.
The next afternoon Professor Trim
gle sat in the orchard under a low
hanging apple tree. He was in Han
nah's favorite seat, an ancient winl
chair covered with oilcloth. Herr
Hannah could sit and sew or read OF
sleep entirely protected from draughts
Amos Tringle had spent q lonely
day. He had seen the pretty Desmond
giris-he didn't know how many there
were, four or five altogether drive
away in the motor with their hand
some mother: and there was no sound
Of piano or Of merry voices from the
tennis court over tho way.
Tho little volume OF essays dropped
from the professors fingers to the
ground and be closed his eyes drowsi.
N. Swift footsteps crossing the or
chard grass reused him and the sound
Of sweet voice brought him wide
awake
From behind the wing chair came
the most astonishing words.
"Dearie, If you're not asleep, won't
you please get this horrid splinter out
of my finger? II you are asleep, Miss
Hannah. dear, you needn't answer,
added the voice with q gurgle Of Celtic
humor.
Professor Tringle cautiously poked
his head around the corner Of the
winged chair and looked into the as
tonished face Of the most beautiful girl
he had ever seen.
Az she uttered an embarrassed cry
hs arose to his tall height and smiled
down into her wonderful blue eyes.
Don't be alarmed" he counseled
her. Il am Miss Tringle's brother
she is IN Petawick today. Won't you
Dit downf" He indicated the chair he
had vacated.
"No-no. thank you. Professor Trim
gle" said the girl recovering her
poise. II am Desdemona Desmond.
trom across the street. I've . splinter
In my finger. and the servants are so
clumsy about such things that just
ran across to Miss Hannah. I'm afraid
disturbed you" with . glance at his
book.
mot at ALL" he assured her eagerly,
and II you will permit me, Miss Des-
nond, I will remove the splinter. Let
ne see It,"
Desdemona held out a pinky-white
orefnger which Amos took In his own
land. She gave him a needle and a
my bottle of antiseptic solution. In q
'econd he had extracted the silver,
vincing with her at the slight pain.
When he applied the antiseptic, he
ecorked the bottle and gave 1t to her
With the needle. waving aside her
hanks.
Wont you sit DOWN." he asked,
ceiling awkwardly that he must seem
cry ancient to this girl in tho white
niddy blouse with a red bow at her
hroat and q glimpse Of little white
ennis shoes beneath her snowy skirt.
Thanks, will. II I'm mot interrupt
ag you," she said demurely.
Amos threw himself down on tho
ench under the apple tree and after
hat there passed the most delightful
our he had ever known. Desdemona
could talk of things that in
crested him. Not only wAs she in
1Tested in girlish pursuits, but she
'as widely read, and her freshness
( view and her charming dlfhdence
efore him, the learned man Of letterA
as the undoing Of Professor Tringle. |
When Hannah came home that night |
he was obliged to unearth from tho
tic some automobile catalogues
'hich he had tossed aside in scorn tho |
eek before; before his blazing en-
,usiasm her longing for past youth |
,ok new impetus and when q week +
tier they both came back from New
ofk in a bright red automobile, ono
'ould scarcely have recognized the
taid brother and sister IN the compile
D modishly attired In motor gar
lents.
The Desmonds were deeply inter
sted in the car-especially Desde
iona, and all the Desmonds rode forth
/ It and we're charmed with It and
ith the professor-especially Desde-
lona! And after awhile Hannah grew
, decline a motor ride by moonlight
nile she went to sit with the Des-
londs on their gay piaxza and Amos
ringle and Desdemona went through
,e country over perfect roads and
'arning the old, old story. Desds
iona was not too young to learn II,
nd Amos. who was slipping OF the
ears with every hour Of this new ex-
erience, was as young as Desdemona
erself.