Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-10-05

manded, "and you will have an unob-
structed view
Madge the willful meekly obeyed,
gazing in awed silence until the ship
of the sky had sailed far into the dis
lance, its throbbing engines sending
back no sound Then with Its disap-
pearance her strange excitement seem
ed to vanish. She turned, half dazed-
ly, to look into the eyes Of her compan-
ion.
Where are WEI? she asked slowly.
The young man in turn regarded his
surroundings with puzzled air.
81 don't know" he stammered. Then
his dark eyes twinkled. Looks like
somebody's flower garden"
1t was indeed flower garden.
Blooming geraniums bordered the
hedge, and roses clambered riotously
up their trellises.
1--WE are trespassing." the girl said
severely. You should not have
brought me here"
Brought you!' the young man ex-
claimed reproachfully. why, you
were so keen on seeing that aeroplane
l just had to help you along"
Madge studied her escort with inter-
est. He had evidently started out
upon this chase as Unexpectedly as
she, for he was both hatless and coat
less. She put up her hand to smooth
her disheveled locks, flushing with
embarrassment that her sudden inter-
est in aeroplanes should have led her
into this peculiar position.
Never mind" the young man said
kindly. "Give me permission and
will see you safely home. The streets
will be filled with the returning crowd
at this time" 80. astns.ss.se -.sss-!.--
/. As Madge fingered irresolutely a
/ heavy rumbling overhead caused both
to look up in apprehension; then with
out further warning down came a
heavy shower. Great sheets of rain
| swept the garden; it blew in their
faces; it soaked their rumpled hair;
it lay in little pools across the drive
way. The man caught her hand, draw
ing her compellingly toward the house
in the background. --.-.s~
! 1place seems to have been vacated
/. for the summer" he said as they
found shelter beneath a yeranda roof,
otherwise you might ask for protee-
ton inside. The best thing under the
circumstances for you to do is to wait
here while / go for an umbrella"
Madge looked up at him Indignantly
do you think would be as selfish
as that?' she said. "Why, you would
be drenched before you could reach the
gate"
The man SMILED.
"Then we both had better stay
where we are for the present. This
shower cannot last long,"
She flashed a glance at him as he
dropped easily into seat at her side;
then, as their eyes met, her laughter
rippled merrily
do you know" she said, II think
that In some unaccountable way
have Slipped back to my childhood
days. Surely it is an unusual pro-
ceeding for grownup to go racing
about chasing big balloon with
"a big boy" the man finished laugh
ingly. He bent over her. LET us
keep up the game for awhile" he said
impulsively. "One is not often priv
ileged to return to the happy hours OF
childhood. Now, when l was a kid
we became acquainted by simply ask
ing two questions-'What is your
name. and where do you liveY"
Very WELL" Madge agreed demure
ly. "What is your name, little boy, and
where do you liye?"
"My name," the young man answered
gravely, lis Thomas Westinghouse
Chalmers, generally known as Tommy
and live on Beechwood avenue"
The girls eyes widened. why, 81
do II! she exclaimed.
your number?" Tommy asked ca
gerly.
1.-TWO hundred forty-four. Ant
yours?'
1--WE are neighbors-near neighbors,
the young man answered delightedly
Mother and moved recently into tn,
house directly across from yours"
Really" said Madge. "How yer.
strange that we should meet in this
er-informal manner"
isn't it?" said Thomas Westinghouse
Chalmers. His eager eyes sought hers
ut will not be our last meeting If
can help it," he added fervently.
The sun had removed all trace Of tn
shower when he finally stood at tn
entrance Of Madge's home bidding he
a'reluctant goodby. Then as he reach
. ed the gateway he slowly retraced hi
, steps.
II have confession to make" h
began diffidently. please pardon
poor, lonely sinner. You see, kney
that you lived in this house all along
2 Fact is I spend most Of my time jus
looking over here-and-and it was m
: overwhelming desire to know 20
which prompted me to deliberately TO
, low you this afternoon
Madge looked up at him, gently n,