The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-15
ROBINS And PEOPLE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

ingly. Then she arose and smiled
pleasantly as the tall young man hand
ed her his requisition slip.
Most people smiled at Homer Bra
den. His frank. courageous face and
brown eyes, which looked so fearlessly
at the world were always paid back
in the coin they gave-a smile for a
smile. Just now they looked with open
admiration at the pretty little girl with
the golden hair and blue eyes.
Il am sorry. Mr.. Braden." glancing
at the name Oh the slip, but you are
q minute too late. The last Scientific
American has Just been given out. VIII
anything else do?"
mo, thank you. l will look over
the want ads in the papers. Where
shall ! find them, please?"
They are all on file at the long table
to the right hope you will find what
you are looking for" she added hest
tatingly.
The next day he came again. This
time the desired periodical was in. and
he seated himself at table beside the
desk of the pretty librarian. At the
end of half an hour, however, he could
have told more about pair Of wonder
full blue eyes and the wave Of GER
tain girls bright hair than about the
newest process of producing tantalum.
He returned the paper, but she mo-
ticed that he again scanned the want
ads" anxiously before he left. After
that he came every day, always ask
ing for some magazine of science, and
then anxiously scanning the adver-
tisement pages of the daily papers
Her interest in the man deepened
when the anxious look grew more in
tense. His face had grown thinner,
and his linen frayed. although always
immaculate. Katharine found herself
worrying for him, watching his face
anxiously as he perused the columns,
evidently in vain.
One day he did not appear at the
usual hour, and although Katharine
watched the green baize doors expect
antly all afternoon, he did not come
When she went hcme she felt that the
day had bean incomplete and insult
|
ferably dull
The next day the same-and the
next. A week went by and still the
stranger did not come.
One Saturday she left the library
at noon. 1t was her time for shopping.
AS she made her way through the
throngs on the busy streets she
watched every face eagerly as she
passed.
The day was warm and bright, the
! sky blue. and in the atmosphere was a
Tsoft, mysterious something which tells
of coming summer. Katharine decid-
ed to walk home, since 1t was not far
and most of the way was through the
park.
AS she came to the lake, q fussing
and chattering among the birds
brought her to a standstill' beside a
bed of opening tulips. She watched an
unfair fight between a dozen sparrows
and two huge redbreasts with blazing
eyes.
THE little beasts!" she cried indig-
| nantly. Isn't there any place for
decent birds or decent people in this
cruel world?" She stamped her foot
| furiously. The action loosened a
bundle from its nest In her arms, and
It ratified to her feet. A figure on
the path behind her stepped forward
quickly to restore 1t, and Katharine
looked into the pleased face of Homer
Braden.
This seems to be my lucky day,
Miss Lang" he said, with a smile In
which the Joy was unmistakable. She
wondered how he knew her name.
Katharine noticed the change in his
appearance. His old clothes had been
replaced by new, and the transforms
ton was miraculous. A certain conf
dence. too, had returned in his man
ner. His next words explained the
reason for both:
Il did not tell you about my inven-
ton before. will tell you just a
little now and save the particulars for
later on, II you don't mind l have
something more interesting to tell you
first. ! had given up all hope of sue
cess till today, when / received a
check from the manufacturing concern
which is to use my patent. It will pay
me a small fortune. and shall have
no need for your advertisement col
umns now. You have been my mas
cot In a great many ways since have
known you. And now for the other
thing-Katharine, love you. l have
| IOraH xrO., doo-yx, f-or, 4to a. -
ment l saw you. may seem precipi.
ftate to you, but want this to be my
red-letter day and my happiness will
not be complete until you have given
me some hope for the future"
A clump of japonica bushes held
} Katharine's attention for a moment
then, Il think you are a very auda
} eious. presumptuous. overconfideni
young man." she said severely, but
the expression in her eyes belied her
words. Are you quite sure that your
splendid good fortune hasn't turned
your head completely. Mr.. Braden? II
seems to me that it is rather unusual
upon such short notice to tell chance
, acquaintance that you love them"
Katharine, stcp!"
But don't you think yourself it's
a little sudden? You and l hardl,
know" temporizing.
you do know-you must know!
Look at me, katharine. dear. Tell me
! you love me-
} She hesitated an instant. then wills
, pered softly. yes. do love you"
And her cheeks were almost as rosy
as the japonica blossoms.