The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-26
ROBINS AND PEOPLE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

lnsly. I1eu bne arose anu Smlie0 ,
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.
'T am sorry, Mr.. Braden," glancing
at the name Oh the slip, but you are
a 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 hleat 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 a GER
tain girls bright hair than about the
newest process Of producing tantalum
He returned the paper, but she no
ticed that he again scanned the want
ads" anxiously before he left. After
that he came every day, always ask
ing forssome 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 home she felt that the
day had been incomplete and insult
a 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 thu
throngs on the busy streets sh'
= watched every face eagerly as sh'
- passed.
: The day was warm and bright tn
!, sky blue, and in the atmosphere was
!. soft, mysterious something which tell
= of coming summer. Katharine decit
!. ed to walk home, since 1t was not ia
and most of the way was through tn
40 park.
. AS she came to the lake, fussin
A.. and chattering among the bird
brought her to a standstill beside
bed OF opening tulips. She watched a
- unfair fight between q dozen sparrow
a. and two huge redbreasts with blazin
80 eyes.
:" "The little beasts!" she cried indi
nantly. isn't there any place Il
decent birds or decent people in tn
cruel world?" She stamped her fo
:. lfuriously The action loosened
lbs bundle from its nest in her arms, ar
It ratified to her feet. A figure
=. the path behind her stepped forwal
'iu quickly to restore 1t, and Katharil
looked into the pleased face Of HON
;, Braden.
III "This seems to be my lucky da
GU Hr,.. Ianan he .o,d With a smile
As' which the Joy was unmistakabie. 81
wondered how he knew her name.
Katharine noticed the change in b
appearance. His old clothes had be-
bps replaced by new, and the transform
nat ton was miraculous. A certain con
ow dence, too, had returned in his ma
is ner. His next words explained Z
yes reason for both:
or Il did not tell you about my inve
lon ton before. / will tell you just
} little now and save the particulars
In later on, If you don't mind. / ha
ate something more interesting to tell y
of first. | had given up all hope Of 81
cts. cess till today, when ] received
the check from the manufacturing conce
rst, which is to use my patent. It will p
mi me a small fortune, and ] shall ha
un- no need for your advertisement c
the umns now. You have been my nj
SEES cot in a great many ways since ha
the known you. And now for the 9th
of thing-Katharine love you. | ha
. In loved you dearly from the first u
DOC. ment saw you. may seem preci
The tate to you, but l want this to be ]
rise red-letter day, and my happiness v
the not be complete until you have CIV
and me some hope for the future"
,nu. A clump Of japonica bushes h
Ia. Katharine's attention for a momei
,icb then, 81 think you are very au
,tfar cious, presumptuous, overconnd'
.cia1 young man." she said severely,
the expression in her eyes belied
words. Are you quite sure that "
splendid good fortune hasn't turn
your head completely, Mr.. Braden?
5 10 seams to me that it is rather unus
'igh- ulop such short notice to tell chai
my acquaintances that you love them.
Katharine, step"
nox' But don't you think yourself
day, little sudden? You and / har
know" temroriZing.
the you do know-you must knC
Look at re. Katharine. dear. Tell
lheu you love me.
oked she hesitated an instant, then W
pered softly. yes, do love you.
'ould And her cheeks we're almost as 7
Il SO as the japonica blossoms.
VI 10 Downright, 1916. by the Mcclure New
Eyndiratel