The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-09-01
DIPLOMACY
BY CATHERINE CRANMER.

| news tnat had reached Maysburg for
many a day. Particularly did ii inter-
est the mothers of manageable daugh-
tiers, as well as the daughters them
selves.
Practically everybody in town re-
read Lewis Farmington's magazine ar
tcles describing the customs and peo-
pies of the distant parts of the world
to which his diplomatic service had
taken him.
In all the town perhaps the only girl
VINO Kept the even tenor Of her way in
the general fever of anticipation was
Lydia Robb, who continued to enjoy
| tennis, allowing her smooth arms to
become sunburned and her saucy nose
to gather Il flock OF tiny brown
freckles. The afternoon of Lewis Farm
ington's arrival, when the other girls
We're either out In their smartest aft
ernoon toys or were swathed in cold
cream and beauty sleep as preparation
for possible evening conquest Lydia
was playing tennis with her brother.
Mother, dear" said Lewis as they
lage bus, 'let's have things all to our
selves this summer. I've time only for
you and for my book, and the fewer
functions we have to attend the better
1t will suit us both, l fancy"
Il do want TO make the most of our
first opportunity in years to be to-
gether, and even be little selfish, I'm
afraid; but the people in town are
quite astir with expectancy over your
visit" The mothers proud smile made
the big, dark-eyed man at her side
flush under his tanned skin.
Invitations to teas, garden parties
and dinners made Lewis Pennington
fear that he would either have to an
tagonize the villagers or give up all
hope of making any Roadway with his
book.
Early on the morning of the Fourth
of July, Lewis took his portable type
writer and some blank paper and a
camp stool and made for the wooded
banks of the small river half a mile
from town. He found a delightful
spot under big oak tree that stood
on the river bank.
Gee, he unused, 81 could shut nv
eyes and expect to open them upon the
sight of lovely Indian maiden glid-
ing down that stream in canoe" He
closed his eyes and let the picture
stamp itself on his mind When he
opened his eyes, moment later, he
saw vision lovelier than the one he
had been picturing to himself, for
Lydia Robb was drifting down the
stream In canoe. The beauty Of the
race and neck that showed above the
open neck of MILDLY blouse had not
been dimmed by it's coat of sunburn,
and the dark brown hair that crowned |
the shapely head was FURNISHED almost |
to bronze In the morning sunlight. Her |
blue eyes looked straight before her,
but suddenly frightened as she threw
her hands wide at either side, while
her soprano voice rang clearly out:
My native country, thee,
Land OF the noble free,
Thy name l love
Lewis Pennington felt thrill even
more intense than any that had come
to him at sight of his country's flag
in faraway land, and, thanking his
stars that he had a fairly good voice.
he Joined in the song as Lydia reached
these lines
| love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and tempted hills
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.
Bravo My cOuntrywoman ~ called
,ut Lewis, as the song ended. "Your
Fourth of July celebration is worth
vhile-far more to my liking than the
'ne they're to have on the <puslie
'quare tonight"
but l thought you were going to
make speech tonight" The words
anne abruptly from Lydia's red lips.
mot l. I never speak in public I'M
ess compelled to. I'll admit, though,
hat the committee did urge me to
peak"
"They asked me to sing too, but l
said Lydia.
"Well, I'm glad to be the one privi-
eyed person who heard you sing Just
ow, but don't you think you owe me
hat much for having been so unneigh-
orly during all this month. I've lived
My block from you? Mother has
poken of you lot, but you've some
ow eluded us except that morning
on brought her the raspberries, and
alf believe you thought then that /
7as out hiking"
Yes, did, or / wouldn't have come.
haven't meant to be unneighborly.
ut was determined not 10 join in the
eneral pursuit. Of you"
Both Lydia and Lewis were momen-
irily embarrassed by her frankness,
ut moment later they were laughing
yer the whole situation, and he was
imbing down the bank at her invita-
on to be taken aboard the canoe. /,
week later, when it became known ..
lroughout the village that Lydia had
ltdistanced all the other girls in town !.
Lewis Farmington's regard, the viii )
ge wag felt impelled to voice his !.
)inion about 1t.
Every man wants the prize that's
irdest to get" he chuckled, ''and the
st OF the girls might have known that
real, live diplomat would rather use p