The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-07-09
LIFTS THE SHADOW
BY DOROTHY sLAcKMoRE.

Lorna gazed pensively out over the
vast gardens that surrounded her ia
theirs mansion. Neither artistic en-
deavor nor money had been spared In
making the place one Of exquisite
beauty.
But Lorna's eyes were Swallowed
and her lips petulant.
81 might just as well never have
been born" she often told herself.
Mamma and papa would have been
SHARED much trouble if / had been left
out of the world
In this last thought Lorna was right.
She had been the cause of anxiety and
worry to her parents. They had done
everything to make her happy. But
they had failed to soften the steadily
darkening shadows in Lorna's eyes.
Nothing in the world seemed to suit
her. because she was satisfied with
nothing that had the minutest imper-
lection in 1t.
At times she gave way TO fits of
weeping. Now she had begun TO weep
softly as she sat on the fallen tree
trunk in the forest of her fathers es-
tate.
A young man came whistling
through the woods. He stopped and
listened; he heard her sob. Lorna
| then looked up without attempting TO
| hide her tears.
"Wh-what's the matter?" asked
| Bobby Lake of the stranger. sympa-
thetically.
Lorna flashed glance at him
through the tears. Everything she
said. wrathfully. I
Bobby looked wise and nodded. The
sympathy had left his expression and
instead a suppressed smile lurked in
his eyes. Lorna saw the twinkle
and thought it brutal.
II am q very unhappy person." she
said.
love AFFAIR." Bobby said. sagely.
mo. Certainly not" Lorna retorted.
"a pain, perhaps. from eating green
/, apples?" Bobby ventured.
i. Il haven't even seen a green apple.
I am just unhappy" Lorna said PEN
sively 81 can't find anything perfect.
! find something TO criticize in every
J one ana everything.
yourself included. hopper Bobby
! suggested 81 suppose you realize that
you are a little chump TO sit on a fallen
tree bawling for nothing at all?"
Before Lorna could retort. Bobby
Lake had turned on his heel and left
Q her.
! The next day when she was in the
n garden she tried TO tell herself that she
was not constantly on the alert for a
sight of the strange and impairment
young man. When she heard his whis-
f tie she felt her pulse quicken.
$ HAS your disposition improved?' he
s asked. without preamble.
I "My disposition is as good as your
r. manners" Lorna retorted.
4 Il doubt even that" Bobby said
q "And what do you do with yourself
Is besides sit out here and bawl?" he
n asked. "Wouldnt it be better for 6
" young woman who seems TO have 81
!. much idle time to go about the village
lie visiting the poor mothers and offerins
le them CHEEKY hours. Or. maybe. it would
suit you better to invite Swarms of or
4 phans TO your lovely home-bring then
r. out her and tell them fairy stories?'
= Lorna bit her lip. Il have nevel
ID thought of-those things she admit
or ted.
10 "Of anything-but yourself. per
re haps." Bobby added. you would be ;
IA peculiar person If you were happy un
ne der those circumstances. I see nov
De why you weep. You are selfish: yo'
il are sorry for yourself. You are tire
Id of your own personality. You are s
Id wrapped up in yourself that you hav
or failed to see the beauty of all this. !"
"You are rude" Lorna said. Wit
the words she turned and left hin
Day after day the two met in tn
ne secluded corner of the garden. Da
al by day Lorna's parents saw the shaC
II ows lifting from her eyes,
r One day Bobby told Lorna that h
II was going back to- town. She locke
IS as if she were ready TO weep.
ne "Now-whats the matter?" he asket
ys "Where is the sunshine I have bee
en- helping you to fnd?"
r. ''You are taking it all with you" st
OF said. choking over the words.
OF Bobby took her roughly in his arm
II Il am going to town only long enoug
lst to sell some canvasses in order to hay
eu enough money to buy 3 ring or tw
'ni Then I'm coming back to tell you Low
mt you"
~ Tell me now - Bobby" Lorn
~ begged. "Tell me now. I don't d.
nc serve to hear Such wonderful mIlSi
~ but oh-Tll promise to deserve all til
sc happiness you have shown me-
III Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newsp,
lal per Syndicate)
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