The herald., 1917-05-03
GIRL FROM HhNKINsWlIE
BY EARL REED sILVERs.

lily To the wooded bank.
That Is Hankinsville." remarked
vincent RoSsell, indicating a cluster of
white houses about half a mile down
the river. Il have letter of introduce
non to girl who lives there. She's
fourth or fifth cousin of mine"
Austin Livingstone smiled.
You seem to have @ cousin in every
port, he remarked But this time
you haven't anything on me. l once
knew a girl from Hankinsville mvself."
Where did you meet herr"
Down ar Atlantic City two wears
ago. II was during t. Paul Jones NJ a
hotel ball. We had n wonderful dance
together, bur she refused TO tell me her
name until We We're properly intro
/ duced. She said. however. rb9t she
came from Hankinsville. I expected
10 look her up the next day. but I was
called away suddenly and haven't seen
her since"
Vincent looked Interested.
perhaps She is the same girl Tn
looking for" he suggested. What was
she likeG"
Light hair. blue eyes and red
cheeks" Austin answered.
'She may be the same one" Vincent
glanced NJ his watch. The girl I'm
hunting for is Doris Osborn. but We'll
never find her If We don't hurry up.
Let's &c, to work."
For few minutes they busted them
selves with pots and pans and other
I'M !emonts Of camp life.
supper was eaten and the dishes
washed and slowed away before an
other thirty minutes had PASSED. Then.
logged o0t in all the tn,ry If their
best caM9iuG-trip clothes. the TWO men
made their way 10 Hankinsvile.
The village was situated N the bank
Of the Delaware rivera group Of spot
losSly clean houses clustered together
on the top of a hill. In the very CEN
ter, facing the river. stood a typical
summer hotel, with the village store
ana post office opposite.
We'll step in and ask the postmas-
ter where the OsbOrns live" Vincent
announced. Hell probably be able TO
tell Us better than anyone else"
They stood for a moment on the steps
leading 10 the store. From the hotel
opposite came the sound of merry
voices, and as they watched bevy Of
summer girls strOlled arm in arm down
the broad steps Of the veranda. AS
they passed the two strangers one of
them looked cOyly over her shoulder
and smiled into their eyes.
Austin touched his companions arm.
why bother looking up your friend
Doris?" he asked. at seems 10 ME we'd
have a better time If We spent the
night at the hotel"
We'll, we'll see"
Vincent's eyes were turned interest
edly down the road leading away from
the river and Austln's glance followed
the direction of his gaze. Coming
toward them he spied a girl dressed in
some sort Of shimmoring green. Fer
hair was the color of golden rod in the
late autumn and her arms and neck
had been tinted with the deeDest tin
by the summer sun.
II have a presentiment," said Vim
cent suddenly, that that girl Is Doris
Osborn"
IF it Is" Austin answered. 81 don't
think we'll bother about the hotel,
after all"
They moved 10 one side as the girl
reached the steps. She glanced at them
as she passed, and nodded pleasantly.
Vincent entered the store.
I'D like the Osborn mall" he heavd
her say.
Without waiting for the postmasten's
answer he hurried out TO the porch.
''It's her" he announced with the
careless disregard Of the rules of gra7a-
mar.
The girl reappeared, a batch of lot.
ters in her hand. The two men watched
as she sorted them eagerly, selecting
three which she placed in a small satin
handbag on her arm. She walked loi-
surely down the road.
I'm going to speak to her" Vincent
announced. Come on"
He seized the unprotesting Austin BY
the arm, and hurried after the girl.
II beg your pardon" he said when
he had reached her side, but my name
is Vincent Rossell."
She looked at him inquiringly, with
the hint Of twinkle in her eye.
I'm very pleased to know IT." she
answered in just the kind Of voice Vim
cent knew she would have. "Are you
trying to fllrt with me?"
He flushed ever so slightly.
mo. indeed" he protested earnestly,
II believe that / have something for
you"
He fshed hastily into the inner
pocket of his coat and drew forth tat
tered letter addressed to Miss Doris
Osborn.
"Wnl you please read this?" he
asked.
She took the envelope and looked at
It curiously. For moment she hesi-
tated.
TT seems to have gone through the
war" she remarked.
81 know" he laughed lightly, ''b1t
we've been canoeing for the past two
weeks. and it's been wet"
It didn't take very long for Doris