The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-06-16
THE old, old STORY
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

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Spring whispered few magic words
to the heart of Dennis mccarthy, and
Dennis straightway conceived sudden
longing for the companionship OF Let.
tic Kellogg. Lettie was the only girl
Dennis McCartv knew. And so Dem
mis- ran rough-toothed comb through
a shock of curly blond hair, and be
took himself in the direction of Let
ties home.
1t takes all kinds of people to make
up a world, including the patriot who
gets married In order to escape MILL
tary duty, and so the Kelloggs and the
Gordons lived in happy ignorance OF
one another. But spring plays strange
pranks upon the heart of youth; and
al the very moment when Dennis Nc
Carly set sail for the Kellogg tene-
ment, Percival Gordon leaped into his
high-powered limousine and directed
his car toward the mansion Of LOr-
raine Pennington.
Dennis noticed him as he turned into
the exclusive Parkway drive and
promptly forgot all about him. Plod-
ding his way down California street,
on the far end of which Lettie lived,
Dennis had other things to think
about.
Miraculously, Lettie was sitting on
the small front porch when Dennis
reached her home.
you're looking fine tonight" Dem
mis- remarked How'd you like to take
walk up the driver"
Lettie assured him that she would
like it very much. Arm in arm they
strolled down the dimly lighted street,
| turned into Parkway drive and made
their slow way in the direction of the
lake. 1t was silent walk for the
most part Having found Lettie, Dem
mis- didn't know exactly what to say to
| her. Strange dreams encompassed
him; dreams which to do with buying
| furniture on the installment plan, with
giving Lettie his weekly pay envelope.
and with returning home from work at
night to find Lettie in the kitchen, her
face flushed and her lips framing
welcome.
He experienced a sudden desire to
| tell Lettie something about 1T, but
somehow his tongue Glove to the roof
of his mouth whenever he attempted
1t. They came finally to the end OF
the drive. A single path wendell its
way among the shadows along the
shore of the lake. They both stopped.
"Shall we go on" Dennis asked.
"Yes, let's"
| They went on. The path was hardly
broad enough for two and so 1t was
necessary for Dennis to hold his COM
panion's arm more tightly than ever.
But Lettie smiled at him when he
helped her over particularly dificuls.
spot, and, taking courage DAM
slipped his own muscled arm around
! the girls slim waist. Then he held his
breath.
Nothing happened. Lettie's head
dropped ever so slightly toward Dent
MIS- shoulder, and the silence continiI
ued. From somewhere upon the Lake.
came the sound Of merry laughter andi
Dennis snatched his arm away as If It'll
had been stung by bee.
They came to bench which vast
nestled among some bushes at the veryEI
edge of the water. Actuated by the
same purpose, they both stopped.
Shall we sit DOWN. Dennis asked.
"Yes. let's"
They sat down. Dennis permitted his
arm to hang gracefully over the back
of the bench, and Lettie sat demurely
at his side, her hands in her lap, her
eyes gazing out into the blackness OF u
the water. Nonchalantly Dennis picked
up one of Lettie's chubby hands and \
examined it critically.
"Geep' he remarked. you've got
pretty hands"
"They amt any different from any
other hands, are they?"
Eyes; they're nice and soft"
"All girls are"
"No, they amt"
Lettie sat up suddenly.
"How do you know?" she demanded.
Dennis Redeemed.
TT don't know much about it," he
explained, "but my sisters hands amt
like yours, and neither is my moth
er's."
There was silence. Then:
"Gee, it's great night, amt it?
"Just grand"
at makes Teller feel sort Of fun
n.y."
"What do you mean, sort OF
funny?'"
"Well, don't know" A pause. "Gte,
Lettie, you got nice hands"
Like em?"
Eyes"
Suddenly, from out of the darkness
of the lake, canoe glided almost
noiselessly and bumped against the
! bank directly beneath where Lettle
and Dennis were sitting. Lettie moved