Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1917-06-21
THE old, old STORY
nx EARL REED sILvERs.


Dennis straightway conceived a sudden
longing for the companlonship Of Let
tic Kellogg. Lettie was the only girl
Dennis McCarty knew. And so Den
mis- ran rough-toothed comb through
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
at 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
a 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, Den
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 ut
night to find Lettie in the kitchen, her
face flushed and her lips framing a
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 wended its
way among the shadows along the
shore of the lake. They both stopped.
"Shall we 60 ONT" Dennis asked.
Eyes, let's"
They went on. The path was hardly
broad enough for two and so 1t was
Reeessary for Dennis to hold his COM
80 arm more tightly than ever.
fie smiled at him when he
helped her over particularly difficult
SPOT and, taking courage, Dennis
slipped his own muscled arm around
the girls slim waist. Then he held hts
breath.
Nothing happened. Lettie's head
dropped ever so slightly toward Den
mis- shoulder, and the silence contin-
ued. From somewhere upon the lake
came the sound of merry laughter, and
Dennis snatched his arm away as If 1t
had been stung by bee.
They came to a bench which was
nestled among some bushes at the very
edge of the water. Actuated by the
same purpose, they both stopped.
Shall we sit DOWN." Dennis asked.
eyes, let's"
They sat down. Dennis permitted his
arm to hang gracefully over the back
Of the bench, and Lettie sat demurely
Mt his side, her hands In her lap her
eyes gazing out into the blackness of
the water. Nonchalantly Dennis picked
up one of Lettie's chubby hands and
examined it critically.
"Gee!" he remarked. you've got
pretty hands,"
"They amt any different from any
other hands, are they?"
"Yes; they're nice and SOFT"
"All girls are"
mo, they amt"
Lettie sat up suddenly.
slow do you know?" she demanded.
Dennis REDEEMED.
IL 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 itT"
aust grand"
ut makes Teller feel sort of fun
n.y."
"What do you mean, sort OF
funnyT"
well, l don't know" A pause. Gee
Lettie, you got nice hands"
Like emf"
ayes"
Suddenly, from out of the darkness
Of the lake, canoe glided almost
noiselessly and bumped against the
bank directly beneath where Lettie
and Dennis were sitting. Lettie moved
little farther away, and both strained
their eyes for glimpse of the two fig
ures sitting in the canoe. They could
see nothing, but presently a mans
voice pierced the silence.