The Delta independent., 1917-08-24
His warm. strong hand

look around his lips was much like
Joe's had been when he thought Oh the
neart of old Torrey.
1t certainly was not entirely AL the
comforts of home" that had drawn
young Burnell to the house of Mrs.
Burke. AS Mr.. Torrey had surmised.
there was daughter. The tender
memory of her had fingered with Joe
for year; and not only a memory. put
several letters had passed between
them, the matter of securing room
having required large amount of cor
respondence.
Margaret Burke had good honest
gray eyes, shining brown hair, and
pleasant mouth which she never
touched with rouge. The red OF her
lips and cheeks came from whole
some life and plenty of exercise n
helping her mother take care of the
summer boarders. She was well edu-
Gated and well-read for girl Of
twenty. Her mother, who had been
left widow when Margaret was
twelve, had seen to her education out
of school in the many ways that only
a mother of good breeding can.
Joe and Margaret had gone a-fishins.
All, what glorious day it was. The
sun just glinted through the leaves
enough to let you know he was shin
ing his brightest, and not enough to
trouble the two who sat on the bank
of the little stream with the corks of
their lines bobbing on the surface.
Were the fish biting? Well, no. 1t
was not exactly a good day for fishing
altogether too sunny. But what dld
that matter? 1t was much more I'M
portant that they We're together, tha
they talked of things that brought out
a greater understanding of each other
and-well, after all. just that they
were together.
They were rather ashamed to go
home with just two fish. but Margare.
had sudden sense of being wanted In
the kitchen, and they started. When
about half way, Joe paused as though
struck by a thunderbolt.
Mr.. Torrey loomed up, if small
man can ''loom." in the pathway. fac
ing them. Joe. being too dazed for
utterance. Mr.. Torrey spoke first.
well. Burnell," he observed cheer
fully. Large catch, isn't it?'
Joe endeavored TO cover his embar-
rassment by Immediately introducing
the gentleman to Miss Burke.
'where are you stopping, Mr.. Tor
rey7" he asked.
AT the Grandview."
"Oh. that can't be half as good as
my place. Come and dine with me,
right now
rerh hsa xt-pS u
ing to invent an excuse TO refuse. but
he changed his mind. and went.
Mrs. Burke made the stranger very
welcome. She was a CHEEKY little wom-
an, with hair just whitening bit on
the temples. a pretty color, and very
blue eyes. There was only one other
boarder besides Burnell. She was an
elderly lady, who had been there for
| four summers, and was quite one OF
the family. The dinner was good. and
the guest ate with surprising relish.
1t was cozy and "homey," and 1t was
plain to see Mr.. Torrey felt this.
Three days later Mr.. Torrey asked
to be taken in, and was given a large
pleasant room. which Burnell had in
sisted on giving up. all unknown to the
i new pptTutT. olu lOi III wa
all excursions planned by the others,
the elderly lady preferring to remain
at home. He hired a large touring car
and they explored regions quite un-
known to the widow and her daughter.
Joe saw with great delight that Tor
rey was looking younger, talking
younger. and acting younger. But some
thing strangely like stab at his heart
came when he saw Torrey going of
! with Margaret for long walks. and
| looking at her with tender eyes of un-
derstanding. Why had he brought this
man here to rob him of all that life
held for him? The next moment he
was filed with remorse for the
thought. Was it possible this OLD
mans money was more to the girl than
his love?
One evening Torrey asked Joe to
go with him for little walk. Out
of sight of the house he said: Maybe
Joe, you'll think me an old fool. but
I'm going to be married"
Joe, feeling faint and stricken. man
aged to say: ''That's quite your own
affair. II hope you'll be very
happy"
II expect to be-" said Torrey, with
brisk conviction.
Margaret is the dearest"
Margaret !" broke In the other. 'Do
you think I'm going to marry child?
I expect to be her stepfather. 1 had
to get her to kind of intercede, you
know"
Joe came so near falling in his arms
| A. r. L.
self, embraced the boy.