Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-23
THE ENEMY
GEsoRGE RANDOLPH CHESTER LILLIAN CHESTER
Auths-s o FIRE" etc.
ga
Intern
(Continued)

This was Billy's first outing with
Tavy and Tavys mother, his first
meeting, in fact, since that wonder
full time, three days before, when he
found Tavy in the little park and
caught her in his arms; and Billy, for
all his happiness, was grave and
thoughtful, too, for he realized that
he was merely allowed to call, not
really desired; that is, by one of the
ladies. He felt keenly that he must
be on his good behavior, so he auto
matically remembered, now and then,
to smile at Mummy Stuart and speak
a pleasant word; but this was difficult.
He was very fond of Mummy Stuart;
but he had been separated from
Tavy for so long; and love is selfish,
as it must always be; and mothers
have lived their lives; and the world
is for the young!
Was there ever such place as
Woodbrier, where the wild flowers
tangle in the grass, and a choir of
birds sings, increasingly; where soft
breezes come to ruffle the surface of
the glossy little lake, and whisper
wonderful secrets in the swaying
branches of the trees; and where all
the food and drink is nectar and am
brosia,' when one is q Billy and has
Il laNy Dy MS size.
What was that which sparkled and
glittered and danced, with a thou
send flashing colors, on Tavy's hand ?
The ring. 1t was placed there, in the
enchanted pink and gray parlor, just
before the start for Woodbrier, but
with the distinct understanding that
it was the symbol of Billy's strength,
and that when Billy's strength should
vanish, the ring should vanish, never
L.
that, by which to place ring of such
glorious significance on the finger of
such marvellous girl as Tavy; and
now here was the ring, happy, too,
1t seemed, catching the blue of the
sky and the green of the leaves and
the red of the charming motor-bon-
net and the gold of the sun, and all
the other countless tints and shades
from far and near, and darting them
in all directions, as if it were a foun-
tain of sparks.
Mrs. Stuart, watching Billy and
TaVy, and seeing how happy they
were in each other, relented a little
or her grimness. He was a fine-look-
ing young fellow, manly, wholesome,
honorable. trustworthy. Could it be
possible that her own bitter eXperi-
ence had warped her Judgment and
made her harsh? Perhaps. 1t was
not unlikely. Billy might turn out
to be entirely safe, and, if so, little
TaVy would be happy all her life.
and that was all which was to be de-
sired. At any rate, he had his sec
ond chance, and he should not be
cramped by unsympathetic reserve.
That is not the best help which an
anxious and eager young man can
have, one who is sturdily bound to do
right, one who, clear down in the
honest heart of him, wishes to de
serve appreciation. So Tavy's mother.
having had plenty of time to think
all these things, while the lovers were
with many words saying nothing at
all to each other, at last seized on one
or those instants When Billy paused
to look at her and smile politely. She
leaned forward, and there was a deli
cate flush upon her cheeks, for the
settling of things and the ride had
done her good.
III have to confess that 7 have
missed these little outings, Billy"
There was not much more needed
to make young Lanes happiness com
plete and unalloyed. That was the
nrst genuinely friendly word Tavy's
mother had said to him; but il was
not the last. She was very pleasant
indeed during that wonderful dinner
ana when the odd lanterns were M
and the sun had faded away. and tbe
song of the birds had died in sIeenv
goodnight chirps, and there were