Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-05-31
Chained by
A Laugh
By WARREN MILLER

above, forming complete arcn ana
| shade except where the sun threw bits
Of light between the leaves.
There is a bird-I think 1t is the
| thrush, but l am not sure-that con-
| tinually gives out two notes, the first
higher than the second. These two
notes were repeated time and again In
| the trees above me and came from a
distance. They were very musical,
and 1 loved to hear them. In SHORTY
they put the finishing touch on per-
feet morning.
Suddenly there came one Of these
brief songs, not from above, but ap-
parently from the other side Of trees
beyond which l knew there was a
road, though could not see it. was
In doubt whether the sound proceeded
from a bird or human being and, If
from a human being, whether it was
an imitation Of the bird or whether
1t was one of those short laughs that
may come from a child or girl while
conversing and something pleasing or
funny is said.
Hearing voices approaching, I be-
came more interested in the song than
the trout. and, wading to dry ground.
went up the bank a short distance
and, craning my neck, caught sight Of
bevy Of girls passing down the road.
could see only their backs, but by
their figures and their light tread
knew they were young. / caught only
glimpse Of them before they were
hidden by the trees, but in another mo-
ment heard again those two melodi-
GUS notes. / knew that they came
from one of these girls and were re-
sponse to some facetious remark.
We are grownup children. A child
will chase butterfly, but will be turn
ed aside by gray squirrel. l had
been intent on fish, but my interest In
them had been suddenly turned by two
musical notes Of the human voice.
Imagination stepped in and construct
ed the girl. l pictured her fair, Of a
happy disposition and altogether love
ly. I wanted to haul in my line, put
away the fly and go after that girl. If
did would have to appear before
her in khaki suit and rubber boots to-
my thigh. If l did not would prob
ably lose her forever decided upon
immediate action. My reel clicked for
few moments; then putting my rod
under my arm and catching up few
trout had hooked climbed the bank
and set off down the road
was too late. l did not catch the
girls l had seen passing. Where they
had gone could not discover. But a
short distance from my point Of de-
parture / came to one of those country
inns where guests abound in July and
August and are deserted the rest Of
the year. On the porch were great
many persons, old and young, among
them several girls, but did not notice
any feminine group such as had in
distinctly seen. However, it seemed
to me that quite likely they belonged
here; that they had been for a tramp
and, having returned, had gone inside.
Il this hypothesis were not correct
they must have flown up and away In
the air. could readily conceive Of the
girl with the bird notes doing'so.
1t is singular that man with many
attractive women to choose from
should set so much store by one he has
never seen, but has been attracted to-
by nothing more than couple of flute
like notes emanating from her throat.
1t goes to show that the imaginary is
I stronger than the real Be this as it
may, l resolved to leave the hotel
where l was stopping and take up my
abode at the place 1 hoped to find my
imaginary idol. Returning to my
] quarters, l got into more presentablG
l apparel and the same afternoon rode.
down to the inn.
| One of the first things l did was to
make inquiries whether there was q
girl in the house who laughed as bird
sang. The question was well calculat-
ed to make me ridiculous, and it was
not long before l was known as the
man who was hunting for girl with
a birdlike laugh. Having been pre-
sented to several ladies sitting tOgeth-
er on the porch, l asked my question.
One of the group remarked to the 9TH
ers, THAT must be Annette Thurs
ton. I've noticed that little laugh Of
hers, and now that my attention has
been called to it there is something
birdlike in it,
Though all the group knew Annette
Thurston, no other of them had no
ticed what was so attractive to me. !.
AS soon as the young folks in the
house learned that the girl was look
ing for might be Annette Thurston she
was informed that man had fallen in
love with her laugh and was hunting
| for her. young fellow of seventeen
came for me and took me to her for an
introduction
Naturally the meeting was a trife
embarrassing Miss Thurston, who
found herself the center of bantering
circle, bushed, but l noticed that she,
looked at me as an object of interest.
The boys and girls ran away, and I.
throwing off my embarrassment. reas-
serted myself and began q conversation