South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-31
THROUGH THE FIELDS TO
PUTNAM MANOR

BY the way Madge, shall we get
some sandwiches and fruit before
we start2 There's little shop
across from the station. You wait
here and I'll 20 back for them
Nonsense. Dicky.' / retOrted.
We ate such heavy breakfast
that / know ] shan't want anything
To eat until late ina the afternoon.
Are YOU hunsry2"
Il should say not. now. But 1
was afraid you might want some
thing before we get back TO Put
nam Manor
What is Putnam Manor"
The old inn / told you about.
where they serve the best meals i'm
the country. IL dates back to rev.
dictionary times. believe George
Washington watered his horse
there"
"Oh. Dicky how absurd you are!''
Wen. isn't that as much claim
20 distinction as some Of those places
have2" demanded Dicky. But
really this rs a great old place, big
house with glass-windowed tower
ON top, set in a grove of beautiful
pines. There are rooms and now
that the summer rush isn't on we
can have our dinner on a table
drawn up i'm front OF the log FIRE in
the great hall"
What wonderful picture.
Dicky Are you sure ne place is
open now?"
"Cf course The old landlord.
Foreman. is a fixture there He has
run the place fOI years. Bully old
chap, regular mine host OF the inn
sort Of fellow Lots OF men i
know come down here and stay with
him during the summer. He has
his walls covered with drawings the
fellows have done for him There
are two or three of mine there, /
guess. He never takes anything
down"
"Dicky, How perfectly thrillingl
know 1 shall enjoy this day bet
ter than any we have ever had"
He's quite a judge of antique,
old Foreman, regular antique him.
self by the way. He spends all his
spare cash IN fitting up the place
in keeping with its old-time flavor.
lie has one old sideboard ia the
dining room he paid $500 for In
the barroom which Is exactly like
times, he has all sorts of old swords
and hintlocks and other colonial
junk. It's as good as a museum to
see. his collection is"
How long since you have been
there o."
"Oh. early last summer: just be-
fore I met YOU. have been so
busy since then L haven't had time
10 do any of the things 1 used 10
do" lie grinned mischievcusIy
Il don't know why / didn't oring
YOU out here last summer at that;
wasn't quite sure how you'd like it,
] guess"
You might have known 1 would
have enjoyed anything like that"
returned. But Dicky I really
think YOU ought to go back to the
station and inquire whether the
place is open or not. Anything
might have happened i'm this time"
IF that isn't just like q woman. %
D!cky exclaimed. with every evil
dence OF evaporation. spoil ev-
erything with demands 10 look up
this or find out that. I tell YOU tina,
place is open. has been for years
Come along through this stile and
forget your troubles for while"
Dicky was evidently bent upon
surprising me with some picturesque
favored nook of his, so I resolved 70
ask no more questions until he re-
vealed il in an it's glory.
We went down the path into the
woods which. bare as the trees were
Of leaves. had the effect Of c.osine
us in.
This must be the forest primeval
ira the summer time" I said.
1T is" Dicky returned. Vow
shut your eyes and take my hand
Don't open them until I tell YOU
/ obeyed his within. and he led
me "A few feet farther down the
path then made an abrupt turn
and. taking me by the shoulders
placed me i'm the position he wish
ed
Vow look" ne said. proudly
7 opened by eyes. gave one glance
and exclaimed I'M wonder. "Dicky,
never saw anything so beautiful
in my life"
At my feet was brook. with
water So clear that 7 could see ev-
cry clean pebble in its bed. There
was not weed. "A leaf or stick ON
It's surface. 10 mare its clearness
The sun shining upon its ripples
gave them the effect Of dancing
and as i watched the stream now
swiftly by and heard its murmur. ]
felt that I had seen the most beau
tful biz OF nature in my experience
Well I guess Tennyson's brook
had nothing on this, Oh, Madge 90
Dicks voice broke in on my si-
lent admiration.
Let us walk up as far as We
can. / said enthusiastically
That's just what ] want 90 do.
Dickv returned II know every
bend and curve OF IT, Many a
sketch I've made here It's fine
now but YOU simply must see II IN
summer. when the wild flowers Gre
thick along its numberless banks and
the woods are green"
.....f ID. .s.-T.-f.rr .a..-. "a ID