Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-04-26
Finding
Himself
By WARREN DALE

Lillian Warde, lost in meditation,
looked up with a slight start and a
conscious flush on her charming face.
"You will have to explain, Meta.
dear" she said smilingly.
why are you SO different this visit
from last year? Then you were all
animation and sunshine. Now, except
when some girl tries to Guido you and
you are your old daring, reckless self,
you are either off alone sketching, or
incoming"
"The exaggeration is far-fetched,"
declared Lillian. However, l am go
ing to make a confession. 1t is
camouflage."
"Camou-?"
"Camou-flage. I am hiding behind a
mask and %repenting of my sins. Truth
is, Meta, I fear l thought more of a
certain individual back home than I
fancied. This is for you only. Mr..
Roland Barnes, young, inexperienced,
shy, but oh, such a perfect gentlemanl
I encouraged him and his state of
perfect bliss was a study. Then n
day In the garden, my cousin Roy
coming home greeted me with the
usual kiss of relationship. l saw Mr..
Barnes in the distance. Wicked me
Some spirit of cruel mischief influ-
enced me to gush over Roy. Mr..
Barnes did not know that he was a
relative. He at once jumped to the
conclusion that Roy vas a lover and
disappeared"
'Disappeared?"
"Actually and absolutely"
"And now?"
81 am sorry I did It," said Lillian
In a subdued tone.
For several years Lillian and other
girl friends of Meta Lee had come to
Silver Lake to enjoy a months vaca
ton.
awake up, Lillianw rallied May
lRolfe the day ensuing. There's a
mystery afloat, at least a are novelty.
They say a genuine, dyed-in-the-wool
old hermit, long, white hair, Robinson
Crusoe cap, tottering staff and all that,
has taken possession of the old de-
serted hut on Bear Island"
,"How picturesque ]" commented Lii
liam. 81 would like to sketch this new
character on the scene"
'You won't dare to-" deied May.
''They say he Is f~urtive, quite wild,
maybe a woman hater."
"You dare me, do your" said Lillian,
some of the old fire of adventure and
daring in her eye.
"Call it a dare" retorted May.
"What then?"
"Why," replied Lillian, 81 will not
only hunt down this romantic nomad
of the lake, but I will bring back a
faithful sketch OF him."
Suppose he should mediate carry
ing one of us off like a knight of old
to his baronial hall!' suggested May.
"Baronial nonsense" cried Lillian.
"Where's Lillian?" inquired Meta
the next morning.
ST saw her put off down the lake in
the canoe with her sketching outfit"
said May.
Lillian had, indeed. taken the dare"
She reached Bear Island, and resolute-
ly and unafraid made her way through
Tile DIdllDly DuouCO tONdldo IL Oio
dismantled hut that had been a ia
miliar landmark for years. Its door
stood open, Lillian peered in. There
were signs of recent occupancy, but
no one was just now In sight. Lillian
looked around %curiously. She was sur
prised to observe a white wig and a
great pair of whiskers, a long coat and
the conventional hermit hat on a table.
"Our hermit is a sham," decided Lii
liam. "Oh, my!"
She might well start and thrill. Set
over the rude fireplace was a card
photograph of herself. Lillian re-
treated, fluttering over a tangible mys-
terry. She passed through the door,
way to come face to face with-the
hermitl
He was bringing in some wood. At
the sight of Lillian down went the
armful In a laundering way, and there
stared up at the unexpected Lillian
Roland Barnesl 1t was almost COM
ical, only Roland looked SO distressed.
Lillian figured out the complication
readily. She adopted her most sooth-
ing and charming smile.
$50 you are the mysterious hermitY
she said.
"I-I-yes, that is"
"And why did you leave us all so
strangely that day at Brighton when
my cousin Gamer"
"Your c%ousin?' wildly shouted Ro-
land-with hope.
"And why did you come heref' asked
Lillian.
ITO feast my eyes on a sight Of
why, you, of c~ourse-before I went
away"
Are you going way now?"
"Not-not If you say not. You don't
say not, though, do your" concluded
Roland dismalIv.