The Lamar register., 1919-10-08
ROBINS LANE
BY IZoLA FORESTER.


ahrdy mad been home q week, and
still he felt like a stranger In Taft
Vile. Not but what everybody wei.
coined him. but they did 1t "a an easy
going sort Of way that left his own
enthusiasm cold after ten years of an
ticipation.
He had been twenty-four when he
had started West. There had been two
incentives, his fathers demand that he
throw up engineering and go into the
store. and winifred's refusal to marry
him.
His yearning to make good and show
them the sort of man he really was
had been the spur all the years he
had worked and climbed Winifred
had told him she liked boys who were
steady" That meant the hardware
store, and Irving & Son" on the long
black and gold sign over the door. He
had laughed bitterly. out in the lonely
Arizona nights. before he had struck
his right pace, and yet there had been
the sting Of inconsistencies in II too.
With all the JOY of adventure and eI-
perience. the little mill town on the
fantic river back in Connecticut was
home to him. and wlnifred was the
only girl who could bring thrill to
his heart. Just little Winifred Blake
with her big blue eyes that seemed to
challenge n fellow to do the very best
that was In him.
He had seen her only at distance
since his return-once In church. twice
down along Main street when she was
waiting for the car. Then he met her
on the old hill road coming from the
reservoir Saturday afternoon, her
hands filled with violets.
You know they always did grow
longer and larger up there, It seemed"
she said, as he waited beside her In
the road.
81 was going up after some" Hardy
told her awkwardly.
Take the short cut through Robins
lane. why don't your Do you remem-
ber the wayf"
And Hardy deliberately prevaricated.
No. he was sorry. He had absolutely
forgotten the short cut. Wouldn't she
Just turn back and show It to himf
Winlfred hesitated. laughed q little
and looked as II she didn't believe him.
ave always went that way after
vioiets. Hardy" she reminded him.
IT'S just the little lane below the big
woodlot. You know 1t so we'll"
But Hardy shook his head. looking
down into her eyes until she ignored
him. and watched the fringe of pines
and red oaks ahead OF them. with slen-
der white birches lifting tremulous
new leaves In the sunlight.
He had made up his mind all the
way home that he would ask her again.
She had only been seventeen then.
Now she was twenty-seven. and It
seemed as II the years had only made
her sweeter and more desirable. There
was something indennabIe about her
now. something that evnded him. She
seemed sure of herself poised and tran
gull eyed. more tender. too. In her
there In the little mill town.
See the Island over yonder." wini-
fred said suddenly. They had come to
the crest OF the hill overlooking the
reservoir. II had always looked like q
miniature western mountain scene. the
broad lake with Its rocky pine-edged
shores, and rocky islands here and
there. what splendid times we used
10 have up here, Hardy"
"rve never forgotten one of them"
he said slowly. when you're a thou
sand miles and more away from home,
only memories seem real"
Il know" she rejoined quickly. "All
the time | was in Japan felt that way.
and when we were sent down TO the
Philippines It was even worse, for
there | would meet somebody from
home once In awhile. and everything
they said made me want to take the
next boat back"
you've been awayf" he exclaimed.
with Aunt Dora and Uncle Phil"
she nodded her head. There were SO
many Of US at home. and when he was
sent to the East by his company. he
wanted secretary, so I coared him
70 take me. Then he died In Toxic,
and because / understood the trade
situation pretty well. they made me
sales manager instead of trying to
break in new man. I've only been
home about two months. They want
me to try South America this time,
but I'm tired Of II. l suppose women
are Just tabby cats after all. You
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