The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-10-11
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ROBINS LANE /
BY lZoLA FORESTER. II
Observation-Disclosures


Hardy had been home week, and
still he felt like a stranger in Taft.
Vile. Not but what everybody wei.
coined him, but they did it in 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. Wnifred
had told him she liked boys who were
STEADY" That meant the hardware
store, and Irving d 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 it too.
With all the JOY of adventure and ex-
perence, the little mill town on the
lantic river back in Connecticut was
home to him, and Winifred was the
only girl who could bring a thrill to
his heart, just little Winifred Blake
with her big blue eyes that seemed to
challenge 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 net 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.
u was going up after some" Hardy
TOLD her aWkWardly,
"Take the short cut through Robins
lane. why don't you? Do you remem-
Der the way?"
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 him? |
Winifred hesitated, laughed little
and looked as if she didn't believe him. |
I'VE always went that way after
Violets, Hardy" she reminded him.
Its just the little lane below the big
woodlot. You know it so WELL"
But Hardy shook his head, looking
down into her eyes until she ignored
MIN, 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 If the years had only made
Ter sWeeter and more desirable. There
vas something indefnable about her
low, something that eyaded him. She
seemed sure of herself poised and tran
lufl eyed, more tender, too, in her
way 1t must have been lonely for her
here in the little mill town.
See the island over yonder," Wini-
red said suddenly. They had come to
he crest Of the hill overlooking the
eservoir. 1t had always looked like a
miniature western mountain scene, the I
road lake with its rocky pine-edged
hores, and rocky islands here and
here. what splendid times we used
o have up here, Hardy"
I've never forgotten one of them"
e said slowly. when you're a thou
and miles and more away from home,
My memories seem real" .
I know" she rejoined quickly. "All
ne time was in Japan / felt that way.
nd when we were sent down to the {
hlllppines 1t was even worse. for
here would meet somebody from |
ONE once in awhile, and everything
ley said made me want to take the ]
ext boat back"
You've been awayT he exclaimed.
with Aunt Dora and Uncle Phil"
ae nodded her head. "There were so r
any OF us at home, and when he was
INT to the East by his company. he I
anted secretary, so / coaxed him
take me. Then he died In Toxic,
ID because l understood the trade
tuation pretty well, they made me
lies manager instead of trying to
'eak in a new man. I've only been |
'me about two months. They want I
e TO try South America this time. I
1t I'm tired Of it. suppose women ]
e just tabby cats after all. You Q
ork and make believe you like It, and
the time you're thinking of some I
zy corner to curl up In and rest '
n going to buy the Prendergast place
ID fix up the garden beautifully, and
we five cats"
Hardy laughed, laughed until she "
rned to look at him almost resent Il
lily. He was so tall and broad shoul- Il
red, so resolute and sure of himself "
SC as she remembered him. One rea.
d why she had gone away was to o
ow him that girls didn't have to stay ii
home. S,
You can't buy ii" he told her teas