The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-08-01
THEIR EDEN
BY JACK LAYTON.

Copyright, 1919. by western newspaper tnlon)
AS Billy Towne drove up the mar
row road, he spied blur of scarlet at
the edge of wood. And as ne came
nearer. Billy whistled, for the scarlet
blur proved to be a silken sweater,
with a girls brown head above it.
Bills wonderment was caused by
the fact that the road at this point
was almost impossible, no human haD-
itatiOn for miles, and no vehicle OF
any sort in sight How then had this
small, white-slippered creature chosen
this wilderness in which to continue
her knitting? For Billy could see that
she was knitting. The needles
cleaned in the sunlight as the isolat-
ed girl hummed song.
/ Billy had been sent up in his little
Car by the chief engineer and the new
made way was precarious.
/ The girl, raising dark eyes from ner
knitting, regarded him coldly, then
resumed her work.
/ 'T thought" he blundered, that you
might need assistance"
/ She raised her pretty brows.
''Why?' she asked. Il am comfort
able here"
you're not lost then?' Billy ques-
toned.
| The girl shook her head. Il know
Just where 1 am" she answered de-
cidedly.
There seemed nothing to do, after
that, but to continue his way, but
Billy felt strangely lOath to depart.
+, The young engineer puzzled over II
during the wakeful hours of the night.
So you may see what had, in one flash
OF dark eyes, happened to Billy. 1t
was idiotic,. of course, to expect that
the perverse girl would be at her soil
tary post upon the following day. But
an overwhelming desire took Billy to
the chief engineer.
Want me to 60 up top againT ne
asked eagerly, and the great man aD-
sently assented, SO Billy went. And
far up the trail his joyous searching
gaze discerned the red blur which
grew into that same scarlet sweater.
Exactly In the same spot sat the
haunting girl, still calmly bending
over her knitting and humming
what seemed to Billy most appro-
pirate song, you'll Be Coming Back
Again to Me, My Dearie.'
Deliberately Billy stopped his car.
II WISH" he said, that you would
satisfy my very natural, though may
be, impertinent curiosity. How do you
manage to come here? The road Is
closed-save to employees-and is
positively dangerous. There is no other
path-and the woods, Of course, would
be out of the question"
The girl looked frowningly at him.
"Why you should concern your
self" she began, then as suddenly
broke off in a smile perhaps an air
plane brought me-" she said. "At any
rate, / did not come here seeking COM
panionship-you will excuse mel
came in the hope of being for time,
alone"
Billy excused her. Invardly fun
ing he rode ON his way without one
backward glance. But the mocking
words of the girls low song followed
him. You'll be coming back again
to me, my dearie," she sang, and in
mis- raging heart Billy knew that the
song was true. His great anxiety was
that he might not find her there when
he came. So, the next day he did not
risk awaiting an order from the chief;
he fastened on in his car.
Billy had no intention of speaking
to the girl. Even the love which had
found him in one flashing glance
could brook no such evident snub-
bing Mischievously she had laid
aside her sweater and Billy could
not tell until close. that she was
there. When the discovery came to
him his heart beat maddeningly and
the surprising girl raised her face in
frank smile.
Good morning" she greeted.
Morning" answered Billy, where
is your airplane?"
ooh! that" murmured the girl.
and laughing softly, was a foolish re-
mark. / ride up here every morning
in a car like yours, and am called for
at noon. I might have told you," she
studied her knitting, that await
my husband
"Your-husband muttered Billy.
He had never thought Of that. All
the sunlight left the mountain air. 1t
was queer, how quickly one could
come to think lot of girl Poor
Billy gulped.
'Good-by," he said.
'Good-by," the girl replied slowly.
Onward rode Billy. But his mourn
full meditation was interrupted by a
piercing scream. Looking back, he
saw the girl perched high on a bit of
broken fence by the roadway. VIC
lentiy she beckoned him. Billy, leap
ing from his car, ran to her.