The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-11

out Tn a mood of golden melody. But tni
 beauty of it seemed to David Burke like exquisite pain
 My dear-my dearr' he stammered. ] shall always be your friend-you know IL But isn't there-couldnt there be-somt hope behind the friendship? Hove you sor'
 The canoe was swinging smoothly through the stream, the paddle piled by Shiriey's capable, small hands. Tne | thrushs song and the soft swish Of fhs water as it gurgied on the polished wood blended together in gentle harmony Its a glorious world,' said shirley softly, with apparent irrelevance She stared across the little creek into the melting greenness of the summer woods her pretty head averted so that she might not see the pain in Davids eyes She hated so to hurt him! 'Its glorious world-but I haven't lived my day yet and I want so much to live it?' Ambition? A career? Society? All dead sea fruit.'' said David pleadingiy. { Don't fling love away for empty things T don't want to fling 1t away-l do appreciate it-but I'm no. quite ready 70 receive it yet" shirley's white brows were knitted together in perpfexity- Later on, perhaps" T won't say any more. my dear-out remember, I shan't change, said Davio Burke in his normal, kindly tones, pulling himself together, "and now, suppose we return to the White Cottage for the tea and strawberries your dear old grand mother promised to supply us with! III ready"
 With swift, sure estrokes Miss Sniriey paddled the canoe along the stream until they reached the boathouse There sne 1 moored her little craft. l,sxv tv, IA flick : ering shadow of the peech-trees. her fioppy river hat slung by a ribbon to her arm. and her qiquant little face one glow of animation, prosaic David Burke de- , cided as he had done hundred times before-that for beauty, freshness, charm of manner and complete bewitchingness no other girl could ever come within hundred miles of Shirley Marsh! Listen! A motor horn!r
 They had reached a little winding lane, flanked by high messy banks on either side.
 'No car would ever attempt to come this way-the roads too narrow, Burke observed. T heard no sound 1 Down the center of the little lane walked Shirley.
 Then-before she had time to real ize what happened-calamity occurred. in the shape of a big touring car driven at a reckless pace. around the bend-a pace so swift that she had no time to save herself, to spring aside :.
 She screamed. The big car swerved to avoid her, running crazily for a second with two wheels on the bank. Then
 Crash! It overturned. hurling it's solitary driver with terrific force for thirty feet along the road.
 Shirley screamed again, her slender figure emerging from a cloud of dust Only a foot away from her panted the great car on it's side. like some defeated giant, grooming.
 In a twinkle David Burke sprans forward and switched off the engine Then he ran swiftly down the road toward the prostrate figure of the driver, lying there so quietly.
 Oh is-is he killed?" gasped Shir- ley, white to the lips. and with such trembling at the knees that her limbs refused to carry her. Everything seemed whirling in confusion.
 But David Burke was kneeling in tho roadway, passing a careful hand over that silent figure-and made no an- swer
 'He-he isn't deadr she stammered. Then she drew sharply back.
 Took. His heads bleeding! Oh. he's badly hurt! Poor boy--poor boy!'
 She stopped dowB suddenly and ripped a soft founce from her under skirt.
 "Quick-let me bind it up-rve had course in first aid-it ought to be done at once"
 She knelt down in the roadway, working with quick. delft fingers that no longer trembled.
 -Mr. Burke. won't you run for help at once. while stay with him?
 "You aren't afraid to be left alone? There's chance that he might be delirious-alarm you in some way-no doubt about it that he's got concus- sion-
 Then hurry hurry" Pink spots of excitement burned in Shirley's cheeks. ''Grandmamma will give you brandy to bring back with you-and shell phone the nearest doctor to come at once to the white cottage-of course we'll carry this poor hoy there-
 And David Burke went running down the road. turned sharply to the right and disappeared through the short cut in the woods, leaving the young girl anG her patient to silence and soli- tude complete.
 Suppose that he should die!"