The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-07

I'd never be so crazy as to fall m low Her lips curled scornfully and her rt ly-but in her pretty eyes, as they rt gazing at her so intently, lurked the Some day you'll meet your Waterloo, Miss Shirley-meantime touch wood! And David Burke, prosaic country gentle man. who had loved this will-o'-the-wisp young woman through many tantalizing day. smiled till the fine little creases round his eyes belied the queer pain ih his heart
 How young she was! How prettyi And how out of reach!
 .'To be really appreciated, one should never fall in iove!'' Miss Shirley smiled a little smile so bright and radiant that even the glancing sunlight on the surrey backwater seemed dimmed by contrast. .I think some people are just made Tor love" said simple David Burke. his eyes on Shirley and his whole soul sninins through them. T think
 She gave little trining laugn--ano when she laughed the music Of 1t seeineo to her prosaic lover hewitcning meu ley of birds song and running "a'er a"u soft woodland sounds.
 "you ought to have lived hunoreu vears ago. YOU dear romantic goose! Just made for love- indeed! Just made to pc trodden on. you mean! No, thank you mot for me" ...o She screwed her piauant little face into a Minerva-like solemnity as she contin- ued: s.,t,c "Could you picture me in the domestic role of doormat?' ..Indeed I do, Too weli'" A pert gieam sbone in Miss Shirley's eye. She nickeu the water smartiy with her padoie- ,,l'e ne leve me. I'm not made for love- I've other things in view. Leaning forward from his precariou. position in the stern of the canoe, Davlu Burke touched a gossamei fold or the dainty summer frock the young girl wore and there was reverence, as well as adu" lation, in the touch
 "This pretty frock-and you" he stani- ,nered. "deIicate, dainty, distracting-n spite Of all you say, you aren't made oi ssterner stuff I'm glad of it-i
 'sMr Burke, are you crazy inei was an icy note in Shirley's fresh young voice. Beneath elevated prows' her saN' went forth rehukingly. Rut to David Burke--her "nearly-mld- dle-aged admirer." as mentally she styleo hinn-speech suddenly had come, peii.' up flood that no longer would be dammeu "crazy? Perhaps I aml Crazy for love of you-crazy with wanting youl Snlries my dear, don't draw away" He causn
 
 his own strong clasp-a grip that wouio not be denied. Shirley"
 "Don'tt You hurt me-and--you frlshtef me" Miss Shirley despite her pre- yious valiant protestations, reverted HI stantly to the timid, helpless type sne s' affected to despise.
 Rut David Burke went on:
 lsTv dear-my dear-T know I'm no 1errlv good enough for such girl as yoa Rnt T,d do everything in the world t' make YOU happy. Sometimes I wish tna were poor so that I could work mS fngers to the bone for you!
 Her gaze was on his face. studying tns crinkly little lines around toe eyes wnici time and geniality had together wrougnt' ''rd give you everything you want. h' was s.repeating-dully, doggedly-as thousi if were some lesson learned by heart.
 She leaned little forward. facing him "You don't quite understand me- sn' said slowly. Its like this Sn tapped the shiny canoe with a tenta,is' hand. I'm a frisky. venturesome iitti' boat that's longing for more excitin' waters-a giddy little craft that's tired O Surrey creeks and stagnant placese. Una wants to explore new streams
 And maybe shoot the rapidsE" cut '' David rather grimly.
 But Shirley nodded gavly as she saio'
 ssWhy. yes, that would be exciting! wouldn't necessarily be swamped yo' know-and if did run on the rocks, ! would only be temporary matter ti' someone pulled me off again."
 "The little craft might be damage' in the process?' suggested David so berly. "Fortunes of war;" smiled Shirley, "ano anyhow. the little craft woudl have ha' its hingv
 LIFES VICTORY
 pavids face was suddenly illuminate with a new idea. 4.
 And after your small boat had weatn cred all the storms and whiripcols tha YOU seem to think spell life. what ther ; my dear?"
 Miss Shirley giggled-charmingly, as coriing to her wont.
 aWhy, then, if there was nice sal port quite handy. the liStle craft mightn be feeling quite so perky and so skittis ana would be liable to sail right in!
 You darling." David bounded forwar with a velocity that almost upset the fra canoe, and caught Miss Shirley in h arms ''Is that promise. dearest!
 Ut isn't anything of the sort" sa Shirley, the coquettish, "and-look-you'' crushing all my gown"
 Overhead, in world of feathery sree' Ary. a thrush was singing her little hea