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

some day you'n meet your waterloo Miss Shiriey-meantime. touch wood And David Burke, prosaic country Gehtie- man. who had loved this will-o'-the-wisp young woman through many tantalizing day, smiled till the fine little creases round his eyes beied the queer pain in his heart
 How young she was How pretty And how out of reach!
 ''To be really appreciated. one should never fall in love, Miss Shirley smiled a little smile so bright and radiant that even the glancng sunlight on the Surrey backwater seemed dimmed by contrast
 T think some people are just made Tor love" said simple David Burke, his eyes on Shirley and his whole soul shining through them q think
 She gave a little .riiing laugh-and when she laughed the music of it seemed to her prosaic lover a tewitching meo- ley of birds song and running water ana soft woodland sounds
 .'You ought to have lived hundred wars ago. you dear romantic goose! Just made for love- indeed! Just made to be trodden on, you mean. No, thank you mot for me"
 She screwed her piquant little face into n Minerva-like soiemnity as she contih- ued:
 "could you picture me in the domestic role of doormat?'
 aRnt-shirlev-yo don't understand -
 Indeed do! Too weli'' A pert gleam rhone in Miss Shirey's eye She fiickea the water smartly with her paddle. he lieve me. I'm not made for love Ve other things in view.
 Leaning forward from his precarous position in the stern of the canoe, Davio Burke touched a gossamei fold or the | 1n r pi --and there was reverence, as well as aou- lation in the touch.
 "Thjs pretty frock-and you he star1- nered. delicate. dainty, distracuns-n spite of all you say. you aren't made or .sterner stuff I'm glad Of it--l--
 ''Hfr Burke, are you crazy 2 There was an icy note in ShirIey's fresh young voice. Beneath elevated hiows, ner ea1e wens forth. rebukingiy.
 Rst te rsria purke-heT nearly mio aSx~hxsI aslsnirsF as mentally she styled atsr4-sveere =1ddsnty Na 1 come. pent- M scos shak no lofi~er Guld be damned,
 srraxy. rernans am! Crazy for love yf you -c1sys with wanting you shirley, rae dear, don't draw away" He caught her two hands and the canoe paddle in his own strong clasp-a grip that would not be denied. "Shirley-
 Don't, You hurt rne-and-you frighten me" Miss Shirley despite her pre- vious valiant protestations, reverted m stantly to the timid, helpless type she so affected to despise.
 E,t David Burke wert on
 rMv dear-nv dear-I know I'm not reariv good enough for such a girl as you. But I'd do everything in the world to make you happy. Sometimes wish that were poor. so that I could work my fingers to the bone for you.
 Her gaze was on his face, studying the crinkIv little lines around the eyes which time and geniality had together wrought. .T'd give you everything you want' he was repeating g-dully. doggedly-as though it were some lesson learned hy heart.
 She leaned little forward. facing him. You don't quite understand me" she said slowly. 'Ips like this" She tapped the shiny canoe with tentative hand. I'm risky venturesome little boat that's longing for more exciting waters-=a giddy little craft that's tired Of Surrey creeks and stagnant placese. that wants to explore new streams
 And maybe shoot the rapids~' cut in David rather grimly.
 But Shirley nodded gaviy as she said: '~why. yes, that would be exciting wouldn't necessarily he swamped, you know-and if I did run on the rocks. 1t would only be a temporary matter till someone pulled me off again.
 ~rhe little craft might be damaged ia the process?" suggested David so- berly. '.rortunes of war" smiled Shirley and. anyhow. the little craft woudl have had Its fing.'