The Owosso times., 1920-01-30


prestige.
She used to go riding with him In
his buggy, but of late he had not
been able to summon the courage to
suggest such an excursion-not with
all those big automobiles lying in wait
for Matilda.
"rll work my head off and get a
car larger than any of them," he would
mutter frequently to himself us he
worked into the late hours of the night
i'm an endeavor to make good that
threat.
A big rift was made in the clouds
when a reputable publishing concern
wrote Kenneth letter suggesting that
he submit some poems with view to
publication in book form Kenneth at
once put his nose to the grindstone
and worked for three weeks with
scarcely an intermission.
During that time he did not see
Matilda except when he glimpsed her
leaving with some young hopeful in
Il car. At last, one Saturday night,
Kenneth completed his task and went
out TO mail huge envelope contain
ing the manuscript for the prospective
book.
Sunday morning Kenneth was sur
prised to receive telephone call from
across the street.
"What's the trouble? Are you sick?
Why don't you ever show yourself"
she inquired in one breath.
Kenneth felt like telling her that
she seemed to be kept busy enough,
with the various kinds of expensive
cars that called for her, but instead
he Informed her that he had been hard
at work. T.
you're OVERRIDING this work idea"
she said. "Why don't you harness up
old Jack and take me for q ride this
afternoon? Things have come to a
pretty pass when a girl has to ask a
gentleman friend for an engage
ment."
, Kenneth's mouth opened so wide 1t
seemed to have designs on the mouth
piece of the phone He stammered
and gurgled, but finally managed to
ask:
"Why-you-you're fooling, aren't
you, Mil?"
mo, indeed" she responded. ard
honestly like ride behind old Jack.
| I'm fed up on automobiles"
swell, you certainly shall have the
diversion you seek" he promised her,
and that afternoon old Jack and the
buggy took Matilda and Kenneth out
into the woods to a spot where the
| two young people had been wont to
| gather flowers and hold picnics when
| they were children.
They sat on knoll overlooking a
| courtyard. Motor cars of various sizes
| and makes darted back and forth in
never-ending streams.
'This is the best day I've had in
| years." Matilda observed nesting close
to Kenneth.
'"The same with me-" he agreed, and
somehow a queer little thrill seemed
to go over him.
81 wish we could do this. every day"
she went on. "DOn't you?"
4 Eyes, yes, of course, certainly" Ken
meth said. Naturally I'd like to be
with you every day; but your finan-
cial and social standing would scarce
! ly permit it-now."
Her lips twitched and she picked up
| stone and hurled it at tree, missing
the target by several feet.
"Why don't you leave that to me
to decide?" she demanded, turning on
him with flaming eyes. "Have I ever
intimated anything to that effect?'
He was silent for moment trying
to collect his thoughts.
"It's this way, MIL" he finally broke
out. "Pve been dead In love with you
ever since we were kids. thought
had good show until-until your fa-
ther made all that money and the rich
| fellows began to call and take you
riding in their big machines; and then
| 1 looked at my poor prospects and con-
sidered poor old Jack and the buggy,
and decided there wasn't much chance
after ALL OF course, 1 still feel the
same and-if my ambitiOns-well, 1t
may sound foolish to you, but maybe
I'll have book published soon, and If
it succeeds and get good royalty
| then-maybe-
| "Yes, yes, go on" she said, smiling,
with peculiar glistening in her eyes.
| You interest ne, Ken. This may all
seem improper, what I'm going to say,
| because you can't divide this year with
four, but we've been such good friends
for so long time that guess my
little speech will be all right. Any
how, I'm going to make IL. I invited
you to. take me riding today and I
| may as well go the limit with my bold
ness. What wanted to say Is this
81 hate all automobiles. hate the
money my father made In the busi-
ness, and hate every man that comes
| to take me riding. What I'd like would
be a little cottage and a horse and
buggy-old Jack and that same ve-
hicle he draws would do nieely--and
I'd like to have you take me far away
| to the shore of some lake away, far
| away from the smell Of gasoline, and
II