The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-04-06
DICK ACCEPTS

The silence of the woodland country
was telling on Dicks nerves. For
eight weeks the engineering Job had
claimed him, and the evenings In his
lonely cabin became uncomfortable.
Hungrily he year1ed for human com
partnership.
Dallis, his assistant, was good enough
In his way, but Dallis spent most of
mis- time writing endless love letters or
talking over long-distance to a far
away sweetheart. That CALLED Dick,
too.
II was hard enough to see only
rough mems faces; never to hear a
feminine voice was another and great
er deprivation. Dick wished that he
had happened to care enough for one
particular fair one in the past, to war
rant long-distance call himself. But
he had not cared; and that was not
his fault but his misfortune, so he
summed up matters-that was all.
The trees rustled mysterious whis-
perings, beyond the avenue Of green
stretched waters blue; the setting was
like that of an old fairy tale. Dick
remembered such tale, with high
ly colored illustration which had nsv-
er failed to delight In childhood days.
There had been woodland maiden
In the picture, with a white frock en-
circled In green, and laughing Blue
eyes beneath the wind-blown hair.
Dick smiled at the fanciful picture the
scene recalled. and then bent idly to
pick up a scrap of paper In his path.
AS Idly he unfolded II, and before he
fully realized, was reading message.
"Dearest-dear," ran the note, 81 am
waiting for you beneath the widest
spreading tree; am dressed In white
with the green sash you like. You
will see me, when you drive through
the opening. And, dearest-dear, the
little white table is set for us two,
with a vase Of green boughs in the
center. and there is a chocolate cake
oh, delicious, luscious chocolate cake
Of the very kind you like, made with
my very own hands, for my very own
man. So hurry"
Dick stood staring down at the scrib-
5led note with boyish light of adj
venture in his eyes. Why not? He
was far away from conventions, his
days had been passed of late irksome-
ly. Why not take advantage Of the
chance invitation tossed him by a
kindly wind, and drive through the
opening daringly to where the white
and-green-clad maid, like the one Of
the fairy tale, waited?
Dick knew the country like a map,
but one excuse would be as good as
another. And the chocolate cakei
Great guns A real homemade cho>S
olate cake
He retraced his steps to the cabin,
and started horseback toward the wood.
She was GIRL undoubtedly. or she
would not describe her white frock to
her dearest-dear, as she invited him
to tryst beneath the tree.
Dick saw the "widest-spreading
tree" as soon as Bob cantered through
the opening; also he saw a graceful
Whitehead figure and vivid green sash
ends, tossed by the lake breeze And
as he came boldly nearer there were
the laughing blue eyes beneath rufned
brown hair, an wondering yet
dimpling smile greet him.
"Well," questlo ed the girl, az
though she had known him all her life,
''how did you get here?"
~ came" answered Dick promptly,
sin response to your invitation.
found it in my path"
He handed over her letter. The girl
frowned and smiled as she glanced
over 1t.
"Old Jack is careless" she remarked.
"Jael's my dog. sent him on with
1t to-" She paused.
your dearest-dear," Dick finished
for her.
"Why, yes" agreed the girl. "And
Jack perhaps dropped the note, to go
off on some interesting chase Of his
own. So you found 1t. by mistake"
There is no mistake" Dick insisted.
you would not think the sending Of
such an invitation mistake, If you
had been buried, as ! have. among
these hills for two desolate months
Why, I'd travel thirty miles to hear
a pleasant, companionable voice, put
ting all hope Of the chocolate cake
aside. That invitation was a charity,
sent on its way by a fairy friend Of
mine. IL don't know who you are /;
suppose angels are likely to appear
In most desolate places. But my name
is Richard Boynton. I'm one OF the
engineers on this contract that's be-
ing put through"
The girl nodded.
IL know. happen to have seen you
at work when we motOred through.
You were pointed out to me-" she
changed her voice primly. "as a most
promising young man."
She studied him thOughtfully.
II shall cut the cake In your honor"