Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-07-24
Picnicking With
Peter
(Copyright.)
BY JANE OSBORN

AVA Eyes nCAC pAcVCCuplcu Will TIC
pages in her hand, she collided with a
young man coming into the post Office
In haste. But he was q rather nice
person to collide with.
He mumbled an apology, made
quick gesture with his hand toward
his head and, remembering that he
wore no hat, buried the hand deep in
his pocket and continued his way into
the post Office.
Irene smiled, and again began to
read her note.
my old friend Peter Yard expects
to be down at Sandy Beach for a few
days." the letter informed Irene. He's
gone down to visit a rich aunt who
has a place somewhere down there,
but gather there's no life around the
aunt's place. He dreaded the visit.
I gave him your address and told him
to look you up. He's fine fellow and
I'll appreciate anything you do for
him. BY the way, Peters wild about
picnics''-
BY this time Irene had reached the
general provision store where she had
to see about laying in the days sup
plies for her family, and examining
her brothers letter In her sport pocket
she thought no more about 1t.
Irene was bending over q barrel Of
green corn, trying to select a dozen
ears that were worth cooking. Sud
denly she looked up and narrowly
avoided a second collision with the
young man In tweed. Again he NUT
tered an apology, and then going to-
ward the proprietor Of the store asked
him whether he could direct him to
the Bronson cottage.
I'm Irene Bronson" said the girl,
coming forward.
It turned out Of course that this
was Peter Yard, and he was losing no
time in finding the cottage belonging
to his friend Ned Bronson.
"rm SO glad you found me-" said
Irene. Because, you see, we're get
ting up "a picnic for this evening
and we need another man. We 60
down the beach to the dunes and eat
our supper there. Gould you come
with us?"
Peter said he would be delighted,
and then finding NO excuse to take up
more Of pretty Irene Bronson's time.
he sauntered back to his cunts I'm
posing summer homo some way in
land. Then Irene hurried home. She
sought out and found her aunt, who
was for the time being staying with
Irene there at the cottage. Irene told
her aunt of her plans for a picnic.
Honestly, Irene" said the aunt,
TT seems as If / couldn't stand an
other picnic"
Irene did not urge her aunt to 60,
but she did not change her plans.
Next she telephoned to a friend
named Alice. She told her Of the
proposed picnic.
Irene, you're crazy" answered
Alice. However, Irene was persistent
and Alice gave in.
It was a week after Peters arrival
at Sandy Beach. Peter and Irene sat
facing the ocean while the sun was
sinking behind the dunes at their
back.
"Irene, Irene," Peter was saying in
a boyish, impulsive manner that quite
captivated Irene. '"This has been the
most wonderful adventure in the
world. frst saw you, ran into you
In fact, scarcely q week ago, and aft
or seven glorious days I have dared
to tell you I love you-and, Irene,
can't believe you love me, too. And
don't want you to say you do unless
you really mean tt"
Irene protested that she really and
truly meant what she said and that
from the time she ran into Peter at
the post Office she had loved him.
"And as soon as knew that you were
the Peter my brother mentioned in
his letter, I made up my mind then
and there to have picnic-and I've
had picnics every evening since. No
one else will come to them now, Peter
They're all so sick Of picnics, but /
love you SO much I have forgotten
how I felt about them"
ut just proves that 1 really love
you," went on Peter, feeling the way
l do about picnics"-
"But Peter-Ned said you were
crazy about picnics. 1t was in that
letter I was reading when I bumped
into you"
"Me-crazy about picnicsT asked
Peter. Let's see the letter." Irene
had put her hands deep into the pock-
cts of her sports coat to find the let
ter that she had never even finished.
"Peter's wild about picnics-he said
he didn't want to 60 away for his va
cation for fear he'd have to 60 on
| picnics. He's just come home from an
expedition across the desert. He was
gone for a year and didn't eat at a
table all that time. So don't try any
of your sandy suppers with Peter.
He'll froth at the mouth and hate
you If you do"
Irene finished reading the letter.