Smyrna times., 1933-01-25
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
RUNAWAY"
BY Clarissa Mackie

ing the Merrills at their summer
camp. She went out to the great
wide veranda where all meals were
served.
The guests numbered a dozen,
several of whom Alice recognized
as old acquaintances. The others
We're strangers. but the girls were
all pretty and vivacious and the
men were the right kind. There
was one man who came in a little
late and sat down near Mrs. Mer-
rill, on the same side Of the table
as Alice was sitting. She could not
see him but the corner where he
was seemed full of merriment. She
was glad of that-glad because the
youths on either side of her were
jolly college boys-she wanted fun
and laughter-lOts of it all the
time, because life had been rather
bitter the last few months for pretty
Alice Pearce, especially regarding
her affair with Blake Irving! Well,
she had run away from Blake since
their quarrel and she had made her
parents sOlemnly vow not to inform
the remOrseful lover of her where
abOuts. Mrs. Pearce had shot a
guilty look at her grim husband
when their daughter exacted this
promise, and Alice remembered her
fathers hearty voice when he said
promptly:
"Of course. daughter. your moth
er and / solemnly promise not to
tell Blake where you have gone Go
in peace, and come home with
Blake entirely from your hearth"
"Of course he has gone from my
heart now" Alice had said in a very
shaky voice, but they had been very
CHEEKY to the last. and the girl had
no suspicion that the day before
the promise had been given, Mrs.
Pearce had whispered a few words
to Blake.
Il am hundreds Of miles away
from him." thought Alice, a little
drearily, and just then the young
man on her left made a funny re
mark and Alice laughed merrily.
Suddenly, the merriment in Mrs
Appleton's corner ceased for awhile.
Just as if the sound Of Alice's laugh
ter had stilled it.
Perhaps it had-who knows?
1t was long after dinner was over
that Alice set down her coffee cup
and stepped through one of the
open windows into the moon
splashed night. She paused in &C.
stacy at the head of the steps,
Through an open space she saw
the lake, glittering like a silver mir
ror-boats were down there and she
heard the distant tinkle Of a guitar
Alice felt a sudden distaste for So
ciety-she confessed to a longing
for solitude-she wanted to think
about Blake-just once more before
she ousted him from her heart for
ever. That was why she had come
of Beechcamp. She ran down the
steps and stepped into one of the
dim moonlit aisles among the pines
Almost instantly the pines seemed
to close about her-behind heri
1T is an illusion" she breathed
quickly, her hands flying to her
heart. and so she stood In listen
ing attitude.
Suddenly, she awoke from her
reverie. A mans familiar footsteps
came down the aisle behind her, she
heard Blake's voice. softly calling
her, and in her terror Alice Pearce
fed. OF course her white dress
made her conspicuous, but she was
feet Of foot. But always In the dis
tance behind her she heard the
crash of heavy footsteps, and now,
suddenly, she heard crashing in
front of her.
She stopped and slipped into the
shadow of dark thicket and
gasped breathlessly. For she was
between two fears-and the last
was the SIedlSSL lt1E That Slit ndu
ever known.
In the moonlit space in front of
her a great black bear was stand
Ing on his hind legs dabbing at her.
Behind her the footsteps paused
a moment and then Blake's voice
came low and caressing.
'Darling!" he said. and then he
was In front of her thrusting her
behind him with one strong hand
that did not loose its possessive
grip. In his other hand something
flashed, once, twice, three times.
There was a heavy crash. and then
silence except for the signing
breeze In the pines.
Darling, are you quite all right?"
II was Blake's voice, tender, vi
brating-the voice she loved.
YES" she quavered, and some
how she found her face pressed
tight against his breast, and his
arms close about her.
And when the remainder of the
house party came hurrying down
the aisles, Mr. Merrill in the lead
with a shotgun over his shoulder,
they found Blake and Alice still
h0=EAn thn