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gggqwEJASwas
mutual 'mischief scrapes. Never had
that bright spirit appealed to Dick as
upon this bright June morning.
Two evenings later, with mournful
mien and laggard, Dick appeared in
the Mason groundB looking for Elida.
He found her at last gathering some
apple blossims.
"Well, did you get wet?" she hailed
as he approached.
"My handkerchief has all day
long," replied Dick, lugubriously.
"Elida, I'm going away."
"Good! Then I'll have some peace
in my life," retorted Elida, but a quick
darkening shadow of the lustrous
eyes told that she was aroused.
"Yes," Bays Dick. "Uncle says I've
wasted my life. He tried me in his
bank. I made a muddle of it The
law I rebelled. You know afl I can
do is to write. He's discouraged that.
But finally he's given in, and I'm to
become a sort of reader or editor with
a city publishing house he's interest
ed in."
"Poetry!" sniffed Elida in affected
contempt. "Fine living that will
bring you!"
"Oh, no, novels, essays, they print
everything. If I make it go, Uncle
Drake will start me out big. Then
I'm going to marry you."
"Hoity toity!" screamed Elida.
"Who told you that?"
"My longing heart'" declared Dick.
"Yes, I'm coming back to claim you."
"Why, that will be years and years!
You'll be quite gray and decrepit."
She had hurt him, but her tender
soul was hurt at his news of going
away more than he thought.
"You see," she went on perversely,
"by the time you're rich and famous
and a real man I'll be married.
Good-bye, Dick. I hope you won't
torment the city girls the way you
have me," and she turned towards
the house.
"Elida!" gasped Dick, sick at
heart.
And then he saw it all as she turn
ed and ran towards him. Tears were
raining down her cheeks. She Was
sobbing. Around his neck went two(
clinging ams, for a moment only. . A
pair of quivering lips met'hiB own.J
She flashed from him then and spedi
for the houBe, with the ringing wail.
"And you stayed here just long
enough to break my heart" ' '
A veritable heacoh" light was the)
memory of that last meeting with;
Elida. He had been a harum-scarum,'
happy-go-lucky fellow before. Now,,
headed for congenial employment,
believing that Elida loved him, Dick
resolved to make his uncle and all the
rest of his friends proud of him.
And he succeeded. Only one or .two
merely friendly letters came lo him
in the city from Elida. Then almost
a year to a day, his heart filled with
triumph and hope, he returned to his
home town.
His first thought was of Elida. He
leaped the fence pf the Mason place
when he reached It There was Elida.
She was seated on the ground end
of a big teeter Upon Which both had
engaged in many a past and gone
youthful frolic. She was muBlngly
stringing a chain of daisies. There
was a slight scream as deftly Dick
leaped up, gently palled, the other
end of the teeter down, sat-m it and
blandly smiled up afr yapy- love,
perched way aloft - Z l
"It's ale. announced Dick joy
ously. Elida, clihgingto the board, breath
less, abashed, hastily arranged her
skirts. , 1
"Oh, just let me get at you pncer
she panted.
"I've come -back for that kiss you
promised, remarked Dick coolly,
"I promised!" cried Elida, aflame.
"Well, I've earned it," declared
Dick. "It was Just the memory of
our last parting that has helped me
to make my way towards riches "
Elida sniffed contemptuously. Love
with Dick and only a crust of dry
bread would be Contentment ineff
able, although she would not tell Dick
so,
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