The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-06-17
"Shall we draw lots for decision

| w.
ing stream with II bound
Clarence assumed an expression of in
jurcd pain.
81 wouldn't have believed il of YOU,
Caryl | never was an acrobat, but can
assure you 7 have no intention of bein q
left out in the cold this way"
And, with his matchless grace and
GOODNESS, he sat comfortably down on q
mossrock and removed his low, hand
some shoes, and gray, crimsoncd clocked
stockings, displayed shapely feet, white as
n womans.
And then he stepped into the stream,
and when beside the young girl, paused
and bowed.
"Will you let me escort you to The
bank in safety
"lt would have been impossible not to
have been amused by his mock, elaborate
courtesy; and she smiled shaking her
head
Thank you! 1t is not at all necess-
ary."
And then they all stood on the oppo-
site shore, where Clarence donncd silken
hose and Oxford ties again.
Not till then did Caryl take any part
in the conversation.
ave are on our way to Red Rock
Lake, he said, courteously. "Wc are not
positively sure we are on the shortest
road or how much further we have to
travel you could only tell us,Miss--'
a grave little smile supplied the in
terogative in his question.
"My name is Estcllc, and can tell
you what you wish to know; but you are
ON the wrong road, if you mean to join
the camping out party on the lake, up in
the mountains. by this road you will
have fifteen miles TO GO
Clarence gave dismal exclamation.
"l'iftccn miles, and high noon already!
That is appalling news, Miss Estcllc; but
of course you cannot know our lnap-
sacks are empty, and am expiring of
starvation"
She watched his drbonair, handsome
face so earnestly, yet 80 molcStly, while
he spoke; then she turned proudly to
ward Caryl
"If you will be willing to stop at our
cottage, u half milo up yondcr,' and she
pointed away up among almost impassa
bic wooded slopcs,"l will be glad to give
You your dinners Grandma and Uncle
Ihucl will be pleased to see you, and it
is directly on the right road to the camp.
| can show you the tents from our house
the lake is just below, on the other
side of the mountain
Her ready, fluent speech, refined and
gently spoken, her sweet halfrescwcd,
wholly dgniticd manner, were most
charming and girlish, and Caryl accept
ed her invitation readily.
1--WE will be only too glad and CRATE
full. Come, Clarence. you're equal to
climbing the mountain, | hope ?'
Clarence sent glance to Estelle's
eyes.
with such n guide I'll follow the
world over"
Thcn,whc q swift frown of displasure
darkoned on Caryls face, the meaning
of which he well knew, he purposely
dropped behind him, and walked side by
side with the silent, lovely young crea-
turc.
'Estclle it just fits you,that soft,swcet
mclodious name
She flushed trihc
II am glad you like it---I never did, |
shall now," she added in n curious,
solemn little uudcrtonc.
And their eyes met--only one brief
look but after that Estcle scarcely
spoke Il word on their toisomc uphill
journey.
; But the arrival! Tired, heated, hungry,
:, though they were, they paused in raptu
! rous ecstasy at the magnificent sight
spread below thonl-the glorious cXpansC
t of lake. and forest, lower hills and wind
ing river, distant town and nesting
i villages
"And you live here ?"
Caryl looked at her as though she were
y q saint.
She laughcd-hcr happy girisl
u laugh.
Il have always lived here, and love
the place dcarly.I
With charming dclicacy she left then
: alone with the silent, solemn scene tha
y cntranccd them so; and then, u few
minutes aftorward,r returned, accompanies
> by middlc-agcd man, with bronHcd
" pleasant face.
: These are the gentlemen, Uncle Thucl,
Z, she said. and then fitted away AGAIN. l.
II leave fine men 70 become better ac
v, nuoin,cd
Then they had dinncrat which swcc
+ faced, d,white. haired old lady presided wit
Z homcly, hearty grace.
IIoprs af,crward when, for the frs
, timc in MI her life Estollr stole off b
L. herself pnrposely to think of n man
q handsome face. and sweet. cares in
u u voice, she tried to realize how it all cam
:. about that Mr.. Alecrnon Clarencc---sh
ett knew his name well enough by this tim
u how he had MANAGED, after dim,
while his friend was talking with Uncl
rr Thucl about the hunting and iishn
II thcrcabouts, to find her out among til
II trees, and have pleasant, long talk wit