The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05
His cousin looked up at him anx-


whats that you're not sure about
Rolf?" she asked. "What you are
sure of is that you must abide by
your fathers decision in the matter.
It's awfully hard for you, know
that, Rolf, and I'm just as sorry
about it as / can be. But Uncle Bland
must know best, and we all have to
give up what we want once in a
while"
"Do we, them" rejoined the boy,
haughtily. Indeed, 1 will not then.
Once am my own master, I'll make
things give up to me. I'll be slave
no longer than I'm twenty one"
Rolf, pleased" reiterated the young
girl, shocked and distressed. "Are
we ever really our own masters?
Doesn't your father himself some
times have to give up his wishes and
plans? | know mine does. | often
hear him speak of circumstances com
polling him to do what he'd rather
not. Andif grown men have to yield
in that way, why, of course, we young
sters must expect to. But we needn't
consider ourselves slaves, for all that;
and | want you to put that notion
out of your head, Rolf, and accept
your disappointment like good fell
low, as you are. Why, only think
how our hearts would be in our
mouths, all of us. if we were to see
you start off ona shying colt7"
"Shying fiddlestick~ growled Rolf,
but a little smile crept round his
mouth in spite of himself, and Fanny
eagerly took it as sign of softening
feeling.
There was no time for any further
talk, for the summons to tea came at
this moment, and in the evening the
city cousin was to be taken to her first
old-fashioned Southern camp-meet-
ing.
There was picnic arranged for the
next day, beach party for the next
Rolf was the girls escort everywhere,
and did his best to make things en-
joyable; but Fanny could not help
noticing a certain change in his looks
and manner, now boisterously gay,
now silentand moody. And, remem-
bering certain muttered words he
had let fall the day they talked to-
gether, she found herself watching
him with certain anxious apprehen-
sion of she knew not what
One night, when there had been
company and Rolls mood had been
more than usually variable, his cousin
lay awake for some time thinking I'M
easily of him. Presently she heard
the old clock in the hall strike twelve;
tie whole house seemed hushed in
sleep, and yet, as the last stroke died
away, the young girl becam aware of
another sound, the muffled sound of
stealthy footballs outside her door.
Raising her head to listen, she dis
tinctly heard the cautious steps de-
scending the stairs; she heard the
hall door softly open and close, a
careful move ent across the porch,
and then all was silence again. But
as she sat half upright in bed, Fanny
could see plainly through the open
window the tall figure of her cousin
darkly defined as he hurried across
the lawn in the vivid moonlight.
cit is Rolf knew til Now what
can he be up to, l wonder?" she cried,
excitedly, to herself. Just then a
sudden flash of torch-light Redeemed
the silver of the bay, whose waters
broke at the foot of the lawn.
ooh, 1 know thought Fanny, her
apprehensions suddenly dispelled.
"He has gone down to see if his eel
pot is all right, | guess. There's old
Uncle Jake out in his boat now with
his lantern catching fatbacks.
"Silly thingI" as she heard a splash,
and saw the CLEAN of the leaping
fins. "To jump in to their death
after light, just like moths round a
candle. But | hope Rolf will get
some cells; they're delicious fried in
cream for breakfast
And little dreaming upon what
reckless GRAND the boy was really
bent, his cousin settled herself down
among her pillows and was presently
asleep.
A plan for trip to the lighthouse
island which Flora was eagerly ar
ranging at breakfast, put all thought
of anything else out of Fanny's
mind. This was followed by series
of visits paid and returned among
Flora's girl friends; and in the quick
succession of holiday pleasures, the
day of the tournament arrived with
| ont Yo,,ch racent fhOuoht heinop given