The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-01

eentt;al. The camp noted as signlficflnt
fact that Miss Elli0t's name was Inch
toned casually or not at all III these re-
citals and needed no further lndlcatloh
as to how affairs were going between
these young folks There was no sur
prise. therefore. at the breaking UP OF
the White Bay contingent, when Rod
announced that he had accepted Judge
Vantine's invitation to join the latters
party for Il week ''in order to meet some
People who We're coming up from tine
city" Nobody made any pointed re-
marks ON the subject, except White, VINO
called out as they waved their adieus
ON parting:
Let us know, old mat, as soon as
you have decided when it is to be"
A chorus of good-natured laughter
came from the boats as they saw, even
at distance, that Rod was blushing
furiously.
On the last day of their stay in camp,
Rod and Miss Elizabeth decided to make
a farewell trip to the Cherock pool be-
side which they had first met. They
had come to. be quite at home In each
others society, and, in fact, eyinced a
decided and exclusive preference for it
rather than for the general gatherings
of the party. But on this occasion, Rod
| was grave and apparently disturbed,
! and Miss Elliot's mood was more serious
| than usual. The conversation moved
! only in fitful spurts as they sat side by
| side on the rocks beside the pool gazing
steadfastly into its cool depths At
! length the talk drifted inevitably to that
| earlier occasion, and they went over all
| its details as they had done a hundred
other times. When Elizabeth had con-
| cluded her description of his ridiculous
appearance as he plunged into the wa
| ter, Rod cleared his throat with an evil
| dent effort.
| "Bess," he said, reaching cut for the
hand which she had allowed to drop
| idly to her side. II want 10 ask you a
! question, but first / shaye a confession
| to make"
"A confession +" Elizaibetl's tone liz
| dictated proper amount of alarm a. his
solemn manner. and she made weak
attempt to Withdraw the white hand
that lay enveloped between two Dig
brown ones. Il suppose / ought not to
listen to it, but" finding that there WAS
no intention of releasing the hand, Il
am curious to know what it can be-"
| well, began Rod heavily. won re-
member the time we were just socakin.;
| Of
| You mean the time when you met
with your accident? Yes. l believe |
have some recollection of the occasion.'
| She gave him glance that wCdil have
/ precipitated matters had Rod been look
ing at her instead Gf at the to- of his
| boot,
| We'll" went en- that mentally bur-
1 Ias,ad Uaa,sscn SIT xxocnft an--an ot.ft-
| dent"
This time Mis- Elliot seemed genuinely
surprised. Sohe stood up so suddenly
that the white hand was withdrawn be-
fore Rod could prevent it.
'sNot an accident?" She repeated
then what IN the world was it?'
IL did it ON purpose" went on the
contrite Rod, bowling his head beneath
the heavy load of his remorse. Il did
| it on a-on a bet"
There was a suspicion of smile
about the corners OF Miss Elizahptli's
mouth as she mentally compared the
picture presented by Mr.. Mason sit
| ting in dust and ashes at her feet
with the one he had made I'M his wild
descent of the slide two months before.
She quelled the smile, however, and
made her voice as stern as possible be-
| fore she replied.
Il ought to be shocked" she said
with severity; Yes, / ann shocked, Rol
erick Mason. How do you explain such
conductY'
Well" said Rod, fairly writhing in
his amusement. Il didn't know You
then. but of course | shouldn't have
done it, anyway Only the boys one OF
the boys joked me about wanting 20
meet YOU, and / told him / could go
over to your camp and meet yot any
| time, andshe said that would be forcing
my acquaintance on you, and-Well he
kept it up until got out Of pa .ience-
little" Miss Elliot struggled against
| another smile ''and / bet him that
could come over here and meet YOU and
row you home"
And you did" supplemented Eliza
BETH II suppose YOU felt very fine to
win such a bet as that
! NO., said Rod, with his first ray of
hope Il didn't. | felt ashamed after
l made the bet. and i felt more
ashamed after I-saw you. i wouldn't
have asked to take you home that day
| if it hadn't been so stormy. That was
why / stopped when l first started 10
| ask you, Il InOugnJ OF Cne net. Anu
| that was why l wouldn't row around
the island. i didn't want the boys to
/ see."
| And what did your'-your friend say,
| and what cid he think of me when YOU
| told him that you had won the bet?'
continued Miss Elliot relentlessiy.
Il didn't tell him, Rod asserted with
little more spirit than he had before
exhibited. You don't think | could
have dome that do you? told him
| had lost it. / paid it,
! Elizabeth sat down again. Her hand
unconsciously touched the brown one
that lay hopelessly ON the bed of the
moss.
''Since you didn't tell that you Ind
won the bet" she said, Il don't know
but that you cam be forgiven for the
rest"
Rod Strengthened up suddenly, invol-
UNFAIRLY squeezing the little hand until
it was decidedly pink. He looked straight
into the gray eyes, THAT had dropped
before his gaze