The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-01

1
within hail of boat containing Judge
! Vantine and his guide. f0t-
Come over here, sir, called the Judge,
! peremptorily, as he identified Rod. Then,
as they obeyed and rowed alongside he
! went on; after the usual greetings and the
inspection of their catchi atNhy haven't
! you been over to see us2 I think you owe
me at least a duty call. For a week I've
been wanting to thank you for taking such
| good care of my niece. She may have
something to say on that score herself IL
| you give her a chance.
! White opened his eyes an unusual dis
| lance and looked hard in Rods Direction
at these remarks but he said nothing
I'D he glad to come, sir. said Rod, in
confusion, only, thought--of going, out
| tomorrow" he ended, lamely. ..,...,.....N
Nonsense" said the judge, with vigor,
1.-THE lake has settled just enough 20 make
! good fishing in the spring-holes. This is
! no time to leave"
II think" said Rod, when the usual camp
| fire coterie assembled that evening, that
| I'll stay few days longer after all. We
| found some mighty good sport in Brandy
to-day, didn't we, White?'
yes said White, with a profound wink
/ in the direction of Dean. Jr., "I did"
| From that time on the Witch bay camp
| saw little more of Mr.. Roderick Mason
| than it would If he had carried out his de-
! termination to return to the city. He de-
veloped a sudden fondness for the society
of Judge Vantine. According to the ac-
counts which he held forth for the edidca-
! ton of his comrades the amiable Judge was
continually organizing fishing parties, or
! trips to Darning Needle. or Indian noun
| tain pond, to the success of which COM
pany of Mr.. Mason was absolutely essen
/ tial The camp noted as a significant
! fact that Miss Elliots name was mention
| ed casually or not at all in these rectals
and needed no further indication as to how
affairs were going between these young
! folks. There was no surprise, therefore,
at the breaking up of the White bay con-
tngent. when Rod announced that he had
accepted Judge Vantines invitation to
join the latter's party for a week 'in or
der to meet some people who were coming
up from the city Nobody made any
pointed remarks On the subject. except
White, who called out, as they waved their
adieus on parting: A
LET us know, old man, as soon as you
have decided when il is 10 be-"
A chorus of good-natured laughter came
! from the boats as they say. even at a dis
lance. 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, beside
which they had. first met. They
had come to bees quite al home
in each others society, and, INTACT, evHc-
ed 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
| ElliotS mood was more serious than usual.
| The Conversation moved only in htful
spurts as they sat side by side on the rocks
beside the pool gazing steadfastly into It's
cool depths. At length the talk drifted in
evitaby to that earlier occasion, and they
went over all its details as they had done
a hundred other times. When Elizabeth
| had concluded her description of his ride
ulous appearance as he plunged into the
water, Rod clearedf his throat with an ev-
| "Bess," he said, reaching out fer the
hand which she. had allowed TO drop idly
! to her side II want TO ask yoasa queetion,
but first l hav a. confession to4rfake.Ds
"A confession? - Elizabeth s. tone in
dcated a proper amount of alarm at his
solemn manner, and she made weak at
tempt to withdraw the white hand that lay
| enVeloped between two big brown ones. ~
suppose I ought not to listen TO IL, but"
finding that there was no intention of re-
leasing the hand II am curious to know
what it can be-" M T
We'll" began Rod heavily. f'you re-
member the time we Were just speaking
Of" nY
you mean the time when you met with
your accident? YessI believe have some
recollection of the OCCASION She gave
! him a glance that would have precipitated
stead of at the toe of her boot.
well" went on that mentally bur-
dc :. person, "it wasn't an-an accident"
Not an ACCIDENT" she repeated, then
what In the world was it,"
IL did it on purpose" went on the con-
trite Rod bowling his head beneath the
heavy load of his remorse. Il did 1t on a.
on a bet" TNs W
There was a suspicion Of a smile about
the corners of Miss Elizabeta's mouth as
she mentally compared the picture pre-
sented by Mr.. Mason sitting In the dust
and ashes at her feet with the one he had
made in his wild descent of the slide two
months before. She queed the smile,
| however, and made her voice as stern as
possible before she replied.
Il ought to be shocked she said with
severity; Yes. l am shocked, Roderick
Mason. How do you explain such con-
| duct?"
We'll said Rod, fairly writing in his
! abasement, II didn't Know you then, but
of course I shouldn't have done It any
way Only the boys-one Of the boys
| ioked me about wanting to meet you, and
l told him 1 could go over to your camp
and meet you any time, ana he said that
would be forcing my acquaintance ON you,
and-well he kept it'up until | got out OF
! patience-a little" Miss Elliot struggled
against another snnile-"and bet him that
/ could come over here aud meetsyou and
row you home"
And you did" supplemented Elizabeth
II suppose you felt very fine 10 win such
a let as that" sf.
mo" said Rod. with his FIRST ray of
hope. Il didn't I fen ashamed after
made after I-saw you. IwouMn't have
asked to take yod home that day II 1t
hadn't been 80 stormy That was why 7
stopped when I first stared 10 ask you;
! l thought Of The bet And that was why
I wouldn't row around the Stand | didn't
want the boys to see.r
I And what did your-your friend say
and what did he think Of me when you
told him that you had won The 'betp' con-
! tinued Miss Elliott releHilessly.
I II didn't tell him" Rod asserted with n
/ litte more spirit than he had before ex
! hlbited you don't think could have
| done that, do you? / told him | had lost
| ii. ! paid IT, ~
Elizabeth sat down AGAIN Her hand I'M
| consciously touched The brown one that Tag
! helplessly on The bed Of TIE moss.