The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-16

partv tor a week in order to meet
some people who were coming up from
the city" Nobody made any pointed re-
marks upon the subject except Waite,
who called out, as they waved their
adieus at parting:
LET rs know, ola man, as soon as
you have decided when it is 10 be-
A chorus of good-natured laughter
came from the boats as .-dy saw, even
at distance, that Roo was blusning
furiOusly.
On the last day of their stay in camp,
Rod and Miss Elizabeth decided 20
make a farewell trip to the Cherock
pool, beside which they had first met.
They had come to be quite at home IN
each others society, and, in fact,
evinced a decided and exclusive prefer
ence for it, rather than fer the general
gatherings of the party. But on this oc-
casion Rod was grave and apparently
disturbed, and Miss Elliot's mood was
more serious than usual. The converse
ton moved only in fitful spurts as they
sat side by side on the rocks beside the
pool gazing steadfastly into Its cooi
depths. Al length the talk drifted In
evitably to that earlier occasion, and
they went over all the details asa thew
had done a hundred other times When
Elizabeth had concluded her description
of his ridiculous appearance as ne
plunged Into the water, Rod cleared his
throat with an evident effort
''Bess." he said, reaching out for the
hand which she had allowed TO droI
idly to her side, II want to ask you a
question. but first l have confession
to make
"A confession?" Elizabeth's tone IN
Dictated proper amount OF alarm al MS
solemn manner, and she made weak
10 wit "a Il ~
that lay enveloped between two big
brown cnes. 81 suppose ought not tC
listen to it, but" finding that there was
no intention of releasing the hand, u
am curious to know what it can be-
We'll" began Rod, heavily, you re
member the time we We're just speak
ing of?'' Q
You mean the time when you met
with your accident? Yes, l believe
have some recollection of the occasion.
She gave him a glance that would have
precipitated matters had Rod beer
looking at her instead of at the toe OF
his boot.
We'll" went on that mentally bur
dened person, sit wasn't an-an accl-
dent"
This time Miss Elliot seemed genu-
inely surprised. She stood up so sud
denly that the white hand was with
drawn before Rod could prevent it.
Not 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 die
it on a-on a bet"
There was suspicion of a smile
about the corners of Miss Elizabeth
mouth as she mentally compared the
picture presented by Mr.. Mason sitting
in dust and ashes at her feet with the
one he had made in his wild descent
of the slide two months before. Shs
quelled the smile, however, and made
her voice as stern as possible before
she replied.
II ought to be shocked" she said
with severity. Yes, am shocked, Rod
erick Mason. How do you explain such
conduct?"
Well" said Rod fairly writhing il
his abasement, Il didn't know you
then, but, of course. 1 shouldn't have
done it anyway. Only the boys-one OF
the boys-joked me about wanting &c
meet you, and l told him / could &c
over to your camp and meet you any
time, and he said that would be forcing
my acquaintance on you, and-well, he
kept it up until I got out. of patience
a little Miss Elliot struggled against
another smile-Hand 1 bet him that
could come over here and meet you ano
row you home"
And you did, supplemented Eliza
beth. II suppose you felt very fine tc
win such a bet as that?"
No. said Rod with his first ray Of
hope. Il didn't. 1 felt ashamed after
made the bet, and l felt more
ashamed after I-saw you. 1 wouldn't
have asked to take you home that day
if it hadn't been so stormy. That was
why I stopped when / first started tc
ask you; 1 thought of the bet. Anc
that was why 1 wouldn't row around
the island. 1 didn't want the boys tc
see"
And what did your-your friend say
and what did he think of me when you
told him that you had won the bet?'
continued Miss Elliot, relentlessly.
II didn't tell him." Rod asserted, with
little more spirit than he had before
exhibited. You don't think l could
have done that, do you? 1 told him
had lost it. paid it,
Elizabeth sat down again. Her hand
unconsciously touched the brown one
that lay helplessly on the bed of the
moss.
Since you didn't tell that you had
won the bet" she said, II don't know
but that you can be forgiven for the
rest"
Rod Strengthened up suddenly, invol-
UNFAIRLY squeezing the little hand unit
it was decidedly pink He looked
straight into the gray eyes, that had
dropped before his gaze.
Yes" said Elizabeth, while a faint
color glowed through the tan upon hel
cheeks, you are forgiven
And at that Rod felt emboldened tc
ask the question he had before re-
ferred to.
Later-some time later-when the
conversation had been resumed, Rod re.
marked, while he patted the white
hand, reached this time by encircline
his companions waist:
There's one thing, though, that
wasn't in the scheme-the trout That
why l wanted you to take it that day
1t would have made me feel better il
you had"
"Yes?' queried Elizabeth. 81 was
just wondering what part the trout
played in your little drama l wanted
to accept it, too, only L thought it bet
ter not to-"
After another interval Elizabeth
spoke:
by the way, Roderick, dear. you
said that one of the boys had jol1ed you
about me. Did it happen to be Billy
White?''
Rod sat IN again.
You know-White?" be asked, in as
constituent.
Since he is my cousin, yes" replied
Elizabeth her smile this time breaking
into a ripple of laughter.
Well I'll be- Rod checked HIM
self Then you are the cousin Eliza
beth he was always cracking up to me
when we were in collegei The Villain
DO you think SOP" asked Elizabeth,
pretending to draw away from him.
Rod Immediately proved that he did
not think so.
"And Won ore tho bod Nro,o,- ,,.1,,s4.o