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

I
the gale He had removed his c. at and she
could see the play of his muscles beneath
his outing shirt As ne bent forward and
with powerful strokes sent the boat flying
TO meet the waves. When they struck the
first swell the little craft seemed fairly
to be thrown in air. Then il went down.
down sicl1euirg distance, and then up
again. 1t seemed as though the storm was
| tossing them in watery blanket for It's
own amusement and IL was hard to believe
that they were making any progress. But
with each wave the oars took the water
straight and true and the pounding noise
of the breakers against the .og boom be-
gan TO recede behind them.
Elizabeth saw that Mason was heading
Straight across the lake. where bigger and
wilder waves were waiting for them. She
was not frightened, but she knew that 1t
must be terribly hard work pulling against
such a gale.
Don't you think you had better row
around the island?" she screamed. 'It's
Quieter there
Rod shook his head and rowed straight
on, He was thinking that he would rath
er face shipwreck than row around the
island where White would see them and
think that he had done this for the wager.
Various thoughts had been cOurslng rap
idly through the not particularly quick
mind of Mr.. Roderick Mason as he strug-
ged across the lake toward the Stony
Point camp. He thought that he was
fool and cad to make a bet about a girl
like Miss Elliot Still he was not sorry
that he had made it, since 1t led TO meet
ing her. He earnestly hoped, however,
that she might not hear of the bet, He
did not believe that she would approve
Of it. She evidently was not like most
of the girls he had met His-c compliment
airy remarks she had taken as a matter
of course. She had cut short the high
flown speech of thanks he had intended to
make after she had pulled him out of the
water. AS we'll as he could remember,
she had exhibited vastly more interest in
the big trout than she had in him. 1t
didn't seem to Rod that this was exactly
as it should be. In truth, Miss Elliot aw-
cd him little, but he was decidedly of
the opinion that she was the most attrac-
tive girl he had ever met
1t was slow work crossing the lake. The
task of rowing occupied Rod fully, and
the gale made conversation impossible.
When they finally arrived at Judge Van
tine landing, a feeling OF constraint seem
ed to have come over both of them.
1T was very good of you to bring me
home Mr. Mason" said Elizabeth, las she
stepped on shore. your Craftsmanship Is
perfect 1 could never have made the trip
alone, and, but for your timely appear
ance, 1 should probably be making fran
tic signals of distress from the other side,
instead Of being safe in camp. L hope
your accident won't make you i'll"
There isn't the slightest danger" said
Rod, a little stiffiy. 1.-THE row was just
what needed. 1 feel frst-rate now"
He passed the rod and fish basket out
to her slowly. He was wondering II she
wouldn't say that she hoped to see him
again, but apparently SHE did not think of
that She took the things from hishands,
and opening the basket, reached mis- three
pound trout toward him, Rod drew back
a little.
Won't you keep 1t?' he asked and was
surprised to notice that his request eound-
ed timid. TITS more yours than mine,
anyway. because it surely would have es-
capped if you hadn't taken it down from
the limb" g
80, don't think so; I oughtn't do that"
she said, hastily, not after the loss of the
rest of your catch"
Rod did not press the point further, but
he did not put the dead FISH into his bask-
et He threw it instead into the bottom of
the boat as though AL its ya1nss to him
were gone. Miss Elliot did not notice this
either After a few formal words she
walked up the path that led toward the
camp while Rod turned and rowed saw
agely toward home.
The squaI that had been blowing brought
up a summer thunderstorm which drench-
ed him through before he reached his own
camp and concealed the evidences of his
former wetting. He found his companions
sheltered under one of the shacks engaged
in the usual rainy day employment of tell
ing stories.
what Iuck?" called Dean as he APP
peared.
%lSone at an answered Rod, shortly.
mo fsh?" queried. Dean, JE. faio -rsfs
'I got some, butI slipped down and they
went into the water
where's your cap%"
THAT went the same way
"IIow about the wager?' asked White
lazily.
II lost that, too" said Rod as he turned
toward his own quarters in search of dry
apparel
Don't seem exactly pleased. does her
suggested White as Masons back disap-
peared from view. But he forbore to
question Rod further.
whether to return Judge Vantine's boat
in person or not, but he finally decided 10
delegate the task 10 one of the guides.
IF she doesn't want to know me I'll
let her see that 1 am not the man to force
my acquaintance on anybody" he said 20
himself with an attempted loftiness which
he did not wholly feel.
For the time being there was no more
communication between the camps. on
Witch bay and Stony Point. Rod went
his way, more soberly than usual, and he
did not try his luck in Cherock again,
though White felt called upon to suggest
1t on one occasion. After a few days
Rod announced one night as the party
gathered about the camp fire:
Il guess I'll go back to New York at
the end of the week"
1.-THE fishing is getting poorer every
day." said Rod affecting a bored tone,
land I've already been away four weeks.
Tomorrow is Friday. In have one more
day of it and go down the lake on Satur-
day afternoon"
IAN right" said White, 'if you insist
upon it, but we ali wish that you would
stay. Wen go over to Brandy brook to
morrow. know some good spring holes
there and Wen have one days good sport
before you leave"
KIDNEY TROUBLE