The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1901-12-13

waterw Eleanor declared mentally.
Among her most highly priced trea
sures was a sketch of the river and 4
glimpse of the Virginia hills. which
Hal had been making ON the day hel
party had accidentally come upon hin
in this very spot. 1t was here he had
been introduced to her; here. some time
later, he had asked her to be his wife
Here it was. she promised. and then
had followed those many delightful
months. To-day the thoughts OF the
unhappy girl continually drifted back
over the hours, oh, such happy times,
spent in these woods and the Chautau-
qua grounds adjoining. where she and
her loves wandered like two children.
finding tongues in trees. books in
running brooks, sermons in stones, and
good in everything"
Alas. 1t was here they had quarrel
ed; what 1t had all been about the girl
could scarcely remember. Both were
foolshily quick. both proud To who
was at fault Eleanor now gave no
thought: she would have taken the
blame and asked forgiveness for her
hasty words. fault or no fault, IL he
had but come to her: but he did
not. and she could not seek him. Not
long afterward she had gone abroad
with her parents. and when she re-
turned TO Washington, 1t was only TO
learn that Hal had left the city.
pressed her hand against her heart as
If to quiet its violent throbbing. when
sudden thought flashed into Ter
mind. Perhaps he did not care: per-
haps his was merely fancy. No. no.
She felt that he had suffered, too, for
he loved her; of that she was con-
WINGED. and as she sat thinking OF the
happy past and the dreary future with
out him. she vowed to herself that IL
she ever saw him again she would
speak to him and explain, even If he
did not come to her But where was
he? Would she ever see him again
ever have an opportunity to explain?
Sitting thus dejectedly, she allowed
her eyes to wander restlessly from OBJ
ject to object. scarcely needing what
she saw, until, ON the opposite side Of
the narrow raviEe, over which the !
edge of rock projected, she noticed a
beautiful cluster OF early autumn flow |
RS. They seemed almost within /
each. and she decided to gather them 4
is a souvenir of this visit to Glen
oh . l..
or each succeeding visit only served i
o make her more Ior-ly than before.
Then, beside, Autumn. laying here
nd there fiery finger on the leaves
old only too plainly of approaching
winter. when this loved spot would lie
obbed of many of its beauties
Stepping from the rock. Eleanor
limbed up lew feet and steadylng
erself by clutching the ferns and
ushes at her side, reached out over
be narrow space toward the coveted
lessons. Closing her hand around
hem, she gave quick jerk to pull
lem from the stem. but at that In
ant the moss covered stone upon
'hich her weight rested moved slight
:. and she felt herself slipping down
le bank. She frantically clutched /,
Jme bushes growing directly before !
n, but in her eagerness caught them
% near the tops. and the branches
ipped through her fingers. leaving !
lily the leaves in her hand.
A second attempt caused her to lose
n balance altogether. and she half
ipped, half rolled, some distance
,wn the bank, carrying with her. In
g descent, a shower of dirt and small !,
ones. An instant later she found her
If sitting upon ledge of rock jut- ),
" out from the hillside, upon which :,
as bench similar to the one upon !.
hich she had been seated. I
Making no attempt to rise. Eleanor
med back against the bench. unde- u
led whether 10 laugh or cry. and u
mixing how ridiculous she must ap-
ar, and than ul, indeed that no one
d witnessed her undIgnifed fall. 2,
e was shaken and breathless. but
injured, and she laughed as she
ought how fortunate 1t was Hal was
{ with her this time. She was star If
d by slight exclamation; then b
me hurried footstep, and a voice r
ID: n
Are you hurt? Let me assist you.o g,
Eleanor drew her feet al
ward her sideways, smoothing out m
r skirt with one hand, while with CO
, other she tried to put back her
Ir, which had become Ioosened by
. fall. Again the voice spoke. a
Tell me-are you hurtT' 10