Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-03

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
tie narrow rayine, over which the
ledge of rock projected she noticed a
beautiful cluster of early autumn flow
ers. They seemed almost within
reach, and she decided to gather them
as a souvenir of this visit to Glen
Echo. Perhaps it would be the last.
for each succeeding visit only served
TO make her more lonely than before.
Then, beside, Autumn, laying here
and there a fiery finger on the leaves"
told only too plainly of approaching
winter, when this loved spot would be
robbed Of many of its beauties.
Stepping from the rock, Eleanor
climbed up a lew feet and steadying
herself by clutching the ferns and
bushes at her side, reached out over
the narrow space toward the coveted
blossoms. Closing her hand around
them, she gave a quick jerk to pull
them from the stem, but at that in
slant the moss covered stone upon
which her weight rested moved slight
~, and she felt herself slipping down
the bank. She franticalIy clutched
some bushes growing directly before
her, but in her eagerness caught them
too near the tops, and the branches
slipped through her fingers, leaving
only the leaves in her hand.
\ second attempt caused her to lose
her balance altogether, and she half
slipped, half rolled, some distance
down the bank, carrying with her, in
the descent, a shower of dirt and small
stones. An instant later she found her
self sitting upon a ledge of rock jut-
ting out from the hillside, upon which
was a bench similar to the one upon
which she had been seated.
Making no attempt to rise, Eleanor
leaned back against the bench, unde-
cided whether TO laugh or cry, and
thinking how ridiculous she must ap-
pear, and thankful, indeed, that no one
had witnessed her undignified fall.
She was shaken and GREATNESS. but
uninjured, and she laughed as she
thought how fortunate it was Hal was
not with her this time. She was star
lyv S1frrIF+ In -
came a hurried footstep. and a voice
said:
Are you hurt? Let me assist you"
Instinctivcly Eleanor drew her feet
toward her sideways. smoothing out
her skirt with one hand, while with
the other she tried to put back her
hair, which had become Ioosened by
the fall Again the voice spoke.
Tell me-are you hurt?'
The girl glanced up quickly, then.
with Il surprised little OH covered
her crimson face with both hands. AS
she turned toward the speaker he
sprang back cxclaiming. Eleanor
and the next instant was on his knees
at her side.
With one arm about her, he gently
took her hands away from her face,
and kissed away the tears of humilia-
/ ton which started into the blue eyes.
Eleanor, my darling, what has hap
pened:" asked the young man, as he
raised the girl and put her upon the
bench, still keeping his arm about her.
Il wanted a flower which was a little
above-'Our bench'-and | fell from the
! ledge above" she answered.
You fell from the ledge above" he
repeated, glancing upward, then at the
dark rayine below. lie Shuddered and
drew the girl closer TO him. Eleanor.
sweetE art, l have been the most
wretched man in the whole world for
many months. would have come to
beg you to forgive my thoughtless
words long ago. but l did not know
where you were / went abroad solely
for the purpose of finding you, but
missed your party continually. At last
| heard you were ut hCme. so | came
back to Washington at once, arriving
| only this morning. | intended calling
upon you this evening. To-day, when
came here and found our bench oc-
cupied, 1 was greatly disappointed, and
was coming down to this seat to wait
until the other was vacant. And just
think. sweetheart, it was you all the
| timer
Yes. Hal" Eleanor said. CAS- l sat
there l made up my mind to go to you,
and explain away our little-miSun-
derStanding-if ever l had the oppor-
tunity; but really did not intend to
throw myself at your head in this
fashion" she added, with a smile.
Well" he Gaid, with mock gravity,
your coming to explain was rather
sudden and entirely unexpected. but
since you are not hurt" he continued,
| tenderly, Il bless the fortunate slip
that brought you back to me"