The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-03


man. Oh. l couldn't. 1 must go away.
or he must; but it's too bad-too bad.
1 know he is beginning to care: and
am--oh, l am; and it means nothing
| but misery, for l never could bear his
knowing It, What would he think!
Oh, dear!'
| She cried softly for a moment; then
sat up very straight with crimson
cheeks. "Never!" she exclaimed. "No
one! Lillian, do something and stop
this foolishness'
Shaking out her dress she got up and
moved about. picking at bits of moss
and the late summer blossoms nesting
near the brookside. A great blue her.
on Topped squawking from the alders.
Mercy. What sort of a creature Is
that" exclaimed Miss Edwinson, be-
ginning to laugh. "Of all the ungain-
ly Objects" Enlightened by this epi-
scde. she rambled to the shadows at
the head of the pool and looked across.
Cardinals" she burst forth in rap
ture. What a magnificent bunch.
must have them. Why isn't there a
bridge or something, SO I can get
over?"
The big red cluster shone temptingly
from rocky cleft close to the stream.
Miss Edwinson glanced at the smooth
stones over which only few inches
spread out. making a long oval basin
Of limpid depths. Here child could
wade.
mo one can possibly see me. Of
course. l can do it; won't take min
ute." whispered Lillian, peering cau-
tiously about. Her shoes and stock
ings came off in trice.
The cool ripples purred gratefully
around her toes as she stepped in, care
fully selecting smooth resting places.
She was over: the flowers We're hers.
Full of pleased excitement. she stole
back.
Midway she stopped and dabbled.
isn't this fun" she thought. "Heav-
ems! What's that! A COW! A man!
What?"
In the thick alder bushes just above
something was rapidly pushing its
way Miss Edwinson stumbled the re-
naming distance with indiscreet haste
and much splashing. Another moment
found her in the former resting place,
flushed, but composed; her footgear
quickly scrabbled beneath her dress
the tell-tale feet snugly tucked from
observation.
So Howard Birdsall found Miss Ed
winson. as hurrying down the brook
wondering at the sound of disturbed
water, he came by her tree.
"Hullo," said that lady calmly.
"Where did you come from? Go right
along with your fishing; I want to
read"
LET me stay. I've fished enough"
pleaded the young man. II haven't
seen you all day. Why don't you take
a more comfortable position? You
look all cramped up"
81 like this one. No, l must finish
my hook. You can come back in half
an hour and walk home with me-"
Birdsall stood gazing admiringly at
the bright face. over which shade of
annoyance was stealing. He half
turned to obey, and the girl cast her
eyes away to where the pool spread its
beauty before her. Suddenly she
shrieked. and pointed excitedly.
"oh. get it-get it, quick! Do. Mr..
Birdsal, I don't care. ! must have it
back. Get 1t right away" Her voica
rose in wall of despair.
"Get what?" calculated the annoyed
young man. staring wildly.
my toe! Hurry"
"Your toe? Why?--whst ?-where?
"There, on the water. It's come off.
Oh, can't you understand anything"
Birdsall's eye followed her pointing
finger. Dancing merrily on the surface
of the stream-now whirling In an eddy
new bobbing off to hooks of quiet
foaled small pinkish object. u see