The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-09

AV - resting place against the rOor
of his shack and started for
the landing.
'I'm going to explore that little
brook we found yesterday" he an
nounced to White.
ooh, yes" chuckled White; "wonder-
fully attractive brook, isn't it? You
didn't notice that young woman from
Judge Vantine's camp rowing over in
that direction, suppose?
'She did?" inquired Mason in appar-
ent surprise, Strengthening up from the
task of depositing fish basket and pad
dies in his canoe.
"Oh, no, of course she didn't, and of
course you wouldn't have planned to
explore your creek if you had seen her.
STILL" sarcastically, II wouldn't let
that spoil days sport. I'd go right
along if 1 were you. If you happen to
run across her, she won't notice you.
She never has, and you've tried it on
long enough"
"Oh, shut up, White" said Mason
testify. 'If really wanted to meet the
girl, there's nothing to prevent my
1lltO DOdl uHu IoW1uS ONSI
to Vantine's, is there? The judge is an
old friend of fathers, and he'd intro
duce me in minute"
"Of course in that case she couldn't
help herself" observed White aggra-
vatingly. But didn't mean to stir
up your injured feelings. suppose it
is sore subject with you"
"Look here" cried Mason angrily.
eff that girl has really gone over to
Cherock, I'll row her home just to
show you fellowsv'
Bet you $40 you won't" said White
sententiously, raising himself on his
elbow.
"Done," responded the other as he
pushed off from the landing. "Pl row
around this side Of the island so that
you can see."
There was just light ripple on the
water and just faint breath of cool
summer fragrance coming down from
Graves mountain as Rod Mason drove
his canoe across the lake in the direc-
tion Of Cherock creek, which was
reached through tangled maze of
deadwood. The exercise brought
glow of color into his handsome face
and dissipated the mental annoyance
caused by his recent conversation.
II ought not to have been so hasty,"
he reflected, "but now Pm in for it. !
suppose I've got to see it through
that is, if 1 can. If don't, I'll never
hear the last of it. wonder what she
is like anyway"
1t was perhaps an hour later that
Miss Elizabeth, or, as she was known
to her intimate friends, Bess Elliot,
| fancied she heard slight noise as of
something moving through the bushes
on the higher bank of the stream
| above the spot where she stood. She
glanced up, but, seeing nothing, set it
| down to one Of the squirrels or other
woods creatures that are always STIR
ring and turned her attention once
more to the task Of perSuading the
trout from the pool beside which she
was standing.
The spot was one to which Miss Eliz-
| abeth came frequently, as much for its
natural beauty as for the good fishing
| 1t usually afforded. 1t was an idyllic
| forest glade. The little mountain
| brook, which farther up idled along
| under dense alders or tumbled riotous-
| ly over piled up powders, here left its
higher level and slipped noiselessly
down a smooth slide some twenty feet
in length between borders of messy
rock to join the pool below. The steady
flow of the waters, for centuries per-
haps, had worn away the borders Of
the pool itself to perfect smoothness
and had given it the appearance Of a
big natural basin. Ancient trees leaned
above the water hole from all sides,
! making bower through which only a
glance could be caught of the canopied
blue sky above.
The scene needed only touch Of hu-
man life to make it perfect, and this
| requirement was abundantly satisfied
by Miss Elizabeth herself as she stood
on round topped rock, sending her
flies skimming over the surface Of the
| pool with the graceful movement of the
skilled angler. AS she stepped from
one point to another with the freedom
impaired by high boots and short
outing skirt she seemed a sprightly,
self contained girl, who would be like
~ to hold her own at any outdoor
sport or in the more subtle contests of
the drawing room. Her costume of
dark blue suited the surroundings and
set off to advantage the somewhat un-
ruly mass of blond hair beneath the
white tourist hat. The front brim of
the hat, turned down to shade her
wide gray eyes, gave the oval face a
piquant look and suggested that Miss
Elizabeth was jolly person as well as
very decided one.
She had just drawn quarter pound
trout from the depths of the pool and
deposited him in the fish basket slung
across her shoulders when suddenly
the peaceful quiet of the scene was
broken.
There was the crackle of a swapping
branch above. sudden exclamation
and before Miss Elizabeth's astonished
gaze a young man came flying down
the long slide with anything but a
graceful or dignified appearance. His
arms and legs were wildly brandish,
ing, his cap was gone and the fish bas.
ket trailing behind him was spilling
its cargo along the way. One hand
still grasped the fly rod, and on the end
of the line. describing a wonderful cir.
Gle in the air, was fine big trout.
| 1t all happened so quickly that Miss