The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-16
sport in Brandy today, didn't we

mason Inan IL would II ne naQ carried
out his determination to return to the
city. He developed a sudden fondness
for the society of Judge Vantine. Ac-
cording to the accounts which he held
forth for the edification of his COM
rades, the amiable judge was continu-
ally organizing fishing parties or trips
to Darning Needle or Indian mountain
pond, to the success of which the COM
pany of Mr.. Mason was absolutely es-
sential The camp noted as a signifi-
cant fact that Miss Elliot's name was
mentioned casually or not at all in
these recitals and needed no further in
dication as to how affairs were going
between these young folks. There was
no surprise, therefore, at the breaking
up of the White bay contingent when
Rod announced that he had accepted
Judge Vantine's invitation to join the
latter's party for week Sin order to
meet some people who were coming up
from the city" Nobody made any
pointed remarks on the subject except
White, who called out:
'Let us know, old man, as soon as
you have decided when it is to be-"
A chorus of good natured laughter
came from the boats as they saw even
at a distance that Rod was blushing
furiously.
On the last day of their stay in camp
Rod and Miss Elizabeth decided to
make a farewell trip to the Cherock
pool, beside which they had first met.
Talk drifted inevitably to that earlier
occasion, and they went over all it's de-
tails as they had done hundred other
times. When Elizabeth had concluded
her description of his ridiculous ap-
pearance as he plunged into the water,
Rod cleared his throat with an evident
effort.
"Bess," he said, reaching out for the
hand which she had allowed to drop
idly to her side, Il want to ask you
question; but first 1 have a confession
to make"
, ga confession?" Elizabeth's tone in
dicated a proper amount of alarm at
his solemn manner, and she made a
weak attempt to withdraw the white
hand that lay enveloped between two
big brown ones. 81 suppose l ought
not to listen to it; but" finding that
there was no intention of releasing the
hand, 81 am curious to know what it
can be-
"Well," began Rod heavily, "you re-
member the time we were just speak
ing Off
"You mean the time when you met
with your accident? Yes, l believe /
have some recollection of the occa-
sion." She gave him glance that
would have precipitated matters had
Rod been looking at her instead of at
the toe of his boot.
"Well," went on that mentally bur-
dened person, sit wasn't an-an acci-
dent"
This time Miss Elliot seemed genu-
inely surprised. She stood up so sud-
denly that the white hand was with
drawn before Rod could prevent it.
"Not an accident" she repeated.
''Then what in the world was it?"
"I-I did it on purpose" went on the
contrite Rod, bowling his head beneath
the heavy load of his remorse. 81 did
it on a-on bet"
81 ought to be shocked" she said,
with severity. eyes, / am shocked,
Roderick Mason. How do you explain
such conduct?"
"Well," said Rod, fairly writhing in
his abasement, 81 didn't know you
then, but of course l shouldn't have
done it anyway. Only the boys-one
of the boys-joled me about wanting
to meet you, and l told him 1 could go
over to your camp and meet you any
time, and he said that would be fore
ing my acquaintance on you, and
well, he kept it up until got out of
patience-a little"-Miss Elliot strug-
gled against another smile-"and l bet
him that l could come over here and
meet you and row you home"
"And you did," supplemented Eliza
beth. 81 suppose you felt very fine to
win such bet as that"
"No," said Rod, with his first ray of
hope, 81 didn't. felt ashamed after I
made the bet, and l felt more ashamed
after I-saw you. | wouldn't have
asked to take you home that day if it
hadn't been so stormy. That was why
l stopped when l first started to ask
you. l thought of the bet. And that
was why wouldn't row around the
island. l didn't want the boys to
see."
"And what did your-your friend say
and what did he think of me when you
told him that you had won the bet"
continued Miss Elliot relentlessly.
81 didn't tell him." Rod asserted,
with little more spirit than he had
before exhibited. "You don't think I
could have done that, do you? 1 told
him had lost it. l paid it."
Elizabeth sat down again. Her hand
unconsciously touched the brown one
that lay helplessly on the bed of the
moss.
"Since you didn't tell that you had
won the bet" she said, 81 don't know
but that you can be forgiven for the
rest"
Rod Strengthened up suddenly, in
voluntarily squeezing the little hand
until it was decidedly pink. He looked
straight into the gray eyes that had
dropped before his gaze.
"Yes," said Elizabeth, while a faint
color glowed through the tan upon her
cheeks, "you are forgiven"
And at that Rod felt emboldened to
ask the question he had before refer
red to.