The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-08-17
THE END
OF
A RAINBOW.


said longingly; st is the most beauti
ful thing in all the world"
"Wen,' the boy returned practical
ly, II don't care much about touching
it, but I'd be mighty glad to find the
end of that rainbow"
why?
Don't you know, goosie? There's
a great pot of gold at the end, and it
will belong to the person who can find
it. Jimmy, but l wish | had it here
this very minute.
Let's go and get it,"
The boy stared at his tiny compan-
ion in surprise The feminine mind
was much more daring than his own,
il appeared Did the girl really mean
that they should go off alone into that
limitless forest when they were never
even trusted near it unless accompan-
led by some older person? Still, he
took another look at the brilliant bow.
This was certainly the chance Of
lifetime, and, of course, he would not
refuse to go any place that a girl was
willing to go.
Besides, it was her suggestion, any
way, not his, and if there were future
reprimands and seedlings in store he
he could say that it was she who pro-
posed going.
Come on" he said briefly, holding
out his hand, and off the two trudged
toward, the alluring. treacherOus bow,
giving no heed to the awful terror
which their absence would surely in
spire.
1t was nearly twenty-four hours later
that they were found. The boys faith
er heading one of the many search
parties that were securing the woods,
stumbled over them, and his pale lips
sent forth a triumphant shout-fOr the
children were safe, and in view OF that
fact all minor matters sank into in
significance.
Death had lowered too near to leave
room for any feeling save that of deep
est thankfulness. There were no
seedlings in store for the cuprits,
though both were questioned closely
regarding the escapade.
The girl always remembered with
fervent gratitude that the boy never
told any one that il was she who had
proposed seeking the pot Of gold.
The boy rather wondered at his own
reticence, but after all it seemed rath-
er a mean sort Of trick to palm the
responsibilities of his misdeeds on a
girl! He kept discreet silence on
that point, and by doing so exhibited
considerable more manliness than a
certain ancestor OF us all once dis
played
? Two weeks later the hotel closed for
the season, and the girl and the boy
went their several ways. Of in her
eastern home the girl did not quite
forget the boy who had done his best
to comfort her in the terrible forest,
and who had protected her by his 81
lence when they were found
OF in the west the boy remembered
with a feeling Of pride that the girl
had never cried during that awful ex.
perieace, and that she had never re-
preached him for allowing her to go
into such peril Of course. he should
have known better, for was not he
boy. and the elder too?
The girl had been a casual summer
acquaintance and the two were effect
ually separated when the brief sum
mer season ended. For several years
the boy begged his mother each June
to go back 10 that place but she bad a
shudderinE horror of the valley and
the mountains and nothing would in
duce her to return
So at last the boy gave up asking.
and the experience was crowded into
the background by hundred new in
terests and aircs.
~ -.
Long years after, when he was n
man, playing mans part in the world
the old desire suddenly seized him to
return to that place The hotel was
still there, very modern in every way.
but somehow he felt bored and missed
an intangible aCmething which he had
imagined he would find He stood it
for a week, then the quiet became in.
tolerablc He resolved to leave the
place That day she came.
He knew il was fate from the very
first. He was not ordinarily inclined
TO be shy, but he felt like a raw
schoolboy in her presence
She had many friends at the hotc!.
but he managed by sheer persistence
to monopoliZc a good share of her
time.
He could not tell whether he was
making any headway or not She was
friendly but very elusive and the time
had come when he must go back to
his work, for there were obligations
which he could not ignore.
lie lurod her out that morning for n
row, with the promise Of a lovely spot
which she had never seen He was
unusually silent and she leaned back