Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-28

aAh 6iuI yOu lOAu uG ~ ltunhty,
Bess," was the quiet reply. "I'll-I'll
come over again some other day, that
is, If you'll save day for me, when
Mr.. Thorndike isn't there" he could
not help adding.
"Of course 1 WILL" said Bess. ig-
noring his last clause. For n moment
there was silence, while Hal looked
into her eyes as If to read her inmost
soul. AT last he said: ..Well, I'll wish
you happiness when the time comes"
adding sadly. IF it's got to be. 1 sup
pose am not qualified to set myself
up as Judge of him, so I'll say not
word; only-well, pleasant ride, Bess
dear"
"Good-by, Hail." she replied, smiling
kindly. But instead of chirruping at
once to Dolly, she paused moment
and putting out her hand again i'm
pulsiyely, added: You know. don't
you, Hal, you will always be my old
chum?v II
Yes. I suppose tha2s something"
he said, grimly, but now of with
you! Good luck! Oh, say, Bess, I'll.
watch for you on the seat with my
glass, shall L.
YES. do. And I'll wave my hand
kerchief.n she called over her shout
der.
For full minute he watched her
yearningly. Don't be an ass" he
muttered to himself, squaring his
shoulders. 1.-The fellows probably all
right. You're sore yourself. that's all.
Bess wouldn't mind your being poor.
Only she's known you too long to care
for you, except as chum. You're a
very lucky man to have had such
chum SO many years. Here's luck,
Bess, old girlv'
He drank an imaginary toast grave
sly, facing the direction she had taken.
Then he slowly paced homeward, lean
ing heavily on his stick. Half an hour
later he was sitting under the apple
trees in his own yard, from time to
time looking through pair Of field
glasses toward the perpendicular red
cliff. which eliminates in the pinnacle
already described.
Meanwhile. Bess galloped swiftly,
but less merrily, toward the crossroads.
Something now seemed amiss. Even
the impact of her horses hoofs upon
the high road had less assured sound.
She wondered vaguely whether the
wind had not become chill, and she re-
membered afterward looking up at the
cloudless sky to see If 1t had become
overcast. Presently, however, Edgar
Thorndike put his bay alongside Dolly,
and the ride up the steep incline had
begun.
The morning was exhilarating and
the climb absorbing, yet Bess found
it difficult to shake off the depression
which possessed her. Conversation
tagged, except for conventional COM
ments by her companion upon the
beauty Of yistaed glimpses of the val
ley which from time to time obtained
At length the summit was reached and
the horse tethered among the sapllngs
II am never tired of this view"
said Bess. after moment of silence
II used to come here as child. But,
please don't stand on that loose earth
SO near the edge"
Two days later Bess rode into Halls
apple orchard. Seeing him in his re-
Ginning chair on the lawn, she dis.
mounted and walked toward him. For
some reason, rs she took his outstretch-
ed hand. noted his wan smile and
heard his pleasant, WELL Bess?' she
found 1t hard to speak. Finally she
said softly: Hal, I've come to tell you
what you weren't able to hear the
other day. hardly know how to say
it, though. You see when Mr. Thorn
dixie slipped down to that crevice, into
which he could just get one foot and
one hand, thought. If Hal We're only
here!' You see my first thought was
Of you. Then remembered thar you
sail you would be watching us. At
first that didn't help me any, but all
of sudden I recalled the day you
taught me the signal code. It was 70