The San Francisco call., 1904-07-24


Without a breath OF hesitation she
seized The PROV Of the little steel boat.
Seve vigorous push. a practieed lean.
and stood pohug swiftly over the
s-iadovs WITH one car. The blue line
~ deep water reached, she dropped
i2to the seat and rowed with long.
strong strokes. Halt across the arm
of the lake that lay between the
mainland and the Ettle island toward
which she was pulling. she rested on
her cars.
-Hm-m," this in a tone Of mild
surprise. The blood-thirsty pursuer
doesn't seem 70 be gaining very rapid
lE Not a sign OF him yet Guess
III give him Iittle chance. I've
excuse enough for wanting to remodel
myself, goodness knowst"
Ard she raised her arms. barred TO
the elbow and brown against the white
N her gown. 10 a mass OF tawny hair
very beNvitchingiy disheveled from the
urecipitousness Of her launching.
I'm morally certain he saw me,
too" she reflected, braiding the heavy
coils into a shining rope that more
than reached the floor of the boat as
she sat FOR he came around the cor
ner Of the piazza just as 1 crossed the
road into the thicket I should think
he'd want TO say good-by after-after
-everything. But don't care. I
said I'd never speak 10 him again and
/ shan't." She seized the oars and
pulled the remaining half mile with
vicious. snapDy strokes.
II would have been much cooler
back IN the evergreens, but she dis
posed herself on the open sand with
The pillows. book and parasel which
formed part Of the boats furnishings.
The bright scarlet sunshade was thus
unmlslakably visible from the main
land.
The warm discomfort Of her vigil
aas At length rewarded by the out
I.urting of boat with single white
-z11eled occupant. The scarlet. para
~ swung around and presented a
ar9a6side view TO the water When
tl- orcoming boat was half across
--- eirl. her back persistently toward
l- gathered ~ her belongings and be
took hsrse'f calmly 70 the friendly
shadows few yards away.
The novel must have been intensely
tnt=resting for she had apparently. not
taken her eyes from its pages during
al The time thar an athletic-looking
t-aw vas heaehing a boat. crossing
tl- SAID. ard throwing himself on the
-rd at her feet
3 came over TO say good-by. Bess."
b. vaiurteered 70 the back Of the book.
So a-swer-
and ask YOU 70 forgive me"
Continued silence
won't you forgive me. Bsss?" with
quiet earnestness.
over the top Of the book he was
eren an instsnt's burning glance Of
s.orrfu- eyes.
-oh 7 know you told me never TO
speak 10 you again. and I don't sup
razc SOU VIII answer me, either 1 was
r fool not 70 get IT least your forgive
ress last night. but some way I was
t-o-t0o stunned, I guess. But whether
yQu'u speak 10 me or not ! must have
the privilege Of saying q few things
tl1l ] want you to know. If-if you'd
just put the book down and let me
know that you're hearing. Bess," he
pleaded
The leaves Of the novel turned the
faster
I'm going on the O'Clock train
be said tentatively. 1t seemed the
Only thing to do 10 make it easier for
-fo. both Of US after-after-every-
thing. But probably you heard that I
ani going I was simply thinking that
IS weu presumably never see each
other aga5n il wouldn't do any harm
and would be so much more satisfac-
tory i you'd. just let me explain.
~Explsin." she flashed. unaware:
then bit her liz and turned another
page
He smiled in spite Of himself though
her anger was far from being an anus
ing thing TO him.
Yes. explain he continued, evident
p Is encouraged The first thing I
should want TO Go II 7 had your per-
mission" Che paused for the response
thet was not vouchsafed), IS to tell
sou that so far this has been the hap
Dlest summer Of my life and TO thank
you Tor IT, I've had such a good time,
Bees, I'M working pretty hard. you
know, since they made me a partner,
and wasn't intending 10 take any vaca-
tion. But when your aunt's note came
asking me for The house party I was
too deliriously glad to care a rap for
the consequence. Because I knew what
lr meant you see-that you had sug-
eested it and wanted me to come"
she stirred uEeasily pumped up a
cushion behind her back, shipped an
ant from her skirt. then took UP the
book again, not seeming to notice that
q score Of pages had duttered over.
Il suppose you'n hardly realize what
II has been 10 me-" He was on his
back. hands under head, and might
have been addressing the tiny patches
II blue that shone between the green
boughs overhead. i went into the