Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-05-18

his pipe, lit it and puffed serenely,
while the evening deepened into twi-
light and then into soft and indistin-
guishable gloom.
Meanwhile Helen sat GREATNESS, with
her bare feet pulled up beneath her
short skirt. in imminent danger of fall
ing il she made the slightest move
ment. She thought he had not seen
her and would go away soon.
It had been too dark to read for
some time, and it seemed ages before
he rose. Helen breathed sigh of re-
lief, and then, as he thought better of
it and lay down again, she realized
how very dark 1t was and that she
was afraid to be left alone She set
her teeth and resolved to conquer her
terror. Not for worlds would she have
him catch her in her present plight,
especially after her bad treatment of
him that very afternoon. She regret
ted the folly of having told him she
was afraid of the dark and only hoped
he took 1t for a joke. If he found
her here he would do something to
in her present softened mood she al
most wanted to stop teasing him and
let him sweep her into the strong,
sweet current of his love. Nervous at
the thought, she dropped her book. On
It's way to the grass it knocked Car
rolls hat from his head and his pipe
from his mouth.
"Hello!" he exclaimed as IL to him
self and In apparent surprise. ga book
descending like the gentle rain from
heaven! Bertha NJ. Clay too! A girl
who would wear such ridiculous little
shoes"-here he picked up and whim-
slcally examined her oxfords-"would
be just the sort Of girl who reads
Bertha Clay. Guess I'll TAXI 'em home
and advertise EN-" He put them in
his coat pocket.
"She was kind enough to leave me
her canoe too Guess I'll CO."
Nell came near screaming after him.
Her canoe! How dared he. She could
never walk alone, and in her bare feet
along that horrible, lonely river road.
With gasp of terror she saw him
actually launch the little SHE'LL but
when he leaped in and began to push
of all the terror Of the night seemed
to descend bodily upon her. Like a
flash she determined to brave out the
situation.
"Henry! Henry Carroll! Bring back
my boat this minute"
Hello" he returned, padding to
shore again. who's there, should like
to know?"
"Nel Benton"
"Where are you? Wait till get this
thing ashore" He leaped out. Where
in the world are you, Nell?"
SIN the tree she called carelessly.
"Where did you think l was?"
eat home, naturally, after what you
said this afternoon"
Il changed my mind. Hand me my
shoes, please" she said sweetly, tuck
skirt.
what for?" he demanded.
ITO put on, so can go home"
II don't see it that way. The shoes
are in my pocket; you saw me put them
there. l saw you climb up there and
waited to watch you trap yourself.
You've had me up tree year now;
now I've got you up one. Guess I'll
keep you there till you promise better
manners"
"Oh, never mind. l can come down
without shoes. You will please go away
now. Only don't take my boat" She
made motion as if to swing herself
down.
"Well," he commanded, zone move
ment and I'll kick down this little ia
cob's ladder of yours and go home,
shoes, stockings, boat and all. It's my
innings. You have played With me long
enough. Nell. do you love meg"
II couldn't love any one but a-gen-
tleman," she answered sweetly.
Well waive that point Do you love
me?' He waited. then went on in a
stern tone. III give you four minutes
to decide"
1t is astonishing how many things
can happen out of doors in four min
utes. The moon came up over the hills:
YUM piCSHC SllllCl EVIL lulus3 llllO
motion; the birds walked and twittered.
Nell's blood surged hotly to her cheeks.
and the tide Of her unacknowledged
love swelled to her lips. Still she was
hardly ready to give up. Henry struck
match for another look at his watch
"Three minutes gone! Nell. love
you. There is Just another minute. I
shall never ask you again. Dear"-he
threw his cap to the ground and reach
ed his arms up to her-"let me come
and take you. sweetheart The moon
silvered his fair face and softened the
outlines of the rugged. handsome face
upturned to her. In heart much may
happen In minute. Nells went out to
the man below her. She stretched a
hand down toward him.
Come, then" she whispered. He
heard. He leaped to her inclined plane,
lifted her in his arms and swung her to
the ground.
do you love me?" he asked as he
still held her close.
Eyes. Stop that! But I'd love you
moro If World pjvo mo INV oboo, o-,l ,.,