Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-04-29
Four Days
By Lowell Otus Reese
Copyright, 1905. by Lowell Otus Reese

High up on the canyon wall was a
rock. shaded by live oak. For a
month 1t had been my custom to sit
npon this rock through the warmest
part OF the day sketching. l had es-
tablished possession by right of pre-
emption.
So II came In the nature of a shock
when l climbed to my usual vantage
point and found ensconced In my fa-
vorite position on my rock girl
l was indignant, also disappointed.
/ felt much as Izaak Walton might
have felt when he found an interloper
fishing his favorite pool. This was a
most presumptuous young person.
"Ahemr' l remarked.
She half turned and made a slight
bow.
"The view is something tremendous
from here" observed further.
''Very." she agreed.
al come here every day." painted as
1 sat down conventionally near. 81
have done so for n month"
"Oh, perhaps you would rather r.
"By no means" l exclaimed. THE
view is much better
She froze me; then she laughed. We
were friends by the divine instinct
which tells unerringly whom we are
going to like or hate.
was glad she had jumped my claim.
for she was very pretty. and her eyes
I'D Int aAwaI hpfl
through your whole being, and you
wonder IL you are going to live through
II.
That was the first day.
It was three days after.
"why didn't you wait for meT" l
asked as l climbed over the rock and
threw myself down beside her.
She opened her brown eyes wide In a
wonderful assumption of surprise.
"How did know you were coming"
she asked.
was amazed at the nerve of her. AS
though / could have kept away! As
though the combined police forces of
two continents could have kept me
away. This girl must be disciplined.
"Of course you know" said conf
IDENTIFY.
She looked at me. and I felt my heart
turn to water. Still persisted. where
q wise man would have turned the con-
versation swiftly to the weather or the
view. "You knew I'd been coming ev-
cry day for a month. You knew l usu-
ally came up about this time. You
knew-then why didn't you allow me
to accompany YOU
She rose. I'm not coming any MORE"
she said.
sprang to my feet in fright. "Don'tw
I pleaded. Il want you to stay! r.
She kept her face averted, though
could see that her cheeks were hot and
flushed. "Goodby," she said, and was
gone.
The sun suddenly turned to Ink.
Where a moment before had been a
bright scene spreading away below me
was bowling wilderness. and ! was
tempted to jump of the rock and butt
my empty head against the river bed
again that / might go down and fight
the first kid ran across.
This was the second day.
The next Saturday night there was a
quiet dance in the assembly room of
this famous resort between the high
walls OF the Matilda canyon. saw my
chance to redeem myself. I would
dance with her and make my peace
while she was so close she would be
compelled to listen, for all the week she
had seemed unaware of my existence.
1t was an informal affair-a country
dance, sans cards and ceremony. l ap-
preached the group where Miss Win
ston was chatting brightly with a golf
stocking Engiishman and Boston
magnate. Miss Winston saw me COM
ing-I knew she did She looked
through and beyond-far beyond me. l
felt like a perambulating piece of thin
glass which a breath of hers might
shatter.
! stopped suddenly. OF course that
was It! We had not been properly
presented" What a chump l was. I
sought diligently for Bobby Jelinski.
who knew everybody. didn't find him.
The band struck up. and I saw her go
gliding away with the Englishman-
his golf stockings flashing among the
dancers like two variegated comets
running amuck along the heavens of a
bright night.
And this was my luck all through
the evening. Try as would, I got no
dance from her. l managed to say n
few words while she was waiting for
her mother. who was struggling with
a Mexican mantilla. ! gathered that II
was a fine night and that she had en-
5oyed her dance immensely. and. yes.
California moonlight was far superior
TO anything she had ever seen. and then
she was gone. with the EngIishman
pompously escorting her.
whats the matter with you any
way?" demanded Bobby Jelinski. who
at the eleventh hour had presented
me.
Bobby" I said savagely. Twill you
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