The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-05-11
Four Days
By Lowell Otls Reese
Copyright, 1905, by Lowell Otus Reese

High up on the canyon wall was a
rock, shaded by a live oak. For a
month it had been my custom to sit
upon this rock through the warmest
part of the day sketching.. l had es-
tablished possession by right of pre-
emption.
So it came in the nature of a shock
when l climbed to my usual vantage
point and found enscOnced in my IA
yOrite position on my rock a girl.
1 was indignant, also disappointed.
/ felt much as Izaak Walton snight
have felt when he found an interloper
fishing his favorite pool This was a
most presunptuous young person.
''Ahem!' l remarked.
She half turned and made d slight
bow.
'"rhe view is something tremendous
from here observed further.
Very she agreed.
SCI come Here every day." painted as
sat down conventionally near. 81
have done SO for month"
"Oh, perhaps you would rather r.
"By no means!" / exclaimed. 1.-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.
I was glad she had jumped my claim,
for she was very pretty, and her eyes
were the kind that send thrill
through your whole being, and you
wonder if you are going to live through
it
That was the first day.
1t was three days after.
''Why didn't you wait for me-! |
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.
Twas amazed at the nerve of her. AS
though l 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 felt my heart
turn to water Still persisted, where
a 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 month. You knew usu-
III hoy ic
knew-then. why didn't you allow me
10 accompany YOU
She rose "I'm not coming any more"
abe said.
1 sprang to my feet in fright "Don't?'
Ipleaded 81 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 moment before had been a
bright scene spreading away below me
was a bowling wilderness, and | was
tempted to jump offs the rock and butt
my empty head against the river bed
300 feet below. l longed to be boy
again that l might go down and fight
the first kid l 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. I APP
preached the group where Miss Win
ston was chatting brightly with a golf
: stocking Englishman and a Boston
magnate Miss Winston saw me COM
.ing-I knew she did. She looked
through and beyond-far beyond me- 1
felt like perambulating piece of thin
glass which a breath of hers might
shatter
1 stopped suddenly. OF course that
was it! We had not been properly
presented" What a chump was.
sought diligently for Bobby Jelinski,
who knew everybody. didn't find him.
: The band struck up, and 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, l got no
dance from her. l managed to say a
few words While she was waiting for
her mother, who was struggling with
a Mexican mantilla. gathered that it
was fine night and that she had en-
joyed her dance immensely, and, yes,
California moonlight was far superior
to anything she had ever seen, and then
she was gone, with the Englishman
pompously escorting her.
whats the matter with you any
way?'' demanded Bobby Jelinski, who
at ELEVENTH hour had presented