Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-10-21
in Ell DORADO
COUNTY
BY Ina eUriSbf HanSon
Copyright. 1906. by Ina WRIGHT Hanson


tiently.
I'm sure it's better fishing over in
I'll Dorado county," she said plaintlve-
ly.
ed, "who stood nj the fork of sandy.
stony country road. not knowing
whether he should turn TO the left. or
20 straight ahead. As he hestitatcd. u
farmer came along and the man said.
Which road leads TO San Fernandez
And the farmer answered Both
And the man said. Which one shall
take, them And the farmer answer
cd, NO matter: whichever one you
take. you will wish you had taken the
other +"
II suppose you mean that II we
were in III Dorado county should
think II would he better fishing here
In Placer county," ventured Her
mione.
POSSIBLY do" | said. continuing
my scribbllng. though doggcdly. for
was not In story writing mood. Pres
emily | chsnccd to look down Just MS
Hermione looked up. Something there
was In her limpid eyes. her rose iiut-
ed mouth. even the dash OF color In
her smooth check which made me
shove my notebook hastily into my
pocket. told myself II was her re-
semblancc to her sister May.
May was in Paris. selecting her
trousscau. When she returned at
some indefinite time-she really seem.
cd TO be In no more haste to get back
than was TO have her come-we were
TO be married We were not senti-
mentalists. but were looking forward
10 a successful comradeship undisturb-
ed by disquieting elements OF love. \
working union In which she would H.
lustrate what her husband wrote. We
had been engaged for three years with
out a quarrel. This. we argued. BODIED
well for a pleasant future. still there
was no hurry.
But lately something had entered in
TO my placid life which was setting me
all awry. The mischief OF II was. too.
that the disturbance was not tangible.
II II had been debt. could have paid
Il: II a tale rejected. could have re-
vised II or laid II upon the flames: II
poor health had been the disquieting
cause. could have sought a remedy.
but IL was none of these. IL was an
omnipresent ghost which walked with
me. unseen, unheard. | had n faint
idea OF It's birth. On the day of Mays
departure for Europe we had been dis
cussing Hermlone.
"She must live with u.s. | said.
"Oh. yes" answered May. until she
Is married. fancy she will marry
young She is going TO make very
attractive woman"
Before that day | had been con-
tented man: since that day lived In q
misty world except when resolutely
forgot my absurd. unreasonable feel
ing
Come on. chicken" l called gayly to
Hermione, well go into FL Dorado
county"
Over the rocks we clambered. laugh
ing-it Is so easy for a child to be
happy and for grownup child to catch
the spirit II he wlll-over the rocks.
across the suspension bridge spanning
the American river. and we had gone
from Placer county into FL Dorado.
There! This is lots nicer" she said
when we were again seated 10 her sat
isfaction.
How sweet her voice was. and really
the child was going 10 be handsomer
than her sister. though May was con-
sidered a beauty. Hermione was
changed lately, somehow. All. It must
be her hair, which used TO hang down
her back in frowzy braid. Today
why-a golden coronal. cleft here and
there with a turquoise blue studded
comb and topped OH with black bow.
Why
what are you staring at me so forf'
she asked. putting on her hat and
blushing.
Fancy Hermione blushing.
"There was once a man." answered
hypocritically. who was a-a-well.
Cicero. for example. who was at work
on difficult mental problem. and at
the time he was gazing hard at the
the family cat, for example, but he
had no conception OF the cat"
Hermione pouted. III you call your
self Cicero, you might be little more
complimentary TO me-"
laughed. TIermione always laugh
ed II she had the faintest reason. so In
q moment her dImples were ia sigh
again. Strange | had never before
noticed what wealth Of them there
was
SLOW old are you. chlldf" asked
suddenly.
Eighteen" she answered. pulling
her ash hook gently away from snag.
unused over her answer. the tangle
In my head trying hard to straighten
itself. May was thirty -one-my own
age-though she didn't Took It. Eight
een-ah!
''If the trouble Is In your story" sug
gested Hermione. maybe can help
you" Her hazel eyes looked Innocent
ly into mine. Mays eyes We're blue
'If only you might" groaned. but
= waau'f thinking NJ tho hnif finished