The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-03-10

grassy ledge for aM nile and then sat
down on the brink of All old stone quar-.
ry. She was swinging her small French
heels and throwing stones into the blue
water far beneath when somebody be-
hind her whistled a we'll known strain.
She answered before she thought and
then started, almost losing her balance,
and clutched at the bank to save her
self. Her face was hot, and she felt
some Ii seize her from behind, for it
had all happened too quickly for her to
be frightened. Jack dragged her back
and then lifted her to a sitting posture.
She scrambled to her feet and faced
him.
What do you mean by sitting on the
very edge of a place like that?" Jack
questioned angrily. Suppose the bank
crumbled?"
She looked at him, wistfully at first,
and then her glance turned wrathful as
she saw nothing but anger in his face.
II was all right until you came and
frightened me-"
II whistled to let you know l was
coming and you answered." he retort-
ed.
II presume your coming to this espe-
cial place was purely accidental, like
your advent in this town." she re-
marked sarcastically.
Not quite" he confessed. 81 fol-
lowed you because l wanted to talk to
you. Sit down and cool off"
She reflected that this was her first
opportunity to make him sorry, and she
sat down gracefully, while he arranged
himself at her feet and searched a plot
of clover for a lucky omen. She took
off her white duck hat and let the wind
ruf1e her thick, fair hair. He looked
up at her m%editatively.
you have more freckles this year
than YOU had last" he announced.
Yes" she agreed, land more sense
X imagine your experience has
taught you something" he remarked.
She sat up. This was not teaching
him to be sorry.
Ethel" he asked suddenly, "you
burned all my letters, didn't you?"
"Of course l did" But her heart beat
%furiously as she thought Of the night
before.
II supposed you had" he said. II
only wanted to make sure" He put his
hand absently to the pocket Of his blue
serge coat. You see, love letters after
there isn't any more love are such ASST
nine things he explained; "just twad-
de-
Yours were rather twaddly," she ad.
mitted; 'at least the one l had. But
they're burned"
Again he felt in his pocket. She saw
the gesture and misinterpreted it.
Light it if you like" she said.
Light it? All, yes" said he, drawing
the pipe from quite another pocket.
She watched him fiji it, frowning a lit.
tie ut the tobacco pouch, which was
one she had given him. He leaned owe
to strike a match.
your bald spot is certainly much
larger than it was last year. she re.
marked critically.
How observing you are!" he drawled
Then he turned suddenly.
will you love me when I'm bald?'
he sang.
"As much as l do now she an.
swered meaningly.
Not as much as you did last night?'
he queried.
Last nightv! she echoed, the blood
rising to her face. what are you talk
ing about?' He turned again and tool
a letter from his coat pocket, holding
1t up where she could see the address
in his writing, Miss Ethel Herriot."
Her heart beat wildly. The envelope
was worn and old looking. He dreN
out the sheets of thin paper. There
were blisters fresh blisters upo
them.
Ethel sat paralyzed. The tears rolled
down her cheeks, and she did not try
to wipe them away. Her fingers dug
into the grass on either side.
Poor old letter." he said pityingly
How did you escape the 1ames?'
|, Then he heard a sob from Ethel. III,
turned. He saw the tears, and mental
ly he called himself a cad. He ha(
never seen Ethel cry before.
ETHEL" he said. I'm a brute, but
don't mean to be. l anne out here tt
, tell you that l love you better thar
ever and to own up that / was wron.
and to ask you to take me back to you
, favor. Ethel" he had her in his arm.
now. Ethel, dear, you do love me
don't YOU?
Take 1t out on Tim, dear, for it wa:
his fault. He brought the letter ant
dropped 1t at my feet. And then
knew that you had been doing jus
t what I've done nearly every night 70
a year, reading oyer the old letters
Ethel. aren't you glad-a little-tha
Tim found the letter."
And Ethel's answer, though mufled
, seemed to satisfy him. They wen
slowly home.
There is nor catarril IN this sec
ton of the country than all diseases
put together, and until the last few
! years was supposed to be incurable