The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1905-12-22

Of nests and other April matters as
the canoe glided by.
So quiet, indeed, was its progress
that Karl Steinmetz-suddenly white
headed, as strong old men are apt to
find themselves-did not heed its ap-
proach. He was sitting on the bank,
with a gun, a little rife, lying on the
grass beside him. He was half asleep
IN the enjoyment Of a large Havana
cigar. The rays Of the setting sun.
peeping through the lower branches,
made him blink lazily like a large, good
natured cat.
He turned his head slowly, with a
hunters consciousness Of the approach
Of some one, and contemplated the ca
noe with a sense of placid satisfaction.
The small craft was passing In the
shadow Of a great tree-stealing over
the dark, unruf1ed depth. A girl dress
ed In white, with a large diaphanous
white hat and a general air of brisk
English daintiness, was padding SLOW
ly and with no great skill.
"A picture" said Steinmetz to him
self with Teutonic elaboration. Scott
i'm Himmel, what a pretty picture to
make an old man young"
Then his gray eyes opened suddenly.
and he rose to his feet.
"Coloss-a-alw he muttered. He drag
ged from his head a lamentable old
straw hat and swept q courteous bow.
"Mademoiselle," he said, "ah, what
happiness! After three years."
Maggie stopped and looked Mt him
with troubled eyes. All the color slow
~ left her face.
what are you doing here?' she ask
ed. And there was something like fear
in her voice.
mo harm, mademoiselle, but good. 1
have come down from big game to YER
min. 1 have here a saloon rifle. I
wait till a water rat comes, and then I
shoot him."
The canoe had drifted closer to the
land, the paddle trailing in the water.
You are looking at my white hairs"
he went on, in a sudden need Of con-
versation. please bring your boat q
little nearer"
The paddle twisted lazily in the wa
ter like a fish's tail.
Hold tight he said, reaching down.
With a little laugh he lifted the canoe
and its occupant far up on to the bank.
Despite my white hairs" he said,
with q tap Of both hands on his broad
chest
Il attach no importance to Them"
she answered. taking his profered
hand and stepping over the light bull
wark. 81 have gray ones myself. I
am getting old too"
"How old2" he asked, looking down
at her with his old bluntness.
'Twenty-eight."
"Ah, they IN summers" he said:
mine have turned to winters. Will
you sit here where I was sitting? See,
1 will spread this rug for your white
Maggie paused, looking through the
toward the sinking sun. The
light fell on her face and showed one
or two lines which had not been there
It showed a patient tenderness
in the steady eyes which had always
been there-which Catrina had noticed
in the stormy days that were past.
II cannot stay long," she replied. 81
with the Faneaux at Brandon for
a few days. They dine at T."
"Ah, her ladyship is a good friend Of
mine! You remember her charity ball
in town, when it was settled that you
should come to Osterno. A strange
world, mademoiselle-a very strange
world, SO small and yet SO large and
bare for some Of u.s."
Maggie looked at him. Then she sat
Tell me-" she said, "all that has
happened since then"
II went back" answered Steinmetz,
"and we were duly exiled from Rus
STA. 1t was sure to ONE We were
too dangerous. Altogether too quioXtic
for an autocracy. For myself I did
not mind, but it hurt Paul"
There was a little pause, while the
water Tapped and whispered at their
feet.
81 heard" said Maggie at length In
measured voice, that he had gone
for big game"
"Yes-to India"
HE did not go to American inquired
Maggie indifferently. She was idly
throwing fragments of wood into the
NO." answered Steinmetz, looking
straight in front of him. mo, he did
not go to America"
"And your"
"T-oh, 1 stayed at homel 1 have
taken a house. It is behind the trees.
You cannot see it. 1 live at peace with
all men and pay my bills every week.
Paul comes and stays with
me. Sometimes 1 go and stay with
him in London or in Scotland. l smoke
and shoot water rats and watch the
younger generation making the same
mistakes that we made in our time.
You have heard that my country is in
order again? They have remembered