The Washington times., 1905-08-27

on the cliff. Strode's boat. lying under
the shadow OF the rocks. was invisible
or moment she wondered il IL was
desecration 10 intrude on such a scene,
then. smiling at the thought she went
Oh again The jo. and strength Of life
were in the air; the sand of the path
rose about her feet in I:tle clouds; the
/ iight-tinted poppies-mauve and straw
color and pink-swept her skirts as she
passed; with every step her speed in
creased. TIL, turning a curve in the
track the moored boat met her gaze
and she stood still again, smiling and
flushed
With the swiftness OF her pause a
handful OF pebbles were unloosed and
fell to the rocks In Il little shower.
Strobe looked up
"One monient"' he called, as he raised
his hat Stay where you are" He
threw his pipe into the bow and spranR
ashore Anna. on the path above,
watched the swinging ease with which
he crossed the rocks, and involuntarily
the smile deepened round her mouth
The sun was on his face as he nearcd
her, and in the critical light Of tho
morning his tanned skin looked as clear
as a boys, his gray eyes almost al
frank
The incest thing about you is your
reliableness," he said. You keep O
promise as If you were a man. Isn't Il
glorious day?" He held out his hand.
She took 1t, and the strength of ths
fingers and GOODNESS Of his skin struck
her: she locked down at the hand and
smiled
You've been in the sea-
Yes. at o'clock
They began to descend tie cliff
Had you good swin?''
Fine, 1 pulled round to my special
diving stone and had glorious plunge
Look out That's a bad bit But I've
been home since then and have brushed
my hair; | wouldn't have dared meet
of his hat
She looked at his weE-smoothed hair.
| THAT was ver- consIderate of you"
She smiled
He looked at her seriously do you
find me considerate2"
WHY"
NO special reason. ID like to seem
decent sort of chap-to you
They were silent till the boat was
re ached. Anna stepped in with due re-
gard to balance; then before taking
her place ia .he stern. she Fitted a cush-
ion and neld il UP. Here is your wit
ness" she said
They both laughed, and Strobe. set
ting the boat acrift. jumped in; a Sec
ond later. the boat swung slowly out
ward from the rocks dozen rapid
strokes sent them well into the open;
the cliff reeeded, becoming a dark mass
against the sky; the sea spread before
i
leant back. the ropes OF the rudder
held idly in her hands; 70 her ears the
click of the oars in the rowIocks was
ike soothing music; the joy OF motion
ran tingling through her. II was a full
minute before she stirred or spoke:
even then it was lazily, as one makes
a forced concession.
II want you 20 talk she spoke with
out looking up.
Strobe leant forward. resting on the
oars. Can 1 choose the subject?''
She looked up swiftly. then immedi-
ately her glance fell. mo- she said.
III choose that Let me see. Tell me
g bout Canada again
For second he sat very still. then he
jerked his hands and a shower Of water
beads scattered from the blades OF the
oars 81 almost expected that he
said.
Why
Why He pulled three strokes.
Because the last fortnight every time
I've tried to say anything that 1 wanted
10 say, I've been showed back on Cam
ada I'm about sick of Canada" He
lifted the oars again
Anna looked down at the ropes. TO
~ do he L. hal1 ind hRr
very hard on you" she said
Somewhat He looHed at her di-
rectly --On Friday 1 talked about ice
sailing till my throat parched: on Satur-
day you questioned me for an hour On
the relative hardness of hickory and
ironwood; on Sunday"-he stopped i'm
uressively-"on Sunday my tea got cold
while | described the exact heat at
which copper can be extracted from its
ores. and after that Mrs MaXtead re-
fused me another cup until I'd made
diagram of the first reverberatory melt
ing furnace my uncle ever used Do
YOU wonder that I've struck"
Anna raised her mead. Poor you.'
she said. And you were so nice and
courteous and interesting all the time
Strobe laughed And now you see
the beast without his skin Just admit
that there are Otner Things IN NE De-
sides mining and smelling and export
ing?" He leant across the oars
Anna blushed suddenly Look" she
said Were drifting out to sea"
Il want an answer TO my question"
And l want to skirt the head, close
IL by the land
The boat spun round: in twenty
strokes they were in shelter OF the cliff.
skimmirg slowly past the rocks.
Now you've got your way; let me
have mine? Just admit that there are
other things?"
Anna was silent; she leant out and
caught a strand of seaweed dangling
from rock.
Aren't there other things?"
Il suppose there are. Isn't this
lovely brown?" She held the seaweed
to the light.
Strobe deliberately shipped the oars
and let the boat drift; then he leant
forward and took the seaweed from her
hand.
Their eyes met
When the crew mutinies.' she said.
its time for the passenger 70 jump
ashore" She laughed a little nervously.
but there was an excited brightness in
her