The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-02-23


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 one 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 onthe
very edge of 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.
Il was all right until you came and
frightened me-"
II whistled to let you know | 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 1 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 plot
Of clover for a lucky omen. She took
off her white duck hat and let the wind
ruff1e her thick, fair hair. He looked
up at her meditatively
You have more freckles this year
than you had last" he announced.
YES she agreed, "and more sense"
Il 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 did, But her heart beat
furiously as she thought of the night
before
II supposed you had" he said 81
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" be explained; "just twad
die"
yours were rather twaddly," she adj
mitted; "a least the ones I 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 fill it, frowning lit
tie at the tobacco pouch, which was
one she had given him. He leaned over
to strike match.
"Your bald spot is certainly much
larger than it was last year," she re-
marked critically.
''How observing you arew he drawled.
Then he turned suddenly. IS
xviii you love me when I'm bald?''
ne sang.
Gas much as 1 Go now" she an
swered meaningly.
mot as much as you did last night?''
he Queried
Last night!'' she echoed, the blood
rising to her face. what are you talk
ing about?' He turned again and took
a letter from his coat pocket, holding
it 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 drew
out the sheets of thin paper. There
were blisters : fresh blisters upon
them
Ethel sat paralyzed The tears rolled
down he. 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 fames?'
- Then he heard a sob from Ethel. He
turned. He saw the tears, and mental
ly he called himself cad. He had
never seen Ethel cry before.
''Ethel," he said, I'm a brute, but
don't mean to be. l came out here to
tell you that 1 love you better than
ever and to own up that I was wrong
and to ask you to take me back to your
favor. Ethel" he had her in his arms
now, Ethel, dear, you do love me,
don't your
''Take it out on Tim, dear, for it was
his fault. He brought the letter and
dropped it at my feet. And then l
knew that you had been doing just
what I've done nearly every night for
a year, reading over the old letters
Ethel, aren't you glad-a little-that
Tim found the letter?'
And EthePs answer, though muffied
seemed to satisfy him. They went
slowly home.
As Good as Her Word.
Old Mr.. Makepeace was in a reminis