The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-12-31
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| A SATISFACTORY ;
| REASON
0, IMnLII c. HAL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Edith Brighton was. as a rule. a
very proper young person. To-day,
however. as she strolled along the
shaded bank OF the river with her
small sister Mary. she felt an ire
sistible inclination TO do what she
was we'll aware her generous allow
anee OF old maid aunts would call de-
cidedly shocking.
I'm going In swimming. Mary" she
announced.
diary looked at her In wlde'eyed as
constituent.
"But you haven't got any bathing
suit" Mary protested.
Edith took her small relation by the
shoulders. and looked into her eyes.
Her own were sparkling.
Can you keep a secret. Nary" she
asked.
"Huhl For a box OF candy" that
morcenary young lady inslnuates
IAN right. Then listen. You must
never. never tell a soul about this. but
I'm going swimming-wlthout any
bathing suit"
Gee! Bet you don't dare'" Mary
glggled.
you just watch me-" Edith retort.
cd. her oouraged braeed by Mary's
doubt.
A few minutes passed: a squirrel
peeped with bright. inqulsitiye eyes.
from behind the trunk OF tree. Then
a slender form slipped 10 the edge Of
the water. and little heap Of cor.
duroy and lace was left upon the moss
Of the glade. There was n white fash
into the amber OF the stream. and the
girl came up pufrng and shlyerlng.
"ough! But IT'S cold" she chat
tered. and took a few quick strokes 10
warm herself. but the chill OF autumn
was In the water. and a very few min.
utes convinced her that swimming.
for this season. was no longer a Joy.
As she turned toward the bank. the
slight splash OF well.handled oars
came TO her ears. and a moment later
shell shot round the bend Of the
stream an hundred yards below her.
For n moment she seemed para.
lyZed, and then remembered that.
after all. she was out OF sight so long
as she remained under the water.
She allowed herself to sink until her
mouth was Just clear. and waited.
The shell. keeping the middle Of the
stream. was by this time opposite her.
and with another thrill OF terror she
recognized the oarsman. At the same
instant he caught sight Of her head
and backed water.
Hello. Edith" he called. resting
upon his oars; pretty cold day for a
swim. isn't IT."
NO. it's Just fne!" she asserted
endeavoring TO keep her teeth from
chattering.
III you say II isn't too cool. I'll come
in too; a rowing suit and a bathing
suit are pretty close kim
He stood up In the she'll, and kicked
on his canvass shoes.
But Edith. she amt" Mary. who
was perched upon a stump upon the
bank. began explosively, but was
scared into sudden silence by the
glance from her sisters eyes.
But | was Just going out" she said.
as Bob Perry began TO take In his
oars.
"oh. that's all right, I'll hit a few
strokes. anyway" he said. catching
the overhanging branch Of tree, with
the intention OF securing the shell
thereto.
"But-but l don't want you, don't
want you to come In at ALL want
you to go away" Edith cried, upon
the verge Of tears.
He paused, and looked at hor in as
constituent.
why, what's the matter. Edlth?'
he asked; what have done? ]
thought you'd be glad to see me, you
know. | was coming to call this even
ing"
But / didn't want to see you'll
mean, didn't want you to see me
Oh. mean | want you to go away!
never want to see you again. the
poor girl, chilled and miserable, cried
angrily.
A look OF blank stupifaction and
pain crossed his face, and he settled
himself In the she'll
Il don't deserve this, Edith he
said, gravely; but, as you wish 1t,
good.by."
The SOULS dipped, and minute
later he had disappeared around the
bend in the stream. The girl climbed
hastily ashore, and shiveringly donned
her clothing. The pace she set on
the homeward way tried both the tenn
per and the legs of her small sister
to the utmost.
1t was a very miserable existence
Edith spent for the next two days.
Upon the second afternoon Bob Perry
had called, and though she knew he
must have seen her in the garden
when he drove up, she, with a sud.
den fit OF uncomfortable shyness, had
sent word that she was mot at home
The following day marked the clos
ing of the boat-club season, and there
would be the customary festivities in
GLIDING luncheon on the lawn. To the
establishment of all her friends Edith
had declared her intention OF not at.
tending, and no persuasion would
cause her to relent
The wailings of Mary, however,