The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-01

!: THE GIRL OPPOSITE
tOriginal.1


summer resort In the mountains. she a.
the hotel opposite mine.
] never tired Of looking at her and
wondering about her. She was oua,n,
and when / have said that have sa,d
all l can say by way of description
I fancied her an embryo actress or one
ambitious to be an actress. Then
put her down as a would be scribbler
one who would, If she could writa
stories Of tee Ouida kind. Whatever
I thought her, never attributed to her
anything commonplace.
Her room frOnted mine. Before An
pearing dressed for the afternoon and
evening she would stand before bar
mirror combing her hair. And such
hair! 1t was ravishing. Its depth ara
length were only to be compared to a
high cataract. On one occasion when
she was walking from the window
saw that it swept the floor. Every
afternoon at would take my posi-
ton at my window. close the blind 50
as not to be observed and watch
through the Stats for her to display
her magnificent tresses.
One evening, returning from a walk
in the mountains, passed the Devils
we'll. A stream tumbled over a ledge.
and beneath was a basin which small
boys said had no bottom. 1t was the
we'll. As approached a woman came
from beside 1t, and through the dusk
l recognized 1.-The girl opposite" She
was alone and a long way from the
village.
you are out late." said, "for a
woman. Aren't you afraidw
1.-THE place fascinates me-" she re-
piled, with gasp. Il was dreaming.
Is it very late"
Eight o'clock, and the twilight is not
SO long as 1t was earlier In the sum-
mer."
you are a gentleman; know you
are. There is freemasonry between
ladies and gentlemen which circum.
stances cannot do away with. I'm
sure can trust you to take me to the
hotel"
"You may, certainly"
She put her arm through mine, cling
Ing to me as though frightened at the
loneliness Of the place. We walked
between towering rocks and along the
margin Of the stream, which now boil
ed and bubbleS and now resolved T.
self into little lagoons. Coming to
bridge under which 1t flowed, she
stopped and leaned on the rail. but not
releasing her hold on my arm. The
full moon shone through the narrow
gorge. the beetling crags standing out
in bold silhouette on either side.
isn't it beautifulY she said, turn
ing her face to mine.
The moonlight softened her complex
ion. 1t lighted her eyes. Her lips were
in close proximity to mine. What
could do? What did do? kissed
them.
what have you done?" she walled.
II have trusted to your honor, and
you have taken advantage Of a poor
girl in this lonely spot"
"Forgive me-" said. 1.-THE tempta-
ton was too much for me. will not
offend .gain."
We walked on. Not for a moment
did she cease to cling to me, leaning
more and more upon me as we pro-
ceeded. She seemed tired, for, though
I bore a great deal Of the weight !.
could not get her on except at a
snail's pace. Every now and again.
when we reached a spot where tie
stream wound far below US and toe
face Of the rock shot up far above Vi.
she would pause and, leaning on
guard rail, look out upon the moonli'
scene, apparently forgetful Of the hour
or her distance from her hotel. AID
l, too, was forgetful. 1 forgot more
than once that l was gentleman
with a lady under my protection. ano
a kiss was the result Of each failure
to remember. ....
Was 1t the wildness Of the place Or
the girl that cast a spell over me? AZ
any rate l was bewitched. 1t was neil
midnight when we reached her ho.ei
and stood in q dark corner OF the
piazza, holding her hand and pour
ing forth a torrent Of words, every dns
glowing with love. Then after rap
turous kiss she stole into the HOUSE.
while l went across the road and up
to my room.
1 caught sight Of my face in the MIR
ror. My eyes were as wild as the en-
virons of the Devils well. My near.
was beating like a drum. l wonde.ed
If the girl was not denizen OF tA7
spot so aptiv named. Was not her sta!
at the hotel opposite a pretense, Hel
real home at the bottom Of the wellI
AS I looked at my excited image tae
spell fell away and cursed mysen
for fool. Undressing. I got Into oeo'
leaving open the shutter, and the mooa
shone through the window. Wa'
again in the gorge. We were stano'as
on the bridge. I was enthralled.
The next morning fed. Before al!
Of the guests had risen l was Oh
train steaming for the city. Wnea
reached it I dragged myself into .n'
crowded, d!ngy street and to the oe
serted house where l lived. Inere
struggled till midnight to resist