The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-11-02

Anu-n0, even II she should DE Will
ing which is an insane thought on my
part. I've no right to let her sacrifice
herself. I'll stay until tomorrow and
then plead business and disappear"
There was little stir near the pier,
as of the underbruSh, then woman's
voice, wonderfully clear and sweet:
Lets sit here and wait for the moon
10 rise The bungalow is 50 close and
hot tonight"
Harvell caught his breath. 1t was
she The voice that replied he recog-
nized as that of his married sister, who
was chaperoning th" bungalow party
You haven't been yourself at all, Mar
garct. during the entire week"
Il know it. Agnes" The voice, with
its tired note. was very touching, and
uarvel stirred restlcSsly. I'm use
less to myself and every one else
every one else" she repeated, as if TO
herself
"Oh, nonsense! Peggy, you are too
fine and wholesome to talk so.
wish Agnes stopped as if not daring
to go on.
Margaret's voice continued: Il want
you to help me to steal off tonight,
Agnes. | want to 20 home, and l may
joint the Westburys and so to Paris.
The stage goes down at Q and l am
going to catch it and steal off without
word to any one. Please, Agnes"
The perspiration started to Harvelrs
face as he strained his ears to catch
Agnes reply. When it came he gasped:
sometimes l think brother Paul Is n
foolw
Margaret's voice was stern. Agnes.
l wish you would never mention Paul
Harvelrs name to me. T. But hel
voice was growing too faint for the
man in the canoe to distinguish her
words, strive as he would.
"They'vc started back to the bunga-
low" he thought. Il am a cad to have
listened even thus much. But, anyhow,
I've lived up to the adage I wonder
why I'm fool
Suddenly Il realizing sense of Mar
garet's words came TO him. She was
going away, going within an hour,
and all that he had been feeling for a
year was unsaid For Il moment his
stern resolve of the early evening was
forgotten. Then he sat erect, every
muscle tense with stress of feeling.
ITS better So" he said bitterly. ITS
my business to begin to forget, if she
never wants to hear my name again"
He looked off toward the bank, then
gave Il startled exclamation. The pier
had disappeared. His canoe was float
ing rapidly down stream, while his
paddle was safely locked IN the boat.
house. ~.
Il must be almost on the rapids" he
thought With the thought the boat
turned the bend that had shut off the
sound of the falls and the canoe was
the question, for in the river here was
Il mass of jagged rocks hidden in seeth
ing water Almost instantly the canoe
was broken and capsiZeI. Harvcll,
dazed and bruised, chung to project
ing rock that had wrecked him. Fight
us he would with all the force Of his
wonderful physique. he was dashed
again and again upon the stones. Yet
as he fought he was conscious of only
one thought:
II must get there. | must have Just
one word with Margaret before she
goes"
Then he gave cry of remembrance.
He, with the other men of the camping
party, had been planning a foOtbridge
across the rapids. The week before
with infinite toll they had laid Il single
line of heavy planks on the projecting
rocks from shore to shore. They were
not yet fastened in any way, their
heavy weight serving to balance them
fairly we'll on the stones. The dark
ness, not yet lighted by the moon. con-
cealed the planks, but clinging des-
perately with one hand Harvcll felt
about with the other and by rare good
luck found a plank, wet and slippery
with spray, on a neighboring rock.