Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-11-27
me duck" she reminded. I'm b
ready at 4 o'clock"

me duck" she reminded. I'm b
ready at o'clock"
! She darted away, and Brooks, with
a new hope. In his heart, caught up a
! pen and wrote the letters that he had
been trying to compose all the week.
Bess was prompt, and at o'clock
they met OH the piazza. The rain had
gone back to light drizzle, but Lang.
don affected to take last farewell OF
them and promised to try and recover
their bodies after the flood
/ Bess gave him saucy reply, and
they started down the road. 1t was a
hard climb up the steep side Of the
mountain at the foot of which Center
vile nestled. but after the stuffy at
mosphere of the house the wet earth
filled the clean air with fragrance
peculiarly its own.
Bess drank deep drafts down into
her lungs. I'm glad that we came"
she declared. 1T isn't so very wet,
and / did want to have you see Big
rock again.
II was afraid that 1t would be wash.
ed away before we could get up here"
he said, with a smile. ''This has been
a nightmare week, Bess. What can
you think of the way I've been actingY
II don't blame yOu," she said softly.
1T must be horrid to have your only
week spoiled. But there is Big rock"
she added as they came in view Of q
huge bowlder, relic of some glacial Pc
Rod.
In clear weather they could see far
down the valley from the ledge OF
which the rock stood. Even now they
were given glimpse of green fields
and the darker tint of the wooded Sec
tons, though the silver thread Of the
river had become leaden reflection of
the cloudy skies.
Brooks leaned against the rock, while
Bess seated herself upon a smaller
stone. For a moment neither spoke;
then Brooks turned to her.
1T was my one wish to come up
here" he said. do you remember last
summer meeting me here?'
'As though it were yesterday" she
answered II had been day dreaming
in the shade Of the rock, and you came
crashing through the bushes. l was a
little frightened. l remember"
II wanted to come back here's" he
said rehectively. II had foolish no
ton that l should be more fortunate II
I spoke in the shadow of the Big rock.
l wanted TO ask you to marry me, Bess,
but / don't suppose you would dare
marry a chap who had shown such a
temper as | have in the past few
days"
'SVhy don't you ask and find out?"
she suggested demurely.
In a moment he was upon his knees
beside her. He had given up all hope
as the long wet days wore upon his pa
tience. He had not supposed that she
would trust her future to him. Now
that she had spoken he poured out his
love in torrent of speech, oblivious
to all else. For quarter of an hour
he gave heed to nothing save the sweet
face before him, looked at nothing
save the tender eyes. now SO full of
love. Then she gently disengaged her
self and pointed across the valley.
Far in the west the sun was showing
through rift in the clouds, lighting
with prismatic splendor the arch OF a
rainbow. life Is like that, dear" she
said gently. There must be some
stormy days that we may better APP
preciate the sum-"
"And you are not afraid-even Of my
temper?'
"Of course not, you foolish boy"
"Bess." he said impetuously, I'm go
ing to try and have very few storms.
know how hideOusly unpleasant they
are. All this week I've been growing
more and more certain that you would
never have me, and all the time you
were looking for the rainbow"
"Love is the pot of gold that is buried
at the foot of that sort of rainbow"
she said, with a smile.
"And, unlike the others, we have
found the gold," he exulted.