Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-06-20


cried, with delighted excitement.
All right-we're of. l answered
and our paddles dipped simultane-
ously.
AS l kept time to the quick. even
stroke Nan set l watched the LITTLE
tendrils OF brown hair that blew back
over the small ears and that curled
on the slender neck left bare nv the
sailors blouse. Presently my ewes
strayed TO the slim, strong little hand
that grasped the paddle Just above the
blade. and my heart gave a oueer
Jump when | saw 1t was bare of rings
Then with a sweep Of her paddle
Nan headed the craft for a shaded
shore, and a moment later we had
touched the bank. Catching an over.
hanging branch, she sprang lightly
ashore.
Safe! The bloodhounds have fall.
en- through the icel" she cried in mock
tragedy, and we laughed joyously to-
gether
Il am famished," Nan declared the
next instant, as climbed out of the
canoe. You are so slow-do hurry.
The alcohol coffee pot is in the ham
per. Let's have breakfast.
1t was just living over again one
Of the old. careless, golden DAYS
Somewhere in the world people were
hurrying to and fro, striving. falling
attaining. but 1t all seemed very far
away.
sat down with my back against a
tree. and Nan came and sat beside me
She had been slightly wearied by our
play, and let her brown head rest
against my shoulder. 1 could see a
little wistful curve about her mouth
that hurt met had not been there
OF old.
Don't you wish, Ned" she said
softly, and then suddenly checked her
self.
There were many thing that 1 was
wishing, but 1 said nothing. There
was an ache in my throat that would
have made speech difficult "Oh,
blind fool" my heart was crying, and
| realized that it would go on and on
through many weary years.
Suddenly she turned, so as to look
into my face.
Ned" she said slowly; how long
have we known each other?"
Six years. about-since you were
II. You know as well as J." an
swered.
And we have been good comrades
-pals-Ned," she continued, letting
her brown eyes wander to a distant
point. Tell me, then, Ned, what does
the gang'-Bill, and Carter and Ray
mond, and all the rest of them-think
of me?"
They are sore, Man," 1 told her,
trying to put into the softest terms
the rage and sorrow of the gang that
the Girl should do this thing Ray
mond has gone off to the Rockies to
shoot bear. Tom Mason is talking of
going to work, Bill is like a funeral
on Monday"
Ned, did you ever hear any of
them say that. that was pretty?" she
asked, while a pink flood showed
through the golden tan upon the slen-
der throat.
Say it? or course not!" 1 exploded
DO you mean to tell me-" demanded,
that you didn't know that we gave
that chap Forrea a thousand dollars
to come from Paris to paint that wa
ter color of you, and that each one of
us has a miniature copy that cost a
hundred dollars?"
/ snapped open my watch case, to
show her her own laughing face and
wind-blown curls.
SILLY boys!" she said, and the pink
in her cheeks deepened to crimson.
why are they sore, Ned? Are
your" she asked.
l looked searchingly into ner brown
eyes, but found only the frankness
knew so we'll.
'We-that is. they, had always
thought it would be some one of the
old crowd, Girl" / told her.
sad little smile flickered about
her mouth.
Il was good pal. wasn't I, Ned?"
she said.
THE finest in all the world" 1 an
swered truthfully.
And they thought me pretty" she
continued slowly; but not one of
them-I am 10, Ned, and no one ever
or even wanted-to kiss mel"
She buried her face in her hands
and sobbed. The little figure seemed
pathetically slight and lonely.
Il was a good comrade, Ned" she
continued softly; but was a girl.
after all. Il wanted some one to-
care, Ned"
My heart leaped, and tumultuous