The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-04-11

his shell determinedly toward the OPP
posite shore. A dingy Panama was
pulled quite over his eyes; could one
have caught their look, sterner ex-
preston was in the mild gray depths
than they had ever before worn. His
shirt sleeves were rolled back to the
elbows, the brown, muscular fore
arms flashing like bronze in the sun
light, and with every dexterous
stroke, the grim lines about his mouth
became more set
Suddenly the poa- scraped on the
sand and Pauldng sprang ashore, fas.
tening it to one of the willows that
dipped it's branches low into the wa
ter. lie stood moment, surveying
the placid eXpanse of treacherous
green Over the distant edge of it,
rim of blue. like turquoise hoop,
curved itself in vivid contrast High
up in the west. the sun glowed a
fiery challenge Paulding waited till
the lake grew saffron under it's van
ishing splendor, then wheeled abrupt
ly and walked up the bank fiinging
himself down on the spongy carpet of
daisy-studded grass.
An hour slipped by, and he did not
stir. He was cynically reviewing the
past and wondering, with a last, des-
perate thread of hope, if life had
really come to an end for him in this
tragic way; a suicides grave!
| Cynthia was no weakling, he knew
that She was, as a matter of fact,
uncompromising, and he could not
even try to deceive himself further
with visions of her relenting. When,
on the occasion of his last call. she
had coldly send down word that she
would not meet him, then or ever,
he had felt in his bones that her
words were final Every effort to com
municate with her. thereafter, either
personally or by letter, had been met
by the same uncompromising frigid-
ity. Every note had been returned
with the seal unbroken she would
not even allow him a syllable or APP
peal. And for what? He cudgled His
ingenuity in vain. Obviously, he had
committed some objectionable sin in
Cynthias eyes, and quite as obvious
: ly, he was never even to know what
it was
Another 60 minutes were gone, and
with a groan, Paulding dragged him
self stiffly to his feet and NOV I'd
| down to the waters edge. Twilight
, had choked away the pretty pink haze
, and long, drab shadows were begin
ming to culver grewsomely over the
lake. With benumbed fingers he
united the rope that fastened his shell
and threw 1t in the bottom of the boat
He settled himself with painstakine
care in his seat and resting on his
oars, sat for a moment, gazing about
him at the familiar landmarks every
where, made doubly dear by associa
ton. For it was here, almost on this
very spot, that Cynthia had given him
her hand and he had kissed her or
the lips to seal their betrothal.
Twenty feet out. the water was
deep. 1t would be but moments
, work, and-setting his lips, he shot
ahead like an arrow, then gradually
= slowed down, His face was quite
pale, almost ashen, and his heart was
pounding heavily His eyes, from
mild gray, had grown perfectly black
Suddenly he dropped his oars anC
= sprang into the water. 1t closed ovei
a him, sending millions of circles rip
, ping away in every direction. L
was icy cold and chilled Paulding t.
j. the marrow. His head emerged aftel
t a seconds time, ten feet nearer shore
Il | fnu al ,tr a.
y TO firm ground. He clambered IA IN
bank, shaking himself like drenehas
terrier.
The devil" he muttered.
Then some sudden revulsion of fesk
ing caused him to laugh aloud Their
was an instantaneous echo. and will
"a hot, guilty feeling, Paulding turneS
Y which it came.
r Less than rod away, a girl. slim
n and graceful, in il white yachting suit
smiled at him over the yapan
Cynthia"
The next minute, he was al he
/ side. But she deity evaded his toucl
( and stood regarding him with cold. in
I
, pang that her cheeks had lost SOM
| Of their roundness and much of thei
. old-time color.
Why did you come here to day?
7 he asked, steadying his voice by al
effort,
, The girl remained silent, with quiz
: ical eyes. Her lips, trembling, hu
mid and haf-parted, closed abrupt
over the words she would have nj
, tered. Her mute gaze accused hin
more plainly than words could hav
done.
Cynthia" he began after cor
strained silence. tell me why yo
refused to see me-"
, The vivid spots of color leaped T.
her cheeks,
After the letter you sent me?" sh
: questioned
Letter."
4 CYNTHIA fumbled In her bIousa On,