Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-05-30
A SATISFACTORY
REASON
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4 NAAANA RahA VI Nttt AtftA VIVA At'
small sister Mary. she felt an ire
sistible inclination TO do what she
was well aware her generous allow
ance Of old maid aunts would call de
oidedly shocking,
I'm going in swimming. Mary" she
announced.
Mary looked at her In wldeeyed as
constituent.
"But you haven't got any bathing
suit" Mary protested.
Edith took her small relation by the
shoulders. and looked into her eyes
Her own were sparkling.
Can you keep a secret. Nary" she
asked
Huh, For box OF candy" that
mercenary young lady insinuated.
"All right. Then listen. You must
never. never tell soul about this. but
I'm going swimming-without any
bathing suit"
Gee! Bet you don't dare." Mary
giggled.
I tou Just Nattu nltt E<uiNu fctuft'
ed. her couraged braced by Mary's
doubt.
A few minutes passed: squirrel
peeped with bright. inquisitive eyes.
from behind the trunk of tree. Then
a slender form slipped to the edge OF
the water. and little heap OF cor
duroy and lace was left upon the moss
OF the glade. There was a white fash
into the amber OF the stream. and the
girl came up putting and shivering.
I ''0ugh. But it's cold," she chat.
tered, and took a few quick strokes to
warm herself, but the chill OF autum n
was in the water. and very few min.
utes convinced her that swimming.
for this season. was no longer Joy.
AS she turned toward the bank, the
slight splash of well-handled oars
came to her ears, and moment later
shell shot round the bend OF the
stream an hundred yards below her.
For moment she seemed para
lyzed. and then remembered that.
| after all. she was out Of sight so long
as she remained under the water.
She allowed herself to sink until her
mouth was just clear. and waited.
The shell. keeping the middle of the
stream, was by this time opposite her.
and with another thrill of terror she
recognized the oarsman. At the same
instant he caught sight of her head
and backed water.
Hello. Edith" he called, resting
upon his oars; pretty cold day for a
swim, isn't it,"
NO, it's just fne!" she asserted.
endeavoring to keep her teeth from
chattering.
IF you say it isn't too cool, I'll come
in too: a rowing suit and a bathing
suit are pretty close kim"
He stood up in the shell. and kicked
off his canvass shoes.
But Edith, she amt" Mary, who
was perched upon a stump upon the
/ bank, began explosively, but was
scared into sudden silence by the
glance from her sisters eyes.
But | was just going OUT she said,
as Bob Perry began to take in his
oars
"Oh, that's all right, I'll hit a few
strokes, anyway" he said, catching
the overhanging branch of tree, with
the intention of securing the shell
thereto.
"But-but don't want you, don't
want you to come in at ALL want
| you to go away" Edith cried, upon
| the verge of tears.
He paused, and looked at her in as
constituent.
why, what's the matter, Edith"
he asked; what have I done? I
thought you'd be glad to see me, you
know. was coming to call this even
ing"
But ! didn't want to see you'll
mean, didn't want you to see me
oh, | mean | want you to 60 away!
I never want to see you again." the
poor girl, chilled and miserable, cried
angrily.
A look of blank stupifaction and
4 pain CIUSScu HIS LACE, anu liz S0JJloQ
| himself in the she'll.
/ II don't deserve this, Edith he
said, gravely; but, as you wish it,
| good-by."
The SOULS dipped, and minute
later he had disappeared around the
bend in the stream. The girl climbed
hastily ashore, and shiveringly donned
her clothing. The pace she set on
the homeward way tried both the tenn
per and the legs of her small sister
to the utmost.
1t was very miserable existence
Edith spent for the next two days.
Upon the second afternoon Bob Perry
| had called, and though she knew he
must have seen her in the garden
when he drove up, she, with sud.
den fit of uncomfortable shyness, had
sent word that she was mot at home. .
The following day marked the clos.
ing of the boat-club season, and there
would be the customary festivities, in
Guiding luncheon on the lawn To the
establishment Of all her friends Edith
had declared her intention Of not at.
tending, and no persuasion would