Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-05-09

and every one else seemed to have
gone to their rooms, so ] threw my
cigar stump over the piazza rail and
arose lazily. AS I did so, there was
a light footstep in the hall and a
slender, girlish form in evening dress
slipped out. 1t was Nan, but she did
not observe me. She went idly over
to the rail and stood leaning upon it,
gazing out across the lake.
Presently the glow of the cigar
stump upon the ground caught her
eye, and she turned in my direction.
1T is l, girl" l said, and Joined her.
She rested one hand upon my shout
der and jumped up on the rail. It was
so much like the Nan of old to do that
that l sighed involuntarily.
What's the matter with you of late,
Ned?" she demanded. you are as
solemn as a church"
You didn't seem especially cheer
full yourself, when you anne incoming
out here just now" l retorted.
1T was on account of my arms, ."
Nan asserted, Indignantly. Just look
at them.
l had been looking anyway, but l
obediently lifted II of the strong lit
tie hands and gave it and the pretty
bare arm a close scrutiny. To the
elbows they were a bright golden tan,
the tan ending there sharply like the
top Of a long glove.
Il don't see anything wrong with
it," l said severely. Il believe that
you just wanted to make sure 1 no.
ticed them"
let the hand stay in mine. The moo
light flashed on the facets of a soil
taire, and l bit back an oath.
Ned" she suddenly whispered, lean
ing toward me with an excited sparkle
in her eyes; when was the last time
we were in a canoe together?"
You know very well when it was"
I answered grumly. 1T was the day
you told me that you had gone and
gotten engaged to that precious count
of yours"
"He is precious!" Nan asserted, but
I knew Nan too well to mistake the
prompting of pride for that of emo
ton.
81 am going to have my way" Nan
said serenely. And 1 am also going to
do something very shocking. In the
morning, at five o'clock, you have the
ready and have plenty of lunch"
And then?" l querled.
GGTbo, u-o min oo 80 for "a ,fo vfo
Just we two-for all day.
"Oh, l say, girl" 1 protested feebly.
THAT won't do, you know; there'd be
all kinds of talk. l expect de Alta
would consider your reputation as alb
solutely lost, and the Lord only knows
what your mother would say"
ooh, of course, if you don't want
to-" Nan said and tried to withdraw
her hand.
Girl, you know that I would think
It the finest day in the world-that l
was only thinking of you" l said, and
the next moment l was conscious that
my arm was around her. 1t was the
first time-somehow nothing like
that had ever occurred to me in the
old, sunshiny days.
you are a dear!" she whispered.
There was a little pressure of my arm,
and then she slipped to the floor and
fed ~noiselessly into the house.
Presently I went to my room and
changed my dinner things for lannels
and tennis shoes. 1t would 20 have
been worth while to attempt to go to
sleep, so l went down to the boathouse
and sat upon the little pier, smoking
and brooding gloomily until the east
ern sky grew rosy with the rising
sun.
l had just gotten the canoe out
when Nan appeared, GREATNESS with
carrying a heavy hamper, but wilh
sparkling eyes.
II knew you would forget to bring
any lunch" she said ac~cusingly, 80
l brought it myself. No one is up yet,
and l slipped down to the kitchen and
took everything l could find"
l held the canoe steady and she
stepped lightly in, dropped to her
knees and took up a paddle.
Come on, we want to get out of
sight before anyone sees u.s." she
cried, with delighted excitement.
"All right-we're off," 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 by the
sailors blouse. Presently my eyes
strayed to the slim, strong little hand
that grasped the paddle just above the
blade, and my heart gave a queer
jump when l 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 far
en- through the icel" she cried in mock
tragedy, and we laughed joyously to-
gether.
Il am famished," Nan declared the
ext instant, As l climbed out of the
canoe. You are so 'slow-do hurry.