River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-07-11
she slept.

Lord" he exclaimed, I've trudged
the length, breadth, and, | was about
to say thickness of this island, since
midnight"
Kitty had lifted herself on one ell
bow and now sat upright, staring
stupidity into the sun-bronzed face
above her 1t was broad day, and the
yellow sunlight, falling on her tangled
hair, discovered a whole nest of opals
in it.
How did you know?" she asked
wonderingly, brushing her hand
across her eyes as though to clear
away a mist.
Rochester laughed heartily, but
more as an outlet to the pent-up strain
of the past few hours than from any
special feeling OF amusement.
"Did-did anyone send your" She
looked at him with a dawning chal-
lenge IN her eyes.
Rochester dropped down on the
sand beside her before he answered.
Not anybody myself he
said, as matter-of-fact as possible;
the fact is I happened to see you
leave the wharf, and-several hours
later-learned, first by accident, that
your boat was still out. The storm
signals were up, and / was afraid
we'll Sou know" he blundered on aWk-
wardly, Il couldn't just sit by and see
you-shipwrecked, could 1? l couldn't
let anyone be that, do you think?" he
added, half in apology, half in explana.
ton. Had he told the truth, he might
have said: 81 am watching every
move you make; l haunt the places
you frequent; you are never out of
my thoughts or my sight minute
longer than | can help But pru-
dence forbade.
For some time after he had spoken,
Kitty sat silent, staring with wide,
somewhat angry eyes at the tiny white
caps in the distance.
You are very humane" she re.
marked shortly. after bit
Rochester frOwned digging his
tanned fingers clumsily in the sand.
4 hope l am he returned, without
looking up. The quarrel had been
very bitter; neither could forget that
bitter as only quarrel can be be-
tween two people who love each other,
foolishly ald absolutely
You might just as well have stay
ed at home and let me alone snap.
ped Kitty. reddening
I'm sorry | didn't-now," was the
curt response.
Kitty tossed her yellow curls ex-
pressively. and said nothing. After
that, an awkward period of constraint
ensued between them. Rochester was
the first to make a move.
1t being the case he remarked,
politely, getting to his feet, that l
might just as we'll have stayed away,
presumably, the only thing left to do
is to go hack?"
Kitty stared, paled despite the rein
she had put upon herself
yves" she said, lingering her tie
end without looking UP
IF there is anything l can
Nothing whatever?" she jerked out,
turninS her back
Rochester moved away a few PAGES.
81 really think" he ventured, some.
what timidly. shat the sun over here
is going to be uncomfortaabIy warm
after awhile
Kitty laughed-but with almost too
much enthusiasm for it to be genu-
Inc. Il don't mind that" she re
turned. with her head in the air. In
fact, II like it!' She gave her
minutest attention TO the rearrange-
ment of a refractory lock, as Roches
ter walked off in the direction of the
beach.
Several minutes passed in dead
silence. When she trusted herself to
look up again, he was coming toward
her rapidly. There's an awful storm
brewing" ne said, gravely; wed bet