The Jasper news., 1907-01-10

| uoWeFeT, dS Sne SITOlleu along tne
shaded bank of the river with her
small sister Mary, she felt an ire
sistible inclination to do what she
was well aware her generous allow
Rnce of old maid aunts would call de-
cidedly shocking.
announced.
! Mary looked at her in wide.eyed as
| tonishment
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 secret, Mary?" 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.
You just watch met" Edith retort.
ed, her couraged braced by Mary's
doubt.
few minutes passed. a squirrel
peeped with bright, inquisitive eyes.
from behind the trunk of tree. Then
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 flash
into the amber of the stream, and the
girl came up putting and shivering.
"Ough! But it's cold!" she chat
tered, and took few quick strokes to
warm herself, but the chill of autumn
was In the water, and a very few min.
utes convinced her that swimming.
for this season, was no longer a Joy.
AS she turned toward the bank, the
slight splash of weil-handIed oars
came to her ears, and a moment later |
she'll shot round the bend of the |
stream an hundred yards below her.
For a 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
vim, isn't it?"
mo. it's just fine!" she asserted,
endeavoring to keep her teeth from
III you say 1t isn't too cool, I'll come
In too; a rowing suit and a bathing
suit are pretty close kin"
He stood up in the shell, and kicked
off his canvass shoes.
But Edith, she amt" Mary, who
was perched upon 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. Il
VA, ehoe o Oil ii6utp III ult IeW |
strokes. anyway" he said, catching
he overhanging branch of a tree, with
he intention Of securing the shell
hereto.
"But-but I don't want you. / don't
want you to come in at ALL want
you to go away!" Edith cried, upon {
he verge of tears.
He paused. and looked at her in as {
enlistment.
Why. what's the matter, Edithr
le asked; what have done? III
honght you'd be glad to see me, you
now. was coming to call this even !
ng." 1
But didn't. want to see you'll q
mean. didn't want you to see me- c
)h. l mean l want you to go away!
never want to see, you agaln!" the q
oor girl. chilled and miserable. cried a
ngrily.
A look of blank stupifaction and
ain crossed his face, and he settled RI
imself in the shell.
IL don't deserve this. Edith" he
aid. gravely; but, as you wish it,
ood-by."
The sculls dipped, and a minute Q
ater he had disappeared around the
end in the stream. The girl climbed u
astily ashore, and shiveringly donned
er clothing. The pace she set on q
he homeward way tried both the tenn y y
er and the legs of her small sister !.
D the utmost.
1t was very miserable existence 8