The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-04-19

breeze was blowing in from the lake
and every one else seemed to have
gone 10 their rooms, SO | threw my
cigar stump over the piazza rail and
arose lazily. As | did so, there was
a light footstep In the hall and n
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 ii,
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 |. girl" | said, and Joined her.
She rested one hand upon my shoul-
der and jumped up on the rail. Il was
so much like the Nan Of old to do that
that | sighed lnvoluntarily.
What's the matter with you OF late,
Ned?" abe demanded. You are as
solemn as a church,
You didn't seem especially cheer.
full yourself, when you came incoming
out here just now" | retorted.
1T was on account of my arms
Nan asserted, Indignantly. Just look
at them.
| had been looking anyway, but
obediently lifted one of the strong lit'
tie hands and gave it and the pretty
bare arm a close scrutiny. To the
elbows they were n bright golden tan,
the tan ending there sharply like the
top of a long glove.
Ned" she suddenly whispered, lean
Ing toward me with an excited sparkle
In her eyes; when was the last time
we We're in a canoe t~ogether?'
you know very well when It was"
! answered Erumly, ut was the day
you told me that you had gone and
gotten engaged to that precious count
of yours"
"lie Is %precious!" Nan asserted. but
| knew Nan too well to mistake the
prompting Of pride for that of emo.
ton.
II am going to have my way Nan
said serenely, "And | am also going to
do something very shocking. In the
morning, at five o'clock, you have the
canoe ready and have plenty of lunch, -
And them" | querled.
Then we will go off for a pio.nlc-
just We two--for all day,
"Oh, say, girl" | protested feebly.
THAT won't do, you know; there'd be
all kinds of talk. | expect dc Alta
would consider your reputation as alb
solutely lost. and the Lord only knows
what your mother would say"
"Oh, OF course, If you don't want
to-" Nan said and tried to withdraw
her hand
Girl, you know that ! would think
II the finest day in the world-that |
was only thinking of You" ! said, and
the next moment | was conscious that
my arm was around her. It 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 n~oiselessly into the house,
Presently ! went to my room and
changed my dinner things for flannels
and tennis shoes. It would not have
been worth while to attempt to go to
sleep, so | went down to the boathouse
and sat upon the little pier, smoking
and broodlng gloomily until the east
ern sky grew rosy with the rising
sun.
| had just gotten the canoe out
when Nan appeared, GREATNESS with
carrying a heavy hamper, but with
sparkling eyes.
a knew you would forget to bring
any lunch" she said accusingly, 80
| brought It myself. No one is up yet,
and | slipped down to the kitchen and
took everything | could find"
| 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.
IAN ~right-we're Off" | answered
and our paddles dipped simultane.
AS I kept time to the quick, even
stroke Nan set | watched the little
tendrlls Of brown hair that blew back
over the small ears and that curled
the slender neck left bare by the
sailors blouse. Presently my y G
strayed to the slim, strong little hand
that grasped the paddle Just above the
blade, and my heart gave a queer
jump when | saw It was bare of rings.
Then with a sweep Of her paddle
Nan headed the craft for n shaded
shore, and a moment later we had
touched the bank. Catching an over
hanging branch, she sprang Eighty
ashore.
safe! The bloodhounds have fall.
en- through the Ice!" she cried In mock
tragedy, and we laughed joyously to-
u am famished," Nan declared the
next instant, as | climbed out of the
canoe. You are SO slow-do hurry.
The alcohol coffee pot Is In the ham.
nor Jatta have ~hrnakfast