The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-13
A VACATION EPISODE
BY EDWARD GERRITsoN.

(Copyright, 1907, by E. c. Parcelis.l
 The girl first saw the man coming to- ward her out of the East in his canoe like A herald of the rising sun. lmag- ination transformed him to a yellow haired Viking and his up-to-date canoe to a little galley with a serpents head brow.
 The man saw the girl standing, straight as a birch sapling, on a huge' brown rock, gazing out at him over the water. Fancy painted her siren set te lure him to destruction on the rocks at her feet. Without moments hesitation he decided it would be pleas ant to be fured. He arcned ms hano above his mouth.
 "Ye-how he called to her.
 She mimicked his action.
 "Ye-ho!" she answered back.
 The next stroke of the paddle almost lifted the canoe from the water, and the girl meditated ignominious night; yet. knowing who he was, she decided to remain.
 "He certainly is all that rumor paints him in the way of strength" she solilo- ouized. as she watched, fascinated, the play of the muscles of his mighty arms.
 When he was near enough for her to see she colored at the unstinted adml- ration in his eyes.
 You're gloriousr he cried, impul- sively, as he deftly shot the canoe up to the rock.
 nervously.
 He smiled irrepressibly.'
 i've come for you-get in,'' he said. peremptorily Tt needs only you, lean- ing against that forward thwart, to make the morning perfect"
 My goodness" she gasped, you are Viking"
 You're making fun of my hair" he said, stimulating offense. You shouldn't call me such a hard name simply De- cause my hair is tow-colored."
 In a moment she was seated among the pillows.
 He watched her trail her fingers in the brown water awhile and then: I'm Edric Stanford he said abrupt lly. And you?" "Jeannette Hartman of Pittsburg," she answered, cycling him furtively. He stopped padding for moment and looked at her in amazement. Not Malcolm Harriman's daughter he blurted out.
 Yes" she said simply. You know whom I am?" he ques- tion. She nodded afirmatively.
 And yet--and yet" he f1oundered.
 Well" she queried, finding he did not seem inclined to continue, and yet -what?"
 "oh, nothing" he answered lamely, and fell to padding furiously.
 After all. he thought, what did 1t matter? Only a vacation episode-it | could be nothing more. He would car rv if out in the spirit in which he had | begun.
 A morning of enchantment was theirs They visited a, spot where the sharp -nosed pickerel leaped with twinklng frequency They slipped through an Eden of immense golden water-lilies, wide open to the glory of the dawn. They glided stealthily along l in the shadow of the shore-fringe until presently they saw stag with his soft | eyed wives, come down to the shore to l drink. He brought her nearer to na- ture than she ever before had been.
 q shall come here the first thing to- morrow morning." he said, as he helped | her up the rock. where he had found her. Shall l find you here? l "Perhaps," she answered.; but there was q half-promise in her manner when she waved him goodby from the hilltop. |.
 He was earlier than she next morn l ing. but he had not long to walt. In a few moment sshe came smiling toward him down the mill.
 If you like" he said, as he helped her to her soat, we'll visit that eagles nest on Bald Mountain. I have been up to her aerie and seen her baby eagles l Jeannettes eyes sparkled.
 They started while the mists were ] still gray. Jeannette wore a short red coat in anticipation of the coolness oi the air at the high altitude of the mountain Shortly before noon, after a wearying climb, they gained a spot where it seemed advisable to eat their luncheon.
 we must wait here until Mrs. Eagle | goes preying for the family dinner Stafford informed his companion. Then