Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-12
A Vacation
Episode.
BY EDWARD GERRITsoN.
Copyright, 1907. by f. c. PARCELS.
Observation-Disclosures
BY EDWARD GERRITsoN.

The girl first saw the man coming to-
ward her out of the east in his canoe
like 4 herald OF tie rising sun. lmag-
nation transformed him to a yellow
haired viking and his mp 10 date canoe
to Il battle galley with serpents head
Prov
The man saw the girl standing.
straight as birch saplng, on a huge
brown rock. gazing out at hlm over thc
water Fancy painted her a siren
set TO lure him To destruction on Tie
rocks at her feet Without a moments
hesitation he decided II would be pleas
ant TO he lured. lie archcd his hand
above his mouth.
"Ye-ho-' nc called TO her.
She mimicked his action.
"Ye-hor' she answered back.
The next stroke of the paddle almost
lifted the canoe from the water and
the girl meditated ignominious flight.
yet. knowing who he was. she decided
to remain.
.IIe certainly is all that rumor paints
Slm i'm the way of strength" She solilo-
qulzcd. MS She watched. fascinated the
play of the muscles of his mighty arms.
When he was near enough for her TO
see She colorcd at the unstinted ad-
mration in his eyes.
You're glorious" he cried impul-
slvely as he deftly shot the canoe up
10 the rock
you're extremely bold" she retorted
nervously
He smiled irrepressibly.
i've come for you-get in" be said
peremptorily. 1T needs only you. lean
ing against that forward thwart. to
make the morning perfect"
"Nly goodness" she gasped. you are
viking"
you're making fun of my hair" he
said. Stimulating offensc. You shouldn't
call me such "a hard name simply be
cause my hair is tow colorcd."
In a moment she was seated among
the pillows
lie watched her trail her fingers in
the brown water awhile and then:
I'm Edrlc Stanford" he said abrupt
ly. "And you;"
"Jeannette Hartman OF Pittsburg"
she answered eying him furtively.
He stopped padding for Il moment
and looked at her in amazement.
Not Malcolm Harriman's daughterl"
he blurted.
YES" she said simply.
"You know who l am?' he ques-
toned.
She nodded afiirmatively.
"And yet-and yet he foundered
well" she queried, finding he did
not seem inclined to continue, land
yet what"
ooh nothing" he answered lamely
and fell to paddling furiously.
After all. he thought. what did it
matter? Only vacation episode-it
could be nothing more. He would car
~ It 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
twinklmg frequency. They slipped
through an Eden OF immense golden
cupped water lilies wide open to the
glory of the dawn. They glided stealth
ily along in the shadow of the shore
fringe until presently they saw a stag
with his soft eyed wives come down
10 the shore to drink. lie brought her
nearer TO nature than she ever before
had been
II shall come hove the first thing To-
morrow morning" he said as he help
ed her up the rock where he had found
her "Shall l find you here?'
Perhaps" she answered, but there
was half promise in her manner
when she waved him goodby from
the hilltop.
lie was earlier than she next morn
inc. but he had not long to wait In a
few moments she came smiling toward
him down the hill
If You like" ne said rs he helped
her 10 her seat. well visit that eagles
nest on Bald mountain. | have been
up to her acrie and seen her baby
eagles"
Jeannette's eyes sparklcd.
They started while the mists werc
still gray. Jeannette wore a short red
coat in anticipation of the GOODNESS of
the air at the high altitude of the
mountain shortly before noon, after
q wearying climb they gained a spot
where Ii seemed advisable To eat their
/ luncheon.
I'VE must wait here until Mrs Eagle
goes preyiug for the family din
ner." Stanford informed his compan-
ion. "rhen by hurrying Wen have
time to climb and take peep at the
( little eaglets and get away before tha
( old bird returns
In few moments they saw the
mother bird soar upward with great
spread of wings and circle out over
the valley.
"Now is our time" said Stanford
springng up and leading the way, but
we must hurry"
\ hard scramble over a series OF
tagged powders brought them to th
drag where the eagle had built her
nest Four young eagles stretched out
their featherless necks. their yellow
beaks wide open for the expected din
ncr OF blood warm flesh
Suddenly Stanford gave a cry of dis
may
Quick. Quick" be shouted. The old
bird Is coming back" and graspine
Jeanette by the arm he rushed heI
away from the nest.
But the eagle was coming with the
rapidity of rocket and was upon then
before they had got very far. At
/
anraged bird made straight for Jean
He EiFad the GfiNk