Gilpin observer., 1907-06-13

tt6diHsI my SnOulQer. COulQ see a.
little wistful curve about her mouth
that hurt met had not been there
Of old.
Don't you wish, Ned" she said
softly, and then suddenly checked her.
self.
There were many thing that was
wishing, but I said nothing. There
was an ache in my throat that would
have made speech difficult. "Oh,
blind fool!" my heart was crying. and
l realized that 1t would go on and on
through many weary years.
Suddenly she turned, so as to look
into my face.
Ned" she said slowly; "how long
have we known each other?"
"Six years, about-since you were
~. You know as we'll as l." l an
swered.
And we have been good comrades
-pals-Ned," she continued, letting
her brown eyes wander to a distant
point. Tell me, then, Ned, what does
the gang'-Bill, and Carter and Ray
mond, and all the rest of them-think
of me?"
"They are sore, Man." told her,
trying to put into the softest terms
the rage and sorrow of the gang that
the Girl should do this thing Ray.
mond has gone off to the Rockies to
shoot bear. Tom Mason is talking of
going to work, Bill is like funeral
on Monday"
Ned did you ever hear any of
them say that that was pretty?" she
asked, while pink flood showed
through the golden tan upon the slen.
der throat.
Say it? OF course not!" exploded.
do you mean to tell me-" demanded.
that you didn't know that we gave
that chap Forrea thousand dollars
to come from Paris to paint that wa
ter color of you, and that each one of
us has miniature copy that cost
hundred dollars?"
snapped open my watch case, to
show her her own laughing face and
wind-blown curls.
Silly boys." she said, and the pink
in her cheeks deepened to crimson.
why are they sore, Ned? Are
you?" she asked.
looked searchingly into her brown
eyes, but found only the frankness I
knew so we'll.
"We-that is, they, had always
thought it would be some one of the
old crowd, Girl" l told her.
A sad little smile flickered about
her mouth.
she said.
The finest in all the world" / an
swered truthfully.
And they thought me pretty" she
continued slowly; but not one of
them-I am 10, Ned, and no one ever
or even wanted-to kiss me!'
She buried her face in her hands
and sobbed. The little figure seemed
pathetically slight and lonely.
| Il was good comrade, Ned" she
continued softly; "but l was girl.
after ALL IL wanted some one to-
care, Ned {.
My heart leaped, and tumultuous
speech crowded upon my tongue, but
with an effort held myself in check.
and gently lifted the brown head SO
that I might look into her eyes.
Nan" I said, you had the whole
crowd to choose from-you know you
did, and yet you went and let them
engage you to that miserable little
monkey of count"
HE asked me, anyway; none OF the
others ever did" Nan said defiantly.
"They-they-" l stammered stu.
pidly, but she interrupted sharply.
They did not-never, not one OF
them. How could / know? Did
you?"
For moment / was dazed, as one
is by a sudden glare of light Then
my arms were around her.
"Nan-Girl," 1 whispered, and bent
toward the red, trembling lips that did
not seek to avoid me.
A moment later she had wrenched
herself free and sprang to her feet.
"Oh, Ned, please let us got" she
cried, and hurried to the canoe.
Silently We took our places. 1t was
dark, and far away to the north lights
were cleaning.
"Girl,"I whispered, and she turned
her head YEARLY. Suddenly we heard
the throbbing of motor boat away to
the south.
"They have missed the canoe and
are out in the launch looking for u.s."
l said. "They could never find us
among the islands. Oh, Girl, sweet.
heart-it isn't too late-and l love
you," I plead. =
She did not answer, but saw a
slim. brown hand steal to the pocket
OF her blouse and something made
sparkling curve in the air I leaned
forward to press the little hand that
for moment was stretched back to-
ward me and then withdrawn. With
out word she picked up her paddle,
and with a deft turn of the blade set