The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-01-09

fortune, Tor my comrades anu liiehue
my brothers more than anyone-to
nickname me "Sorrer' because OF the
color of my hair!
For years this was sore subject TO
me; many crying spell have had
owing to that and the laughter of my
thoughtless companions. Everyone
called me Sorrel. My own name,
Ethel, was so seldom spoken ! failed
to answer 1t when heard!
We went up to the country early
that summer, for 1t was unusually
warm and was restless for the free
perfect health.
Il shall have Sidney Burnett up this
summer" Tom declared as decidedly
as l. In the laying of plans. He was
awfully good to me. you know. when
was down in the dumps that time at
coli &c. and during our summering to-
gether last summer"
The weather was divine; for the
first two weeks we simply reveled in
the freedom and open life. Then Toms
friend came, and / liked him from the
first because he had been so good to
Tom He was big and broad-shoul-
dered and stern at times, with his
clear gray eyes searching ones soul.
and no smiling of the mouth under the
brown mustache.
lnez was my special chum at school,
and when we parted the day after
graduation she promised me a month
at the end Of summer, and she did not
forget We correspondent, of course,
and | told her of Toms friend along
with the rest of my brothers, and of
our pleasant life in the old country
house, SO that when she came she
knew our routine pretty thoroughly.
But In her letters not hint did she
give that she and Tom and Toms
friend were not strangers!
She was beautiful girl, tall and
willowy, with large, soft black eyes
and an abundance of black hair al
ways becomingly arranged, and | did
not wonder that Tom and Toms friend
started when they saw her. for had
simply told them OF her as Inez, my
chum at school. and / met her at the
station and brought her home in my
dogcart while they were off on the
hills. and coming in late to dinner,
their eyes fell upon her, cool, quiet,
beautiful, sitting opposite me, and
they started visibly. paling trifie.
Then Tom bit his lip and Mr.. Burnett
frowned and the stern expression
came around his mouth, each bowling
with cold politeness in recognition of
the Introduction, as she lifted her
magnificent eyes straight to theirs for
one brief minute, smiling softly, MUIR
muring in her exquisite voice how odd
1t was that they should meet again
this summer In their summering.
Neither smiled In answer, though
wondered how they could remain so
stolldly cold to her.
why didn't you tell me you knew
them|' | demanded half angrily, as
we stood In the shadows of the piazza
vines,
She laughed lightly. her laughter
like music In the soft silence as she
said, tapping my cheek with the deep
red rose in her hand
1T isn't tragedy, Sorrel; don't
look so cross at me! They helped
make last summer pass pleasantly,
that Is all Only. my dearest" and
there was an inscrutable tone in her
voice. her black eyes burning into
mine through the dusk, don't lose
heart m hrnthAr', II
Great Mogul as he is, he isn't worthy
that" and she laughed again.
Toms friend was unusually CAV
treating my beautiful Inez as doubt.
less he would have treated any casual
acquaintance in the. house of a friend.
while Dick and Ned tried their wits
upon her. appearing to adore her
mutually from the first: and | was
too hopelessly healthy to degenerate
ut once into "lovelorn maiden" and
with spirits happy and heart strong
| set my wits against hers. astonish.
ing even myself with my brilliance.
For with the heart Of healthy girl
believed loved lnez truly. and II
Toms friend-but there | always end.
ed never allowed more minute
reasoning
The month was nearly over when
suddenly the web of mystery tangled
for me and then as suddenly broke.
We were out on a canter through the
hills. the boys, Toms friend. my
friend and |. and my fiery chestnut.
katahdins blood being up. we dashed
on and away from the others reckless.
ly, thoughtlessly, delightfully."-. my hair
becoming undone. tumbling down over
my shoulders in all its heavy weight
of color. Then, with a merry thought
of my inhospitality of winning the
race SO far ahead. wheeled Katahdin
and rode back more sedately.
The turf was soft and thick and nv
horse made no noise save the dead
crush of the grass as we passed so
slowly back. when presently beside a
wood thanking deep embankment,
the sound OF voices came to my ears.
and drew rein to call IL It were any
OF our party But at that instant the
voice OF Toms friend stirred the quiet
air and my voice was hushed. not in
Idle curiosity, but stunned by sudden
knowledge
You say II Is nothing to me II you
choose TO come here to visit your
friend Your friend," Was 1t scorn
of her or of ME in his voice? | felt