The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-10-29
A CALIFORNIA IDYLL.

such rapid growth
Good morning.' I said cheerfully
climbed on the raft, and sank dripping
on the seat.
She looked up at me with little wet
smile.
Good morningl" she said. still cling
ing to the ladder, although l haven't
the faintest idea who you are"
! Does it matter?" 1 Queried earnestly
"Would you wish me bad morning
simply because you don't know who
am? Why don't you climb up and sun
! yourself on the anxious seat 2 1t sways
/ perilously, but it's wonderfully resting
She blushed. Cad, what glorious
| blush it was!
care you married MANI" she queried
irrelevantly, and for the first time
noticed that her lips were tinged with a
faint blue, and the hands holding the
ladder were unnaturally white.
|. You're simply perishing!" 1 remon-
strated sternly. "Come out at once!'
Are you easily shocked? I didn't
put on my stockings" she explained
breathlessly, as I helped her up the
adder on to the raft, where she sank on
to the seat at my side.
awful thought" said 7. "And now,
il you'll kindly give me your hands one
at a time, I'll try and rub little life
back into them"
coming in little jerks with the vigor of
my rubbing. II didn't wear stockings
because [ had always looked upon this
as my cove"
''Quite natural-quite,' [ admitted
airily.
''You see, my father owns the lands,
and | own the raft"
Glow awfully nice!" I added enthu-
siastically.
so that strangers are really tres
passing"
"Of course" agreed. "Poor
strangers!"
Her lips pouted family.
ooh, they don't need to be pitied |!
There are lots of good coves further up
the beach, and there's plunge kept at
a temperature of 70 in Santa Barbara,
if they only care to go there"
1t took three morning swims to estab-
fish the fact that [ was not stranger,
but the time was well spent.
The next obstacle was trife more
difficult of approach. She sat in the
hot sand, two brown arms clasped
round her knees, gazing far out to sea,
her little olive brown face puckered
about the eyes with the glare from the
water | sprawled at her feet, feasting
on her.
But I'm not sure it's-it's proper
she suggested; with a puzzled frown-
"just you and me in bathing suits in
my cove"
"As well complain at finding ourselves
with wings in paradise" l suggested.
Besides, it makes all the difference,
you being you and L being l."
you're wonderfully comforting" she
admitted; 'but, after all, I suppose it's
all right. I'm engaged, you know"
"What an extraordinary thing!" eX-
claimed vigorously. $50 am T."
Whether it was the strong light from
the water or whether At any rate,
she allowed her attention to wander
from the sea and fix itself on handful
of sand as it trickled through her fin
gers.
"But l don't think Ralph would
mind" she added judicially.
''And I'm certain Kate would have no
objection" [ agreed.
Her eyes glanced up into mine, with
just a suspicion of a twinkle in their
depths.
"What's she. like?" she demanded alb
ruptly.
pondered the matter, closed my eyes.
and lay back on the sand
Il see," l droned oracularly-"I see
bar no Ii 10 ouo1, &C caoxUaod cfra o.
Cling over a rounded rock and caught
in tangled knot at it's base. Her eyes
protrude-yea like those of the toad do
cles bring them to a standstill. Her
nose and forehead shine with intelli
eence and Indigestion.
you're a beast!'' said the girl vicious
ly. even if you have thrown her over.
you needn't"
But l haven't" I protested.
The girls eyebrows met at an acute
angle.
you're surely not going going on
with it if you think that of her"
Necessity knows no law" [ defend
ed. MY worthy father considers it ad-
vantageous- have the property, she
has the money. l shall be the martyr
of the family. My effigy will adorn the
| stained glass window in the east wing
The girl dug her hand vigorously into
the sand, which slowly pressed the gold
bangle further and further up her arm.
Il think you're a beast!" she reiter-
ated, with added conviction. "And I'm
very, very sorry for-for Kate. She de-
serves the stained-glass window"
How about poor little me?" l sug-
gested humbly.
The curl of her lip was good to see.
Its my turn" [ announced abruptly.
whats Ralph like"
Its four years since I've seen him,
she said slowly.
:. ''Um! And you're now-25, shall we
say?"
The eyes flashed sudden indignation.
Twenty -fve-vou don't really think
that? I'm nineteen, truly"
[ studied her critically for few mo-
ments.
Il am not much of Judge" | ad-
mitted; 'but that would make you en-
gagged at fifteen. What youthful ro-
mance!"
"Oh, we were engaged a year before
Ralph sailed for Europe!" she contin-
ued, smiling more openly. "Quite a
boy and girl AFFAIR.""
"Quite' I agreed, and chortled in
wardly, but fiercely "Some fellows do
get all the luck" I added mournfully.
"What a time you'll have when he
comes back!"
''That will be exactly week today
she began, with a cheerfulness so help
'essly overdone that / barely repressed