Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-01-18

signs or love troubles were visible: in
fact no signs of any sort, except the
malicious hanging around" interfer-
ence OF Hannah whenever Ray was
there. She seemed TO feel il her duty
to remain on guard at such times,
much to Rays disgust. No annoyance
at this was apparent in Chip. She
helped at homework, studied at odd
hours. and when Ray came she met
and talked with him as if he were
! brother
The day he was 10 leave Greenvale
was close at hand, however. and the
evening before he came early, bring.
ing his banjo. and by tacit consent.
perhaps to escape Hannah, they both
left the house at once.
Just above the village there was a
long, narrow pond, wooded upon one
side and around its upper end. with
partially cleared land and scattered
trees along the opposite bank. One of
these trees was monster beech near
1.-the waters edge, the trunk of which
was SCARED by many intwined initials.
To this lovers trysting tree now
came Ray and Chip.
The evening was not one for 70.
nance. for no moon graced it-or,ly
stars were reflected from the poncs
motionless surface, while firefiis as
twinkled above it.
Inc shadow of the near parting alAo
hoyered over these two as. hand N
hand, they picked their way up aid
along the bank; and once seated bu
heath the tree, it seemed to forbil
| speech.
Il wish you'd play some of the song
you used to-" Chip said at last hui
rietly: I'D like to think I'm back It
the lake again"
Glad to do so, Ray drew out his
bario and began to tune it. He star.-
ed a song also-one of the grave
yardy' ones which Old Cy had inte.-
dicted, but choked at once and stoppad
abruptly.
Il can't sing tonight" he said; I'm
too blue about going away"
There were two in this frame Of
mind, evidently, for Chip made no pro-
test, and for another long internal
they watched the firefiies and lister. ed
to the whippoorwills.
Il wish you were going back With
U.s." Ray said at last. 1T breaks my
heart to go away SO soon and leave
you. Why won't you let me ask my
uncle to take you? He might be glad
to do it, just for me-
No" answered Chip, firmly, you
mustn't. 1t would shame me so shat
couldn't look them in the face"
Then, as If this subject and their own
feelings must be avoided, she added
| markedly, Tell me what you will. do
when the folks come back-whether
you will come with them or stay at
| the lake"
Stay there, l suppose" answered
Ray, somewhat doggedly, for money
making and love were in coiAict
old Cy says We can make a .ot of
money if l WILL | wish | were Yich,"
| liz added with a sigh
He was not the first young l1an to
whom that wish had come at such a
moment But converse between them
was at ebb tide just now, and the part
ing moment, ever creeping nearer,
Overshadowed all else. TC Chip
Anown only to herself-it meant for
ever. To Ray, another long isolation
from all the world and young asso-
ciates, and all for few hundred dol
lars sorely needed by him, yet seem
ing of scant value compared to the
sweet companionship Of this raaid.
Then Chips feelings and the reason
for them were quite beyond him. He
could not see why she was unwilling
to ask to be taken to the woods again,
nor why she held herself aloof from
| him. She had not done so at the lake,
or when they met again, and why
should she now?
Something of this might have been
inferred by Chip, for she suddenly
arose
Il think we'd best go back" she
said IT'S time and Hannah will be
watching for me-
What Ray might have said ha6 he
been worldwise man, does not mat
ter. What he did was to pick up his
useless banjo, and clasping Chips arm,
led her along the winding walk.
Below the falls and near the house
they paused, for now the last moment
alone together had come, and with it
the real parting.
Tel Old Cy II haven't forgot
him. whispered Chip, her voice quiv-
ering. "and-and-you won't forget me
either. will you, Ray?"
That little sob in her speech WIS all
that was needed to break away the
barrier between them, for the next in
slant Rays arms were about the girl.
No words of love, no protestatlons,
no promises. Only one instant's meet
ing of soul and impulse. fierce as love
of life, sacred as the hand of death.
Love consecrated it. The shadow
ing naples blessed it. The stars hal
lowed it,