Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-22

ABOVE the 1encaIe contour or auN''
and limb, following little descendli
path she knew full of rocky argyle
swept by pendant sprays of blach
berry, and then down under the jul
ting rock, south through thickets 9.
wild cherry along the crags. until he
fore her the way opened downwaI,
again where a tiny crescent beac.'
glimmered white hot in the sun.
From his bedroom window Mortimer
peeped forth. following her progress
with a leer.
AS she descended. noticing the rift
of bronzing seaweed piled along the
tide mark, her foot dislodged a tiny
triangle of rock. which rolled clatter'
ing and ringing below, and as she
sprang lightly to the sand man. "
ing full length and motionless as the
heaped seaweed, raised himself on one
arm. turning his sun dazzled eyes on
her.
The dull shock of surprise halted her
as Siward rose to his feet. still dazed
the sand running from his brown
shooting clothes over his tightly strap
ped puttees.
"Have you the faintest idea that
supposed you were here?" she asked
briefly. Then. frank in her disap-
pointment, she looked up at the cliffs
overhead, where her line of retreat lay
"Why did you not go with the
others?' she added, unsmiling.
'I-don't know. | will. if you wish. "
He had colored slowly, the frank dis
appointment in her face penetrating
his surprise, and now he turned around
instinctively. also looking for the path
| of retreat
"Wait," she said, aware of her own
crude attitude and confused by it
"Wait moment. Mr.. Siward. l don't
mean to drive you away"
"Its self exile" he said quietly
"quite voluntary. ] assure you"
''NIr. Siwardp'
And, as he looked up coolly: "Havt
you nothing more friendly to say L
me-? Is your friendship for me 50
limited that my first caprice overstepS
| the bounds?'
Il
"Wait, Mr. Siwardr' as he moved
slowly toward the path. ''You force
me to say other things which you have
no right to hear. After last mighty
the vivid tint grew in her face-"afte
such a night is it not natural for gil
to creep off somewhere by herself anl
try to think a little?'
| IL Iod full on bop Tho n
swering color crept to his forehead.
SIS that why?" he asked slowly.
els it not a reaSon?"
'sIt was my reason for being here.
She bit her bright lip. This trend t.
the conversation was ominous, and she
had meant to do her drifting alone il
still sun dreams, fearing no witness
no testimony, no Judgment save he!
own self in court with herself.
81 suppose you cannot go now.
she reflected innocently.
Indeed / can and must"
"And leave me here to dig in the
sand with my heels? Merciv'
"Do you mean
SCI certainly do, Mr.. Siward. / don'l
want to dream now. / don't care tt
reflect. You see what you've done
don't you-saved me from an entire
morning wasted in sentimental rev
erie over what might have been! Nov
you can appreciate it, can't you-yoCT
wisdom in appearing in the flesh I,
save a silly girl the effort of evokin-
you in the spirit? All, Mr.. Siward.
am vastly obliged to you! Pray 81
here beside me in the flesh for feai
that in your absence / might commi
the folly that tempted me here"
His low running laughter accompa
nying her voice had stimulated her tt
a gay audacity which for the instant
extinguished in her the little fear OF
him she had been barely conscious of
''Do you know" he said, that you
also aroused me from my sun dreamsY
did L? And can't you resume
themP'
"You save me the necessity"
ooh, that is a secondhand compli
ment," she said dfsdainfully-"a weak
plagiarism on what I conveyed very
wittily. You were probably really
asleep and dreaming Of bird murder
He waited for her to finish. then
amused eyes searching, he roamet
about until high on little drifted sanC
dune he found
NM place for him