The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-30
(Contjuued.l>

''Oh, you're here! You're here!' re- joiced Desiree, careless of bystanders. Mrs. Hawarden said I'd catch my death if I was on the lake so early. But I got up at the screech of dawn, and came. Isn't it all wonderful? Th!a mist will burn up in a little while and then you'll seeI And do Billy and Aunt Mary still like farm life? Oh, it's so good-so good-to see you! Come. The Antler's launch is around the oth- CT side of the station"
 Clinging gleefully to one of his big arms, the girl piloted him through the scurrying groups and the luggage heaps, to a nearby dock where a half score of waiting launches panted. From one of the largest f1uttered a dark blue flag with the name "Antlers'' picked out on it in white. Into the launch they piled; Desiree still talking in pretty, eager excitement.
 This is the south end of the lake, g she was explaining. There's the store over yonder-that farthest red building and there's the Raquette Lake House We had a dance there one night. And out there-' with a wave toward the wall of shining vapor, "is where we're going. It's only mile. We'll start as soon as the rest can get aboard. Oh. I wish the mist was gone. so you could see the islands, and old Blue Mountain keeping guard over-''
 Its pretty damp on the water for
 
 her mackintosh closer about her shoulders. "This fog's wet
 Nobody ever catches cold, up here on the top of the world!' she disclaim- ed And it isn't fog. It's just a little mountain mist. In another half hour it will rise"
 Just the same" he argued, 'T wish you had come in a carriage, instead of bein' on the water so early"
 "A carriager' she scoffed merrily. T. T. VI, pointing to -he docked rowboats, canoes and launches clustering about them, "are the carriages of the Adirondacks. Why, except for the white trunk chariot steed at the Antlers. there probably isn't @ horse within three miles of here. It's Venice all over again, in that. Aren't you at. all glad to see me?" she continued. dropping her voice and noting the mans puzzled, unenthusiastic mien. For an instant, eyes that had been so bri1nful of joy ouS welcome.
 Caleb reused himself with an inn patient shake at his own seeming apathy.
 Glad to see you!" he echoed. "Glad :? Well. say. you little girl, it's the glad dest thing that's happened to me since the day you left Granite. An I'd be just as glad even if it was in some worse place than a wet boat all stalled up with mist. Gee! But the tan makes you look prettier'n a whole pie ture album!"
 Mrs. Hawarden says my hands are disgracefully brown" said Desiree, the happiness running back to her eyes at his rough praise. And my face is as black as an Arabs, I suppose
 Its the prettiest between here an Granite, all right" he declared stoutly Here, let me pull that sweater thing up higher around your throat. What a funny little kid face you've got, any how, Dey!'
 He looked at her with frank delight The girls head was bare; the mist clinging like frost crystals to her shim- mering aura of hair. Out of a flushed, bronzed countenance glowed the wide, childlike eyes that Caleb had once declared were two sizes too big for her face-and in whose depths Caine had more poetically located twin springs of hidden laughter"
 It was good to see her. And the mans business cares. his social plans. his matrimonial campaign itself, faded into nothingneSS. He was here, by her side. That was enough. And doubly he realized how poignant had been the ache of alone-nesS at his heart, during every day of her absence. There was new peace, an utter content, that en- wrapped him now that he was once more beside her He did not try to analyze the emotion. But he knew it mastered him as nothing else had ever done. He knew it; and, satisfied to look no farther ahead, he was glad.
 The launch had churned clear of the dock and was beating to northward