Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-12-03

~NS NNASNSI JOb was SUI pIlbSu W uuu ucL
30 still and calm. 1t seemed as though
we had known each other for some time
l have romanced to myself idly from
that cliff when the yellow light lies ovel
the sea and the river and the pines, and
l drew upon my memory only to find II
well stocked. Moreover, learned much
of the river people, Of the birds that live
In the marsh and of the animals of the
woods. l had watched the purple grackle
build his nest and the blue jay forage for
his offspring when the summer was
young, and knew many a story of the
sea-gulls. Miss Graham was a fattering
listener, her lips slightly parted, her eyes
alight with interest.
You must be hungry" l said at last,
lunch at noon, no supper until 8. l
should like to offer you my cottages hos
pitality."
was looking for the flush that I
knew would come, and was not disap-
pointed.
THANK you," she answered, "but, you
see-what would people think If they
looked in your dining-room window and
saw me taking tea alone with your
| People don't look In my dining-room
window" l answered.
She shook her head so decisively that
l knew she meant 1t.
Eat least, we will have a cup of tea
on the beach," l said, "out of doors-oh,
a dozen yards from the cottage, where
all the world may see us If they choose"
Splendid 7 she cried, and, jumping up,
led the way down from the heights.
On the smooth sand some distance
frOr1 nvlo. H. "a
tie table. Two chairs faced each other /;
plates, napkins, and a center-piece of
beach-marshmallow were the decorations,
and my man, as straight and rigid as an
Egyptian idol, stood a short distance off.
Miss Graham gave little cry Of pleas
ure.
ITS like the Arabian Nights p she ex-
claimed. 1.-The whole thing seems to
have sprung out Of the sand"
seated her at the table.
"You may serve the tea, Charles"
ordered.
He brought forth the teapot, and was
about to pour the tea into our cups when
Miss Graham expostulated. TITS the
woman's place to do that r. she exclaim-
ed, and Charles surrendered the teapot
into her care.
"How many Jumps of SugarT' she
asked, with the delicate superiority Of
hostess to a guest.
"Two."
"WIll you have lemon or creamf"
There were both l thanked my stars that
Charles was 20 thoughtful.
Lemon"
l received my tea-cup and q moment
later had the satisfaction Of hearing Miss
Graham say that the brew was delicious.
"And such pretty cupsl don't believe
you're bit Of hermit, but a very pam
pered old sybarite."
I'VE use these only on state occasions,
for our honored guests" explained.
but don't feel as II this were q state
OCCASION" she answered. 'Tt seems quite
as though we'd been doing this all sum-
mer."
II wish we had" said, quickly.
Il mean, It seems 30 usual" she said,
"And yet, in reality, you hardly know
me at all; why, you haven't even met
Aunt Elizabeth yet"
mo, that's true agreed. "But then,
on the other hand, you don't know such
very great deal about me-"
"Its the very fact that we know 40
little about each other In the usual WAYS.
and SO much in other ways" Miss Ora.
ham attempted to explain, ''that makes
everything 90 nice. We're both 80 much
interested in the Ship and Its history,
you know"
I'VE are" answered. THAT reminds
me that l was to tell you all about the
Ship some time"
"Yes." She looked OF to where the
boat lay shinuing like mahogany In the
yellow afterglow. "But don't you think
we'd better wait until we're on board
again. The smell of tar and the feel of
the wood will make 1t so much more
real"
'"rhen, you'll come" began, and
stopped, for Miss Graham was looking
past me at the door of my house. I
turned to see Islip there. a broad smile
wreathing his face.
swell, well. well r. he remarked, adj
vancing. What charming ldyll Real
~, had no idea when i came In at the
back door that l should And such a pretty
picture awaiting me In front" He bowed
to Miss Graham. Where Is the horse,
Barbara, that goes with your habit2"
II left him in the woods. Hes used
to standing" She turned to me. "Mr.
Selden, have you met Mr.. IslIpP"
Yesterday" answered. He lunched
here"
YES" put in Islip; 'and he gave me
as good lunch as he's giving you tea.
Really, Selden, you're not living up to
your reputation a. a recluss." He paused,
looking from Miss Graham to me- II
hate an interlopsr, but I'm afraid that's
the part assigned me. When you didn't
appear at dinner, and couldn't be found,
volunteered to hunt. l was getting
quite worried over the disappearance.
Your Aunt Elizabeth"
'Is III in bed with q headache" said
Miss Graham.
"Quite SO f; 70 we didn't like to ten her. |
I took all the responsibility on myself" |
may have looked somewhat sharply |
at Islip at these words, for when turn. |
ed to the girl I caught an amused CLEAN |
in her eyes.
Thank you, Rodney. Aunt Elizabeth
would thank you, too, II she knew"
The TounR man flushed and bit his hpG ]