The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-03-13

These are private grounds; you
viii do well to leave here very quick
ly," said.
I saw his eyes light as spoke the
words slowly and distinctly, but he
waited until l had finished, then shook
his head.
1 was sure he had understood. but as
1 addressed him again, ordering him
from the premises, he continued to
shake his head and grin foolishlys
Then I pointed toward the road.
go; and It will be best for you not
to come here againi" said, and, after
saluting, he walked slowly away into
the wood, with a sort of logged inso.
lenee in his slightly swaying gait. AZ
a nod from me lima stole after him
while I waited, and In few minutes
the boy came back and reported that
the man had passed the house and
left the grounds by the carriage en-
trance, turning toward Annandale.
With my mind on Gillespie put on
In the launch, determined to study the
lake geography. I have, hope, soul
for landscape, and the soft bubble OF
water, the lush reeds In the shadows,
the rapidly moving panorama Of field
and forest, the glimpses Of wild fcw'
ers, and the arohed blue above, were
restful to mind and heart. It seemed
shameful that the whole world was
not afoat; then, as reflected that an
other boat in these tranquil waters
would be an impertinence that ]
should resent, was aware that 1 had
been thinking Of Helen Holbrook all
the while; and the thought OF this If.
ritated me so that criticised lima
most unjustly for running the launch
close to a bowlder that rose Ike
miniature Gibraltar near the shadowy
shore we were skirting.
We gained the ultimate line OF the
lower lake, and followed the shore in
search of it's outlet, pleasingly set
down on the map as Tippecanoe creek,
which ran off and joined somewhere
a river of like name The lakes wa
ters ran away, like a truant child,
through a woody cleft, and in mo-
ment we were as clean quit OF the
lake as though 1t did not exist. After
a few rods the creek began to twist
and turn as though with the intention
| of making the yoyager earn his way.
In the narrow channel the beat OF our
engine rang from the shores rebuking'
ly, and soon. as punishment for dis
turbing the peace Of the little stream,
we grounded on sand-bar.
"This seems to be the head of navi-
cation, lima. l believe this creek
was made for canoes, not battle
ships
Between US we got the launch off,
and ] landed On a convenient log and
crawled up the bank to observe the
country. | followed a stake-and-rider
! fence. half hidden in vines of various
sorts. and tramped along the bank, with
the creek still singing its tortuous way
below at my right hand. Soon the
rail fence gave way to barhed wire:
J the path broadened and the under.
brush was neatly cut away Within
fay a small vegetable garden, care
fully titled; and farther on saw
dark green cottage almost shut in by
beeches. The path dipped sharply
down and away from the cottage, and
moment later had lost sight of it;
but below, at the edge of the creek.
stood a long houseboat with an ex-
tended platform or deck on the water
side.
/ can still feel, as l recall the day
and hour, the utter peace of the scene
when first / came upon that secluded
spot: The melodious flow OF the
creek beneath; the fiutter Of homing
wings; even the hum of insects in the
sweet. thymy air Then step farther
and l came to gate which opened on
a fight of steps that led to the house
beneath; and through the intervening
tangle / saw a man sprawled at ease
in a steamer chair on the deck, his
arms under his head AS l watched
him he sighed and turned restlessly,
and l caught a glimpse of close
trimmed beard and short, thin, slight
ly gray hair.
The place was clearly the summer
home of city man in search of quiet,
and | was turning away, when sud
denly a woman's voice rang out clear
ly from the bank
Halo, the houseboat!"
YES; I'm here." answered the man
below.
Come on, father; I've been looking
for you everywhere" called the voice
again
-Oh. it's too bad you've. been wait
ing he answered.
''Of course I've been waitingi she
flung back, and he jumped up and ran
toward her. Then down the steps
flashed Helen Holbrook in white She
paused at the gate an instant before
continuing her descent to the creek
bending her head as she sought the
remaining steps.
Daddy, you dear old fraud, !
! thought you were coming to meet m'
! on the ridge!"
| turned and CROPPED my way along
the darkening path Ny heart wa.