The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-04-01
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By F. Harris Deans

What are you looking so solemn.
about" demanded a voice.
I looked up quickly, and there at the
open window saw Miss Archibb.
Am I looking solemn"
- Like an owl. What have you come
for?"
Nothing like making your visitors
feel at home! I believe 1 came over to
see YOU"
ON" she appeared a trifle discom-
posed at the directness Of the reply.
And now you have seen me?"
- shall look at you" This I pro
ceeded to do.
Miss Archibb seated herself on the
window-si1l-she has an admirable fig
ure-and looked down at me.
1T would be ripping on the water"
I remarked.
Would it? And yet you're here"
: came to tell you"
How self-sacrifcing of YOU"
HIM." I said. Twill you Gomez"
Cant"
d you mean won't? Why not?"
She gave a backward jerk Of her
head.
They're all in there"
What Of that?"
'Oh, all right" She got down with
. smile. I'VE shall be a pleasant
party"
"Party!" said I.
Eyes. Both aunts, uncle and the
mater. They'll all come with the dear
child"
I'm that case," 1 said, hastily, II
prefer you at a distance. A girl by
herself is worth a dozen together.
But why go through the next
room?" l suggested, with q sudden in
SEPARATION.
How 49,? Get out Of the win.
dow?"
nodded. 1t was some ten feet
from the ground.
Il should break my neck"
Nonsense"
Its easy to say that-it's not your
neck. Besides, suppose somebody saw
me?"
Il refused to be put off with such a
supposition.
You're afraid"
"Mr. Harding!"
you're afraid"
Without another word, she clam.
bered up on the sill.
Shall I jump"
"Merciful heavens, MOI" The posi-
bility of receiving a pretty girl into
ones arms would draw such an ejacu
lation from anybody.
Then how?"
A moments reflection gave me the
opportunity Of noticing a tub of ever
green's nearby. At the expense Of
some exertion I dragged the thing un
der the window. Standing on it I wal
some three feet nearer.
"Kneel on the sill, and come down
backwards" I instructed. Don't kick
me in the face. All right, I've got you
With a stif1ed shrek she let go hel
hold of the window sill and clung
round my neck.
Don't strangle me. You see, 1t was
quite easy"
eyes," she said. "Put me down
now, please, Mr.. Harding. . Mr.
Harding! Put me down at once"
I was, as I said, somewhat insecure
ly balanced on the edge of the tub
An incautious step backward, and Miss
Archibb, the evergreens and myself
found ourselves on the ground.
BY a complicated movement.of which
l was too confused to notice the de
tails, Miss Archibb swished herself
into a sitting position and looked at me
and laughed. The edge of the tub was
very hard, but nevertheless 1 Joined
in.
you see!" I said, reproachfully
"You might have known I should have
put you down if it had been SAFE"
Il felt safer down." she remarked
rising to her feet.
THAT evergreen looks pretty SICK
Tssaid. surveying it ruefully.
We'll, you'd look sick, too, if you't
been sat on" Sc
II don't feel SICK" I treasured her;
''of course 1 don't know how 1 look"
"Did I1really?" She laughed ant
FLUSHED. "Well 1 suppose 1 did. Yor
observed it, anyhow"
And occasionally one gets ones de
serts."
We brushed the dust off each other
and set off for the river.
"Hy the Wav."tT said whats. all this