Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-12-04
CHAPTER Nv.

writing, the following afternoon, when
CHANGING out Of the big window that looks
up the beach, caught sight Of a woman
walking near the water. l picked up my
binoculars and focused them on her. 1t
proved to be Miss Graham, dressed In 4
nding-habit, and with broad felt hat
on her head. She was walking In q
somewhat aimlsss fashion, skirting the
waves as though she were playing with
them. | saw her glance once at the Ship
and once In the direction Of my house.
l put down the glasses and laid my
papers aside. When l went downstairs
! routed Charles out Of sound sleep In
the kitchen.
do you remember how to make tea
good az" I asked him.
"Yes, Mr.. Felix. Aren't you feeling
well, STRIP
"Quite well. Please mako some tea
that shall be ready to serve In about an
hour, and get out box Of those salty
biscuits. Set the small table In the din
ing-room out In front Of the door, with
two chairs, and be ready to serve a lady
and myself
Eyes. Mr.. Felix" Charles showed no
surprise, though he had never received
such an order since we had been at Alas
tair.
picked up cap, and left the house.
As l did 80 I noticed that Miss Graham
had stopped walking and was gathering
shells. Half way to her, and she was
still absorbed In the shells, which are
quite unusually beautiful here; three
quarters Of the way. and she was still
playing with them. l had almost reached
her, and was raising my cap to speak,
before she turned and saw me. A flush
OF surprise rose to her cheeks.
Good afternoon"
Good afternoon. Mr.. Hermit. Am I
poaching on your preservesr
mot In the least mako you free
of the city,
There was light In her blue eyes
which I discovered that I remembered,
but found her riding-habit new ind
wonderfully prepossessing. was taRins
stock Of 1t when she interrupted me.
Il left my horse tied back In the
woods. Haven't you ever seen a riding.
habit beforeY"
Yes. I beg your pardon, but It's SC
very becoming
Again the quick flush. and an instant'r
hook at the sand. Then she laughed and
shook her riding-crop playfully at me-
Beware, Mr.. Hermit. Any man nigh,
say thing Ike that but expect oths,
things from you. That's one Of the pen.
elties Of your position you must be DIFF
fsrent. look for the flavor Of romancs
and adventure at Alastsir." Bhs laughet
at my pushed face. shall 10 bacA
home again.
mo. I will try to remember. DID yot
come to see the sunset from the cliff"
"Yes. Ny aunt has a headache and
has stayed In bed all day. bribed eul
walter to save me a little supper ant
send 1t up to my room at 8 o'clock, 20
you see. I'm free Of the club and din
ner." She spoke impulsively, as I I'm
agined shs might do many things, snt
glanced at me whimsically to see Of wha
was thinking. She had some Of tn,
artlessness of a child playing truan
from school. II do hate stupid eonvsn
lions, such as chaperons," she added, -es
pscially In summer"
We walked past my cottage. whicl
Miss Graham looked at with much curl
osity, asking me hundred question:
about it-how | had discovered 1t, VIII,
I had bought 1t, how 1t was fashioned In
side, and how l did my marketing.
told her | had the same butcher they hat
at the club.
"Oh !" she said. 1T half hoped VOL
lived by hunting and fishing, but sup
pose you'd rather indulge In ocasiona
beefsteaks"
I'D rather live that way" said l, ''bu
Charles, my man, wouldn't like that. II
has very cultivated palate"
When we came to the top of the elf
I felt like another Balboa discovering tn
Pacific. In front of us lay the entranc
to the river, the sloping away of tn
dunes to the low. level fields of meadow
grass, and the distant background of tn
pines Here and there the fields wer
dotted with beach marshmallow. windfall
delicately pink along the sedgy bank
grew clumps of cat-tails. their brown pen
mons stiff like so much bronze. At Iii
tie landing-stage. where the river ha,
followed out a harbor in the bank. rod
my cat-boat. the sail tightly furled, tn
mast rocking gently with the tide. A
we looked a flock OF sand-snipe rose fror
the tall rank grasses beyond the river an
spread themselves like a sail against tn
western sky. Nature never looked so at
solutely peaceful.
Look" | said; a heron. red-legged
white-bodied. rose from the sedges an
tapped his way up the stream. He calle
to his mate, low, plaintiye cry.
at is beautiful" said the girl. a
don't wonder that you love It."
Look" | said: the suns KALEIDOSCOPE
was changing, the pale yellows deepen
ing. the pinks turning to reds, TO orange,
to brilliant, blazing Colds Again
shifted and softened; red and yelo,
were saffron, orange the color OF cora
Yet again, and the whole west was golc
Ell with purple border, and then as III
purple gained and the gold sank we coul
see the army of pines silhoutted agains
the dropping fire.
"Ihey come, the armies come" l erie,
~See the spears, see the crested hors'
men. see the banners In the rear !"
turned and her eyes were shining
exuiting in the beauty Of the scene. The
we were silent for a time until the bla1
had softened and the battle dropped to
Harmonious 1900