The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-07

hastily scrambled to my feet and rescued
my hat, which had been caught in the
current of the stream leaping away from
the spring and was bobbing off toward
the bathhouse.
l had arrived at Shelby Springs on an
early train and had gone directly to one
of the numerous springs on the grounds.
There was no drinking vessel a hand and
l had gotten down on my knees and was
drinking long and deliciously when I was
startled by the ejaculation that opens this
narrative.
| 1 became painfully conscious of my
soaked hat.
She perceived my embarrassment and
laughed again.
Now l know we can be friends" I
cried, stepping across the spring and gaz-
ing with mild defiance into her large.
dancing eyes.
II don't know you yet. and Auntie eau
toned me just last night about making
new acquaintance too hastily
Where is Aunte?' -
up there in the cottage at the end of
lHe TOW. w tt1llt idlt NtSitIudy.
ma and .Auntie come every year, but this
is my first season here-but all that is
none of your business-I don't know you
YETI
Yes, you do persisted you laughed
at me twice and as a forfeit l claim your
acquaintanceship. My name is James
Watson. l am the son of a Presbyterian
minister. My friends and enemies admit
that I am of tolerable character. 1 am IS
years of age and am employed in the
geological survey of the United States
| government"
us that all?"
Must tell you more?"
Perhaps I should know more"
well, 1 think you are the most beauti-
full woman I ever saw and 1 believe
| could learn TO love you"
"Oh, this is SO sudden" And she
laughed till the oaks and hills picked no
the echoes and sifted them from one to
the other like crystal notes of the sweet
est music
Now, that is the third time you have
laughed at me, but am glad you did 1t.
l am willing to submit myself to such
sweet torture forever"
II believe you are getting serious-cf
mad"
IT am serious but not mad. VIII you
| tell me your name?"
my name is Mary Louise WellcToss.
| I am the daughter of Mrs. Mary Well
| cross of Mobile; my father is a whole
sale groceryman: my friends say 1 am
nice girl; will not tell you my age,
but can say smphatically that I could
| never love you-or any other man.
| Then she laughed again, but it was a
sober. frightened laugh.
Thank you. Now we are friends
mo, we must not meet again. l hope
you are not stopping here. have made
| a little fool of myself. but 1t did seem
so romantic-and you looked so funny
when you fell In the spring. Do pretty
girls always frighten you like that?'
You are the only pretty girl I ever
saw"
| Now I know you are mad"
II shall be if you cut our acquaint-
ance."
Poor fellow"
"You have laughed at me; now you pity
| me-"
But you are so ridiculous
81 know that I am serious
| do you know a beech tree from the
others ?" She was suddenly serious.
"Of course I do. Are you testing my
| sanity?"
mo; am looking for beech tree
Just above one of these springs"
There it is
She rushed over to the tree I indi-
| Gated and scanned the trunk carefully.
Here 1t is" had followed her closely.
| The thing she indicated was heart
engraved in the bark of the tree. Within
the emblem were engraved two initials,
| ~. W." and m. H."
| What does 1t mean?" I asked.
More than 20 years ago my father pro-
posed to my mother on this very spot.
During that same hour he engraved their
initials here. My mother has told me
of it many times. I slipped away from
the cottage before the others were out
of bed to find the spot and the emblem.
Let's see-yes, here it is. Just abov this
| emblem Is another set of initials They
were cut by my grandfather on the day
my grandmother pllghted her troth to
him. Isn't 1t romantic?'
Indeed it Is, but 1t Is all incomplete.
Here is vacant spot just beneath the
heart that remains uncarved l do not
ask 1t now, but I here and now make
application for the right to carve the
third emblem, marking the third genera
ton in this beautiful romance. ! sail
patiently wait your own time, but believe
me- 7 am in dead earnest and in my right
mind"
I expected her to laugh, but she did