The Dickinson press., 1910-01-22

there isn't anything in the city now.
Jonesey and Bates have gone down the
river to Jamestown to dissipate, and
I came up here because I hated the
thought Of crowd; that's ALL"
Il see" gloomily; you'll fish till she
gets back, them
He swung on his heel and strobe
away fiercely for a dozen yards OF
more, then stopped short and came
back, holding out his hand.
whats the use?' he groaned. mo
one is to blame, though every nerve in
me is tingling to pitch you into the
river. Now give me your hand and let
me wish you deserved half the luck
you've got. Then you fish up the
river while fish down. But for heav.
ems sake don't let me catch a glimpse
Of your face again.
Lester stared, bit his lip angrily and
half started to obey, then swung back
"Oh, pshaw, Stevens" he blurted
out, "a fellow can't be cad! I'm not
up here just because Miss Carter left
the city. She turned me down fat be-
fore she went, as she did Jonesey and
Bates. That's what started us out.
But we thought it was different with
y0u-at least did. Jonesey and Bates
don't see far"
"Do you mean," incredulously, that
Miss Carter refused you? Why, I
thought
Thought nothingw harshly. "she
was just playing with me-"
playing with all Of us apparently.
She's what l never suspected her of
being-a flirt. Now, suppose we drop
the subject, and you may as we'll for
get what said just now. 1 was Ia
boring under a delusion. We'll fish the
stream together If you like.'
with all my heart"
But as they fished on up the stream
there was an unconvinced look in Les
ter's eyes, and more than once Us he
glanced covertly at his companion he
shook his head.
"A kink somewhere" he muttered
once to himself. Margaret Carter isn't
that kind of girl wholly. Maybe she
encouraged Stevens some, but she
didn't me-not any more than she did
Jonesey and Bates. We did it all our
Selves
Another half hours fishing, with
scarcely word spoken, and they en-.
tered thicker growth Of shrubbery
along the rivers bank. In back, among
some apple trees, was rather more
pretentious house than it's neighbors.
It had hood veranda about it, and
there We're fine clothes hanging on the
line in the yard.
"Wonder if a fellow could get any.
thing to eat up there" said Lester.
Don't know; looks as if they kept
summer boarders."
"What makes you think so?"
Country girls don't wear lingerie
But I'm surprised that man in your
ok should be hungry"
II am, all the same"
"Well, so am I, for that matter
What do you say to going up there
and cooking these fish,"
"Reckon beefsteak would be more
satisfying than these tiny things
Without the scales and bones there
isn't much. Come along"
Meanwhile two girls in white dress
es emerged from rear door Of the
house the young men had noticed and
screened by trees, had been coming to-
ward them. Suddenly Lesterts hand
dropped on his companions shoulder.
"Hush!" he whispered. "Somebody's
coming"
There was a soft cracking of leaves
as though under light footsteps; ther
the cracking ceased, as If the owners
of the footsteps had seated themselves
upon a stone or log or perhaps were
standing still gazing into the water.
Severals'minutes Of silence, with the
fishermen waiting for :he footsteps te
commence again and pass on, then:
"What can't understand, Margie, Is
your being able to leave Richmond fol
this abomination of desolation. Why
there isn't an eligible man within
miles,
"Amen to thatv' fervently. "It's
worth unnumbered journeys from Rich.
mond. But I'm sorry for you, poor
cousin, pining for the frivolities that
I'm happy to leave. I ought to have
been the country cousin and you the
city maid"
'If were l wouldn't leave such O
quartet as Lester and company. Were
they signing about you as forlornly as
when visited you last Christmas
Oh, Margie," ecstatically, "has eithel
one Of them come to the point YETI"
Proposing marriage, you mean? Les
ter and Jopesey and Bates asked me
just before I left.'
"O-o-oh! And you?'
"Sent them about their business, OF
course. But don't talk so foolish
Lucy. I'm going back"
"Wait a minute. Did Ed Stevens
"Come; I'm going back.'
The two almost Involuntary listen
ers, "hypnotized," as Lester afterward
expressed it, 'by paralyzing amaze
mont that tho no ,.fv ~ tho third po n