The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-01-27
III

bucket
"A perfect whopper! Beats mine all
hollow. suppose there will be fight
now, tempest in a tin"
Sibyl started to answer-then stop
ped. She realized with gasp that she
was talking to an utter stranger She
turned a fiery red and the harder she
tried to think of something to say the
hotter the blushed. She looked down
at the mud stains on her skirt; then
she made an effort to brush them off
and smooth out the wrinkles.
81 get so excited" she said apollo
eetically, when | see a bug or crab
or anything like that. We used to
eaten crabs in the park and-and am
afraid I'll never grow up"
And so did we,'\ said the man.
Wasn't 1t fun" He reached into his
pocket and hauled out piece of string
and some pins.
Il got these and the bucket at the
farmhouse yonder. ! was looking for
bait when | spied the crab you saw
me go after. There are million min
nows in that pool beyond the log. Do
you want line? am afraid, though,
that | can offer you no better hook
than bent pin. came unprepared
to fish"
YES, I'd love to fish," said Sibyl
They rolled away rotten log to
look for bait The man stuffed grubby-
looking worms and bugs into his jacket
pockets like boy.
When they had sat for time in
silence waiting for bite the man
took out a cigarette case. do you
mind If | smoker" he asked
No; | wish you would. It's restful
to see a man smoke"
| They gazed in silence again into the
clear water below them. The bank
over which they swung their feet was
a straight drop to the water.
Il need this rest" said he finally.
He looked at the quiet girl beside him
patiently holding the line over the wa
ter He was enjoying himself i'm.
mensely.
$50 do l." answered Sibyl frankly,
woth a bright smile. But I'll tell you
a secret. | ran off to-day"
Ran OFF,"
Yes. am Sinking my duty. ran
away from trouble" A cloud passed
over her face, as she thought of the
hateful task ahead of her. Before she
realized 1t, she was telling the whole
story. He listened quietly.
1T is not fair to send me to try to
bully few words out of man like
| I II nh =
o., whenever think of 1t. have tried so
hard to get along, but Mr.. -Branson
, gives me the hardest things he can
think of to do. Journalism is not what
l thought it--Oh, oh, OH" She jerked
up the line with shining white fish
on the end, and-the bank gave way.
They were both soaked and muddy
when they stood again ON terra firma.
They laughed as they faced each
other. Then Sibyl realized she was
cold. There was no sun In the woods.
| Come" said the man with author
ity, I'VE must get out of here. There
are covers In my motor car over by the
road, and I'll have you back in town
in 10 minutes" Without waiting for
an answer from Sibyl he took her
hand and they ran for the car, where
he wrapped up her wet, bedraggled lit
| tie figure.
When they reached town and Sibyl
was unwinding herself preparatory to
leaving, the stranger slowed up the
machine and spoke for the first time
during the trip home.
Miss Norris" he said you were
kind enough to tell me your name
VIII you pardon my rudeness in not
telling mine? But you will forgive me
perhaps when | tell you that 1t would
have spoiled one of the happiest days
of my life, You cannot understand
what the companionship of a fresh in
nocent girl means to lonely man like
me-" He stopped.
"Oh. thank you" was all Sibyl could
, think of in her confusion.
II. too, ran away to-day he con.
tiRued, merry twinkle in the gray
eyes. Il ran away from reporters.
have been bothered to death all the
week. but forgot to read my horo.
scope or would have known it was of
no use"
He waited for her to speak. She
was silent A look of terror was
dawning in her eyes. He hurried on
with smile. Am | so very dreadful
after all?" He handed her card. She
took 1t with trembling fingers, and hot
tears of modification started to her
eyes She tried to think OF all the
awful things she had said The man
beside her was Grant Hin.
!. The car stopped. She was at home
Oh, to get away, She slipped to the
ground, not seeing the hand the man
held out to help her.
Please, Miss Morris, forgive me-"
he begged You haven't said a word
about me | didn't deserve, so please
do not feel badly about that And if
you still want that hateful interview
you shall have it and shall try to
make it as pleasant as possible. VIII
you do my sister and myself the honor
OF coming to dinner tomorrow night?"
Sibyl extended her hand gratefully.
Thank you, Mr.. Hill, have behaved
like "A SDOilpl child | shall no do