The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-22

after all, was blush? And was it for
him2 Girls blushed for nothing often
perhaps Smith had touched her
hand beneath the tablet
| Nevertheless, Selby made up his
mind to ask her, before Smith If nee
essary, to give him a few moments.
He would take her out under the
trees. into the flowers in the garden,
and tell her all his heart. He would
at least make her say mo" But after
breakfast she disappeared. sent down
word at luncheon that she had q
headache, and at dinner came in Ian
guidly and was unwontedly silent.
Selby had spent the afternoon tax
| ing Maude Hunt for walk and trying
| to be impersonally nice to her for her
iunappreciated and very personal in
terest ir him. which he had chival-
rously tried not to acknowledge even
to himself. And after dinner Sallie.
| lovely in a white dress, devoted herself
to sweet old lady on the porch. and
| slipped off early to bed. She had not
given him glance!
Selby went to his room late, and
fell into a troubled sleep. In the gray
and miserable. He rose and dressed
slowly. Once he thought he heard
something brush at his door, but when
he opened it saw no one. He had
closed 1t, and was passing his window
Ibis room was on the first floor
when something wet and fresh-a
pink rose, still dewy-struck him full
| in the face. He stopped to pick it up,
and by the time he thought to reach
the window there was no one in sight,
though protecting corner was close
by.
He slipped down stairs and out of
doors, around the house. Who could
have played so pretty a trick? Was
| it farewell?
Still holding the half-opened rose
he wandered about, finally giving up
the search, and walking on toward the
little lake. He went down to its edge
unSeeingly, remembering how Smith
had f1shed her out. And he almost
stumbled over something on the sand
Ia long brown cloak, q pair of little
shoes, an enormous lowell Then a
laugh rang out, and wet brown head
was shaking up from the water! Sal
lie shook her dripping hair.
| Shame, for spying on my morning.
swim! The waters fine! 1 suppose
you, for instance wouldn't care to risk
your life saving a lady with several
medals and a Carnegie life saving de-
coration to her credit %
| She began to Chamber out in her
trim bathing suit, and he gave her a
hand in help-and forgot to let go.
| With the other arm he wrapped her
wet hand. Then he stopped for his
fallen rose.
did you-throw me this?'' he
asked.
She nodded her head, her face hid
den in the towel.
Eyes, 1 did, It was for bood-by
and because you were so stupid all
these mornings to have slept while I
glOried in the wet, fresh outdoors!"
| Then wrath and a man's impatient
love broke bounds.
| Are you-engaged to that--to Mr..
Smith? 1 love you anyhow
Its none of your business she
said, demurely: "but I'm not engaged
to anybody, which is not-my-fault
/ Without a word he snatched her up
against him, and held her, protesting.
| I'm too wet to-be kissed-again.'
she pleaded. please, Stanton. Yes
course. 1 don't! How could 1 love a
man who boasts that he came here to
marry me?" She broke into ringing
laughter. "And of all the party of
slow coachesi 1 fell into the water
purposely-on a bet that he would
swim circles around half the fishes
that swim! He'll never hear the last
lof it out West. I've written it back!
It was a planned falling-in-'
"And an almost fatal falling out it
causedl" said Selby. happily. you let
him absorb you; you gave me no
chance; you tortured-'
Myself"
Selby, as in a dream, saw the sun
come gloriously up to meet his hap
Ipiness. 1t was selfishly human of him
to forget all about Smith.-(Copy-
right. 1911, by Associated Literary
Press.)