Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-06-17
REASON WAS GOOD
sy EMMETT c. HALL.

'~~J RaNR~h JON'S R''' ~'-Jt
however, as she strolled along the
shaded bank of the river with her
small sister, Mary, she felt an ire
sistible inclination to do what she
was well aware her generous allow
ance of old maid aunts would call
decidedly shocking.
'Tm going in swimming, Mary"
she announced.
Mary looked at her in wide-eyed
establishment.
''But you haven't got any bathing
suit" Mary protested.
Edith took her small relation by
the shoulders, and looked into her
eyes. Her own were sparkling.
"Can you keep a secret, MaryT"
she asked.
'Huhl For box Of candy" that
mercenary young lady insinuatcd.
Gall right. Then listen. You
must never, never tell soul about
this, but Pm going swimming
without any bathing suitp
"O-eel Bet you don't darep
Mary giggled.
''You just watch mel" Edith re-
torted, her courage braced by Mary's
doubt.
A few minutes passed; a squirrel
peeped with bright, inquisitive eyes
from behind the trunk of a tree.
Then a slender form slipped to the
edge Of the water, and little heap
of corduroy and lace was left upon
the moss Of the glade. There was a
white flash into the amber of the
stream, and the girl came up putting
and shiyering.
"Oughl But it's coldp she chat
tered, and took a few quick strokes
to warm herself, but the chill of au-
tumn was in the water, and very
few minutes convinced her that
swimming, for this season, was no
longer a joy. AS she turned toward
the bank, the slight splash of WE'LL
handled oars came to her ears, and a
moment later a shell shot round the
beld of the stream an hundred yards
below her. 1.l
For a moment she seemed para
lyzed, and then remembered that,
after all, she was out of sight so long
as she remained under the water. She
allowed herself to sink until her
mouth was just clear, and waited,
The shell, keeping the middle Of the
stream, was by this time opposite
her, and with another thrill of terror
she recognized the oarsman. AT the
same instant he caught sight Of her
head and backed water.
"Hello, Edithp' he called, resting
upon his oars; pretty cold day for a
swim, isn't it?"
''No, it's just fine!" she asserted,
endeavoring to keep her teeth from
chattering.
eff you say it isn't too cool, I'll
come in too; rowing suit and a
bathing suit are pretty close kin"
He stood up in the shell, and
kicked off his canvas shoes.
''But Edith, she amt" Mary,
who was perched upon a stump upon
the bank, began explosively, but was
scared into sudden silence by the
glance from her sisters eyes.
''But ! was just going out" she
said, as Bob Perry began to take in
his oars.
"Oh, that's all right, I'll hit a
few strokes, anyway" he said, catch
ing the overhanging branch of a
tree, with the intention of securing
the shell thereto.
"But-I don't want you, 1 don't
want you to come in at ALL want
YOU to go away~ Edith cried, upon
the verge of tears.
He paused, and looked at her in
establishment.
"Why, what's the matter, Edith p
he asked; "what have | done?
thought you'd be glad to see me, you
know. i was coming to call this
evening"
"But j didn't want to see yon-I
mean, | didn't want you to see me
Oh, | mean | want you to go away
never want to see you again" the
poor girl, chilled and miserable, cried
angrily.
A look of blank stupefaction and