The Colorado statesman., 1913-08-22


den it was when
- Miss Catherine
persisted in throwing him somer
saults, as it were, every time he be
came so bold as to attempt to offer
himself and all the prospects of his
ambition at her feet.
But one evening Trent saw her
stealing away from the hotel with
book in her hand, and he knew she
was off for quiet afternoon in some
shady dell of the forest not far away;
and he determined to follow her later
on in the evening.
1t was near sundown when he set
out After a walk of twenty minutes,
he had passed entirely through the
large body of woodland lying north of
the hotel and had not yet seen any.
thing of Miss Doskey. And beyond
the forest was an old apple orchard.
Climbing over the fence he dropped
heavily to the ground inside the or.
chard and started across the lot. But
he had not gone dozen yards before
a deep, bass growl coming from an in.
distinguishable source, suddenly
smote the air and sent a chill along
Trent Gilmores spine, which was &C.
companied by those tremors that only
the voice of bull dog can induce.
There was just light enough left to
discover this, and Trent made wild
dash for a tree. He caught the limb
and dragged his feet clear of the
ground just in time to save his ankle
from the vicious snap of the beast.
And the space between Trent and
the bull dog still seemed entirely too
small He reached outward in search
of an adjacent limb by which he
might steady himself preparatory to
climbing higher among the branches
and his hand came down upon a very
tiny, warm, pulsating little foot.
Catherine, I've found you" ex-
claimed Trent, as soon as he could find
his voice.
I'm most ridiculous situation.
Trent" her voice trembled, and a
little sob put a period to the SEN
tence.
We'll, l don't know about that-it
may seem SO to those who discover us
in the morning
have to stay here all night?"
81 hardly think the sentinel down
there will relax his vigilance"
Il was so foolish to climb up here.
But it looked so jolly among the
branches, and just felt like climbing
and l never once thought of dog" 3"
We'll, it's lucky for me, anyhow. 1
have you now where there isn't the
ghost of chance for you to run away
from me, while l am trying to tell you
how much 1 love you"
Trent climbed over and found a
more comfortable place quite near to
Miss Doskey.
Muffled growls continued to issue
from the dogs throat at intervals. But
Trent sat there and talked like ma
chine. For once Miss Doskey was out
done and could only sit and listen.
Once or twice, at GATHERINGS solfc1ta-
ton, Trent climbed down toward the
roots of the tree to ascertain whether
the bull dog slept, only to be greeted
each time by bass gutteral of warn
ing.
Some time during the night Trent
got Miss Doskeys hand in his and
kept it. Then, after awhile, the chill
of the night atmosphere grew insist
ent, Catherine shivered and yawned.
her head became tired, her eyes
heavy, and Gilmore drew her close to
him, cloaked her about with his arms,
pillowed her head comfortably upon
his shoulder-and her deep breathing
whispered to him of sweet sleep.
The morning sun climbed from his
bed and smiled down upon the two
in the tree top, and GATHERINGS eyes
opened wide. For a moment she
gazed about her.
"Oh. oh, now comes the ordeal"
said Catherine.
But we shall announce our engage
ment at once, shall we not, sweetest?"
Are you quite sure you are not
now playing the martyr?"
Not by several bright heavens of
happiness, dearest"
The rescling party had been out
since early in the night searching for
Miss Doskey. Among those compos-
ing it were four young men who very
suddenly thereafter found White
Plains hotel very uninteresting place,
and they departed therefrom during
the day.
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Co,