The Washington herald., 1914-03-13
DAILY SHORT STORY.
MERELY ACTORS.
ny THOMAS GRAY FEssENDEN.

4 Copyright, IVA
| The third morning Belden Smith walked
past that white farmhouse down the gler
road and saw the girl reading beneath
the big apple tree, he did something
which was a surprise to him for many
days after. for Blenden Smith was a very
| lself-contained and conventional young
man. The first thing that surprised him
was that he walked straight into that
farmhouse gate. crossed a bit of lawn
to the apple tree. removed his cap and
said, Pardon me, but unless am greatly
mistaken. you are the young lady pulled
out of the water at Long Beach last sum-
mer."
And as he spoke he felt the hot blood
surging up his neck and into his face.
and inwardly he was calling himself all
/ kinds Of a cad and covertly wishing the
earth would open and swallow him up.
/ for Belden Smith had never seen the
girl before.
The truth of the matter was that BeIden
Smith had found the hotel on the moun-
tain very dull. and the people staying
there even more so. and something about
| this girl under the apple tree had ap-
pealed to him strongly. and an over
whelming desire to see her more closely.
! 10 speak to her, TO hear her voice, had
got him into this silly scrape
What was his surprise then when she
locked up quickly with those wonderful
dark eyes OF hers, smiled prettily,
flushed. gave a pleased little cry and
] took his hand in hers
Well this is a SURPRISE" she said.
Belden Smith felt the earth tottering
beneath his feet in his surprise He
sat down In a nearby chair which the
girl was inviting him to occupy.
That was mighty narrow squeak
Tor me, said she. Il should not have
gone out so far
Belden Smith stared. To think that
some one had pulled this girl from the
water at Long Beach. and he had
stumbled upon that very place to mem
tion, and she had mistaken him for her
rescuer.
IL wasn't At all sure you'd rsmem-
Der me- he said.
Remember you? How could I ever
forget you? You seemed to wear a halo
that morning when you came I'D to me
! In the water Just as was all In push
ing against that tide. What a fuss
made
Indeed you didn't, Most people Grab
you round the neck when you go to their
rescue in the water. You didn't do
that"
You were so perfectly splendid about
1t, and so modest when they tried to
make a nero OF you.
1T was you who was really splendid,
putting up that losing fight as you were
when / got to you" said he hoping he
was right It seemed safe enough
thing to say.
Evidently it was perfectly safe, for she
sighed reminiscently.
Il couldn't have lasted much longer"
said she.
Belden Smith looked at her closely.
She was even prettier than she had
seemed from the road. Her hair was dark
and wavy and her cheeks smooth and
rounded. and she had the incest voice,
he thought at that moment. he had ever
heard. Then and there he decided he
had saved her at Long Beach. Funny he
had stumbled on the exact place and, too.
that she really had been saved by some
body. He could scarcely believe In such
luck. But he was very happy, sitting
there talking to her. and being carefully
reminiscent.
They were talking soon like old friends.
1t was lunch time before he realized It.
She was visiting her aunt at the farm
and the house was filed with people else
she would insist upon his staying, but
she would be here for three weeks and
wouldn't he run over to see her often?
No, there were no other young people
staying at the farm. He mustn't forget
Belden Smith did not forget. He went |
to the farm down the glen road the next
day and the next and every following
day. They walked the hilly roads, they |
went canoeing on the river, they motored
through the surrounding country. Belden |
Smith found her the most engaging COM
panion. and altogether the most wonder
full girl he had ever met. Now and then
he had little twinges OF conscience. But |
he put them firmly from him. OF course,
he had had no right to speak to her that
first day, and perhaps he was inviting /
disaster. in posing as her rescuer. At /
such times he would make up his mind /
10 tell her the truth the next time he /
saw her and risk the consequences. But |
somehow the next day IL would look /
easier to do yet one day further removed.
30 three weeks went past, and her visit /
1t the farm was drawing to a close.
The last day came and still he had not /
made his confession. That last afternoon
hey were to motor together over the
Black Mountain road. At o'clock Smith
,ame whirring UP to the farm in his big
yray road car. She was waiting for him
lnder the apple tree where he had first
seen her.
Today he had made up his mind to tell
Ter as soon as he saw her. but she looked
10 very lovely and so very happy that
hey were spinning down the road.
1t was a cloudless afternoon. A recent /
ain had laid the dust of the mountain
Dad. Up and up they climbed until they L
we're far up the mountain side, looking
lown at toy roads and trees and villages
md fields, stretching out below them.
Then near the summit Smith stopped
he car. His lips were set. He had made
lp his mind that here and now he would
ell the whole truth. He began by cough
ng weakly. His own voice when he be-
ian he scarcely recognised, so faint and
was II.
There's something I want to saw IN
I've simply got to saw to
Tou." he stammered.
The girl suddenly turned her eyes from
he vista below them. She looked Al
lin keenly. Something In his manner
,rought her quickly alert-somethinr in
lis manner and other things that had
-ery evidently been leading up to It the
'ast few days. She held out q hand TO
heck him.
wait, please, wait," she urged. "Be-
ore-before you say anything, have