Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-02-25

she asked.
eff you please"
wait" The face disappeared. There
was a sound from behind the twisted
tree trunk; twig fell, then piece OF
bark, and the next instant the girl her
self stepped into view.
81 was afraid you'd gone for good.
acknowledged the young man gravely
He took up his gun and stepped out
upon the crest of the dam.
"YOu must look where you CO., she
admonished, ''or you will faIl-splashr
She laughed delightedly at the thought
"Wtll you promise not to whisk your
self away if look DOWN." he asked.
Eyes,
But even with this assurance he
found it difficult to remove his eyes
from her even for the brief instant
necessary for a safe passage, and
when at last he stood beside her he
felt an irresistible desire to seize her
gently SO that she could not escape.
'Well?' she said at length, and hs
found he had been standing stock still
staring at her for several seconds.
Excuse me! l really took you for
a wood nymph. I'm not sure yet. You
see. the place is so we'll suited. It
it was a natural mistake"
She dropped her eyes shyly and turn
ed away at his look.
''If is only our swimming pool.
There have been no fairies here since
I was a very little girl. But once upon
a time there were many-oh, a great
manyw It was impossible to describe
the odd, sweet sound her tongue gave
dialect, hardly an accent, just deli
cious, hesitating mannerism born OF
unfamiliarity.
did you ever see them"
"N-no! I arrived always a little too
late. But there are such things"
She pointed to a path, saying:
''This way will bring you to the road,
sir, if you WISH"
Butt don't wish-not yet" He
sought wildly for an excuse to stay
CuO OACIdIIuGus Oug CAS OACAAOs
must get it for you"
'"That will be very nice of you, sir.
For two years 1 have awaited it's
If you had not arrived l
would have got it anyhow"
Girls shouldn't climb trees" he said
severely. 1T tears their dresses"
"Oh. one cannot tear a dress like
this" She glanced down at her skirt.
Allowing his eyes to leave her face for
a moment, Kirk saw that she was
clad, oddly enough, in suit of denim
which was buttOned snugly clear to
her neck.
He broke his gun and removed the
shells; then, leaving it beside the bath
house, went to the tree where he had
first seen her. With one hand resting
upon the trunk, he turned to say:
Promise you won't disappear while
I'm up there or change into squirrel
Dr. a bird or anything like that"
"Yes, yes"
Then instead of beginning his climb
the young man lOunged idly against
the tree.
Funny how found you, wasn't it?'
be remarked. 81 mean it's funny I
should have stumbled right on you this
way There's only one of you and one
Of me. and-er-this country is so big!'
But the orchid, senior. Do you fear
to climb so high?" she inquired. with
the faintest CLEAN of amusement at
his obvious effort to prolong the con-
versatiOn.
"Oh, no!'
When he had reached the first fork
he turned and seated himself comfOrta-
bly,, peering downward through the
leaves for a sight of her.
''Not gone yetr' he exclaimed.
That's good"
Are you out of breath that you stop
so soon?"
He nodded. 81 need to rest a minute.
Say, my name is Anthony-Kirk An
thony" Then, after a pause, "Pm an
80 am l, at least am almost. My
mother was an American
lou uOu say AC yOu11S mon y
face lighted up with interest, and he
started eagerly down the tree trunk,
but she checked him promptly.
"The orchidr'
"Oh, yes" He reseated himself.
''Wen. we'll, l suppose your mother
taught you to speak English?'
Il also attended school in Balti-
more"
Now that the first surprise of meet
ing was over, Kirk began really at
tentive scrutiny of this delightful
young person. His first glimpse had
told him she was ravishingly pretty.
but it had failed to show how dainty
and small she was. Her chief charm
lay in a certain winsome yivacity.