The Washington herald., 1915-10-25
ACROSS THE BROOK.
ny CLARIssA MACkIE.


The hillside was dappled with sunlight
and at its foot brook murmured nflsl.
cally before IL plunged over the NOISY
rocks and disappeared in the cool depths
OF the wood beyond.
Grace Pitt dipped her toes In the brook.
shook the drops from her pink toes, and
with contented sigh leaned back
against a large rock and opened her
book
Every time she turned a page one sun
burned little hand dipped into a box
Of chocolates and transferred the sweet
to her charming mouth. Grace's eyes
were blue or gray or green. like a chang
ing pool Of water. frInged with dark
lashes. Her silky black hair cleaned in
the sunlight. She was more than pretty.
You forgot the chocolate" exclaimed
. masculine voice.
Grace lifted amazed eyes and behelJ
Ferd Winters, the nephew Of Mrs. Chill
worth. the owner Of Mapleshade Farm.
where the Pitts were boarding.
You forgot the chocolate repeated
Ferd. his bronzed face reddenins.
why. what in the world do YOU
mean? she demanded in amusement
I've been watching you-whenever you
turned page you ate q chocolate-and
that time you turned the page and for
got the chocolate / spoke involun-
tsrily."
Grace laughed. 81 was SO absorbed
In the story that forgot the candy. Do
have some" she said extending the box.
No, thank you. / came TO bring you
some letters" he said crossing the
stream In one stride and dropping a
handful OF letters in her lap You said
you were looking for a special letter"
1T Is here" she cried gladly, tear
ing IL open.
Il am very glad" he said stolcaIIy.
moving away.
'oh, wait a moment, Mr.. Winters"
she protested. II want to tell you some
thing-s very special friend Of ours is
coming on this afternoons train. wni
you take me to meet him. please
Certainly. "A man. I SUPPOSE
She nodded. Mr.. Carver-you will
IKE Harold immensely" she said en-
Why shall like him. he demanded.
Because you do. Miss Pitt
Why-no-because every one does I
Ike him very much indeed, Mr.. Win
ters / have always known him-he is
Splendid
He hesitated and turned away.
Il don't suppose you'll have time 10
take any more rides In the little red
EAR" he said glumly.
I'm afraid ] won't have much time"
The admitted. You have been so kind
md given me>so many delightful excur-
lions in the car. ! shall always remem- I
Der the dear little red car" she smiled.
Long after you've forgotten the own /
TT he asked quizzically. as he STROBE |
way.
She called after him to tell him that
Horace Carver was coming on the $40
rain. He nodded grimly and went on /
lis way
Grace watched him, a fine. outstanding l
'oung man. a successful farmer. q pow
u In the village, man with a future
head OF him. people predicted.
II he were only our sort" thought
trace. remembering Horace Carver al |
lis social prestige. She had often won
erred why her plain. practical parents
life. Only last night Il
ir. Pitt had declared that the girl who
married. young Winters would be mighty II
Icky.
As II there were any choice between
iorace Carver and Ferd Winters" she
bought disdainfully 81 can fancy faith
RS look Of horror IL I proposed marry
ig Ferd-Pooh. goose" she chided her
elf with hot cheeks. What would a
ensible youth like Ferd want with an
Try butterfly wife like me-
Win tnlS tnOQRnI
nd then, finding that Il was not un-
leasant TO consider. dismissed Il IN
anic OF fear. Drying her feet, she put
n her shoes and stockings and went I
cross the fields to the farmhouse !
Ferd's little red car was at the door. q
here was a rumble seat where either
race or Horace might sit on the re- {
i'm trip. But the little red car seemed
'luctRnt to meet Horace Carver and BY I
Ie time Ferd had coaxed II up to the s
Iilroad station the I:l0 train had come 3
Id gone and the station agent reported {
at the solitary arrival had crossed tn. 3
'ad and taken the short cut through '
e woods to Mapleshade Farm. .
I'VE will overtake him on the wood l
ad." said Fcrd confidently. for the
tie red car was not afraid OF deem I
It's or bumps and hollows and grace '
lily took thank you. ma ans when s
er they occurred. Q
The wood road wound through miles c
oak trees. Thunder rumbIed oni- p
usly. the sun darkened and was hid "
n from view and warm drops Of rain c
ttered on the leaves.
We can reach the top of the hill ana p
n home across the pasture" called Il
I'D above the pattering rain. X