Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-10
E'a CONFESSIONS
sy EARL slLveRs.

N~>>~~ssesssseee~~e~
Henry Riker had been Mt the Fern
ciin boarding house just thirteen
days and during that time he had
won the worxhiplng admiration Of
Mildred Graydon. He Was to go home
IN the morrow. In spite Of the fact
that the board was only five dollars
week and the majority Of the guests
| were shop girls. he had had . delight
fui time. But that had been because
II Mildred. She seemed different from
the other girls: her voice was softer,
her clothes simpler. her English bet
ter She didn't say "Ain't that won
derful."
They had both arrived on the same
day and had met at supper. After
that they had been together continu-
ally. until Henry admitted to himself
that he was almost in love. But on
the evening before he was to return
to the daily grind Of business he stood
ON the veranda Of the low. rambling
farmhouse and looked de5ectedly II
two chickens pecking aimlessly ON the
front lawn He was about to make u
confession, and he didn't know how
Mildred would take II.
Henry looked up and smiled ~ .
dark-haired. blue-eyed girl tripped
lightly down the steps and accosted
him.
Are we going out on the lakeY she
asked.
"If you wnnt tn"
They made their way together to
the small lake, unclaimed a rather
dilapidated looking boat and EN-
barked. For time both were silent
Then the girl spoke.
Il wonder" she let her eyes rest
on his for q mOment-'I wonder II We
will ever see each other again."
He looked startled.
"why. Of course, won't wef"
Il don't know; I've read a lot about
these summer affairs, and have seeL
movies. too. They never seem to last
very long"
Maybe It won't be 80 with u.s." he
said finally.
why mayber She looked At him
questioningiy.
1--WE got confession to Make" HI
announced hesitatlngiy. "But I don't
: know whether ! ought to make 1t o.
notr
what kind Of Q confssslonr'
About myself. I've come up hers
with all these shop girls and clerk,
and made believe that ! am one OF
themw A slight tinge Of red crept
over his forehead. 'But I'm not. II,
father IL =. r. Riker. the big manu-
facturer. and we've loads and loads Of
money"
And you came up heref" sht
seemed incredulous.
I ~Yes. came for the fun Of the
thing-just to see what It would bt
like"
Obi" He didn't look up; he was
afraid to meet her eyes.
"And now" he concluded, "you1i
probably think / have been playing
with you. But l haven't: I'm really
crazy about you"
He made bold this time to glance at
her. but instead Of the hurt look he
expected he surprised a smile on hei
face.
Don't you care?" he asked.
''Why. nor She continued to smile
at him. II knew you weren't one Of
those people as soon as l saw you
That's why let you go with me X
much. My father is Arthur Graydon
the big New York DOCTOR"
Iltu tam Nrnnvr<1 %~<~,.,
sheer amazement.
Yes. ! am Doctor Graydon',
daughter. I'm glad to know that yor
ire what you are, because now you
can come to see me in New York."
EYES," ne answered, "that will b.
fine"
But. somehow, his words failed t.
carry conviction. He took up the
oars and rowed slowly toward thu
shack which was called q boathouse
The girl. too. seemed rather thought.
fully silent, and he ventured to glance
ut her. He was struck with the sud
den desire to reach over and touch
her hand: but he did not. Neither
said q word until the boat struck thu
bank with dull thud. Then the mar
spoke.
I've got another confession Il
make" he said. and this time his
voice was steady. I've just been ~
ing to you. My father IL Tom Riker
and he works in a factory in Hobo
ken. I'm a fioor-walker in Tracy's'
~Whatl" This time It was the giri
who registered amaxement.
"Yes," he continued. "I'm q four
fiusher. thought at first that thl,
was only q summer flrtation and thai
we would forget about 1t as soon a.
we went home. SO told you I wat
rich In order to make good impress
aiOn. But. as soon as you told me
who you really are. realized that +.
that I-cared for you. But now. j
nkS-