The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-03

we III udNc u SlOIlOuS uoy cPoA"
do you go fishing, Mrs. Erskine" !
asked, clinging to one Of my own sex
for comfort.
Mother fish? A woman In boots to
her waist!" cried Mr.. Erskine. laughing.
"Oh, I thought she might fish from
the bank" I said, which did not make
the matter any better.
Mr.. Erskine looked at me with a puz-
zled expression. Perhaps he wondered
II Tom had not given me too much
credit for being sportsman.
pleaded fatigue from my journey as
an excuse to get away by myself and
went to bed very early. 1t seemed to
me that both mother and son were
looking at me with view to detecting
my imposture, and was glad to 60 to
my room. AS got into bed l was over
whelmed with wonder that ! had been
such madcap.
However, a bright morning sun gave
me courage. and went down to break
fast determined to carry out what I
had undertaken. Indeed, from this mo-
ment l rather epjoyed-at brief inter-
vals-playing my part Mr.. Erskne
and l were soon in his buggy-that
was before the coming Of the motorcar
and driving toward the mountain
stream where we were to fish. Arriv-
ing there, Mr.. Erskine pulled on his
rubber boots and l pulled on mine. 1t
was no novelty to me, since l had
worn them before. I was soon stand
ing In the stream, bracing myself
against the current and casting about
for trout. The stream was still rather
high, and it was with difficulty that
kept on my feet.
We were fishing just above a pool
that was quite deep. When I changed
position l gravitated toward this pool
the water getting deeper as l ap-
preached. till 1t was up to my waist.
l made another step forward and
placed my foot nowhere. The current
carried me into the pool, and sank
out of sight.
Unfortunately, in making a sports
man Of me my brother had omitted
teaching me how to swim. l struggled
under water till lost consciousness.
The next thing l knew l was lying
On the bank. rolled hither and thither
caught sight Of Mr.. Erskine, who was
doing the rolling. Seeing that l had
regained consciousness, he looked at
me with evident relief. but with a DIFF
ferent expression than before. knew
by It that the accident had revealed my
sex.
Perhaps It was just as well that on
reviving from a drowning condition
my senses were blunted. Had l faced
the discovery Of my secret while in my
ordinary strength I should have col
lapsed. Mr.. Erskine said not q word
as to the knowledge he had gained, but
spoke with great kindness as to my
escape from drowning. he had not
been able to get me out quickly
enough to prevent my coming to a
state of collapse. He covered me with
what he had for the purpose. then
waited for me to gain sufficient
strength to enable him to take me
BONG. l was naturally in excellent
health. and soon was ready for the re-
turn.
On reaching the house he carried me
to my room and left me In the care of
his mother, but he soon called her out,
l knew. for the purpose Of telling her
that instead Of being a boy l was a
girl. However, she said nothing to me
about the discovery Of my sex until
had quite recovered. when she asked
me If l were the sister of her sons
friend. The word sister was conflr-
nation Of my understanding that my
sex had been discovered, so l admitted
that was not really what pretended
to be. but that l was girl instead of a
boy. l did it in such evident pain that
the good lady kissed me, saying:
Never mind, dear. We don't know
what prompted You to do this thing
but we will take good care Of you, and
you will not have to suffer for your in
discretion. at least through u.s."
l remained in bed the rest of the day.
and the next morning Mrs. Erskine
brought me in clothing betting a girl.
About noon donned it, arose and
went downstairs. Mr.. Erskine was
waiting for his mother and me at the
lunch table, shall never forget the
comical expression on his face as he
looked at me. 1t told far more than
words could have told. II I could say
1t would give 1t something like this:
"Of all the pranks of girl that have
ever been perpetrated since the world
began this takes the cake"
After luncheon his mother withdrew
and he invited me on to the porch.
where he put me through a series of
questions as to how l came to act as
l had. When l had confessed every.
thing he began to deliberate how he
could protect me from my brothers
excoriations. He finally concluded to
telegraph Tom to join us as soon as
possible. his sister being with his
mother"
Tom came poste haste, but I was
Kept out Of his way till Mr.. Erskine
n ~