The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-08-16

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side like the folds Of heavy green VEL
vet drop curtain stood the shy spirit Of
the wood
II had to make you turn around, {"
she said apologetically. and got It ever
with"
Never WAS Z fairer Rosalind. She
held up her head with Z fne courage In
spite Of the crimson blushes which
chased each other over her face and
neck, and she stood straight In the
high heeled soft kid boots, Z slender
figure, almost boyish.
Wont you sit DOWN. had risen
and indicated the log seat opposite
mine.
Were you expecting some ono :" shs
asked. casting an anxious look at the
seat.
why, yes" l pretended, to be hesj-
tant about conhding in her. II was ex-
pecting some one, = lady, one that l
am very fond Of, but 1 am afraid that
she has disappointed me. Won't you
take her placer
THANK you" she said simply and
sil0 into the seat.
When poured her some Of the tea
and offered her such food as was avail:
able she accepted everything and ate
with unembarrassed appetite. It may
sound unromantic to say that we salts
fed our hunger without conversation,
but remember that there had been
many hours when talk had been our
only substitute for food. Tootles had
some Of everything. including tea,
which proves to my mind conclusively
that she isn't regular dog. But no
more Of that.
I'm SORRY" my vis-a-vis said at last,
leaning forward with her chin resting
on the backs of her clasped hands, I'm
sorry to be sitting in the place of
some one else whom you would prefer
to have here" Then she added, with
little sigh, THAT is, II you would
prefer some one else"
II would and wouldn't" I smiled.
Il am trying to imagine that you are
She"
I'm these-in this costumeT
1T Is difficult to imagine her dressed
as you are, but not impossible. / ad-
NIT, though, that 1t would be easier to
picture you In her dress than her In
yours"
"Why did she not Gomez"
II have displeased her"
III she has been angry it must be
that she forgot for the moment how
brave you are and how kind"
"She said she never wanted to see
me again."
"And you said you would never enter
her house again. Yet you broke your
word when she was In danger, and she
was very glad to see you indeed" She
reached across the table impulsively
and laid her small brown fingers In
my palm.
what would you do In that caseT
I'D come and find you," she answer
ed, "and when I'd found you, I'd put
my hands In yours, just like this, and
I'd ask your forgiveness for being Z
cross, cranky old maid"
"But she isn't an old maid" 1 held
her fingers tightly.
AohO II 10 tWCuty 1--we tOlOIIOW.
She laughed. "And If a girl isn't mar.
ried by the time she Is twenty-five she
Is an old maid"
"Then she'll never be an old maid"
declared, because by this time tomor-
row she'll be married-that is" l add
ed, III she'll accept a stout, middle
aged man for husband"
There isn't one on this island" she
declared, looking at me with shining
eyes. "You can't claim to be stout
when your belt nearly reaches around
you twice. Monty" she gave my hand
a quick little squeeze, you're dear"
"Will you marry me?" I asked.
'Of course. l decided that long ago.
Do you suppose I'd let any man see me
in this costume unless he was going to
marry me-"
pulled her toward me.
Excuse me, folks" said a voice, II
hate like the deuce to butt In on the
Sothern and Marlowe stun and l Ger.
tainly have enjoyed 1t, but I've got to
make getaway and l can't do Bro
die out of this tree without disturbing
you"
We looked up at the anxious face of
Kent peering between the branches.
THAT revenue boat Is coming back,
and it's a cinch they're going to get
me this time If l stick around this
dinky island. I've got to beat It."
He scrambled down.
"How can you get away?" asked.
"The launch" he explained briefly.
I've been fixing her up on the q. t.
this week getting ready for an emer-
gency. She looks good for fifteen miles
an hour"
sixteen" corrected Lucille.
"All the better then. I'll lose 'em
out there. l don't suppose you two
doves will mind II l keep EN- so busy
that they amt got time to land Mr..
Bopp for an hour or So" He grinned.
mot Bit" l answered. Good
luck"
He started for the cove. 1 watched
him out of sight.
When / turned back the bench OPP
posite me was empty. A slender fig
ure was stealthlly making for the shell