Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-04-04

they were mostly in tennis things
took on the unreality of a dream. Only
Mans gold head shone with q dear.
familiar brightness.
"God!' said Robert to himself. 81
simply must not stare at her so much"
He lay back on the sand and closed
his eyes. He felt tired all Of a sudden.
The singing went on-he heard peo-
pie talk and move-then more sing
ing. Voices said good night once, and
steps went off toward the steep track
of the cove.
Robert bent down and began to write
on the sand, lazily. with his left hand.
Nan turned to look at him.
DO you want to go home?" Robert
asked her, lifting his head a little.
NO." said Nan. Its lovely here"
May l stay and talk to your"
I'D like you to-"
Silence fell. Robert went on writing.
What have you written there?" Nan
went on.
20. the name of our rock, that's all
the Sleeping Lady"
Il wonder how long she's been
Lets go out and ask her!" said Nan
quickly.
"Now?" he said, and his heart pound
ed with pleasure.
"Yes!" and Nan jumped off her rock.
They ran together to the cluster of
old boats in the corner of the strand,
and began to haul one Of them down
to the tide.
ut must be lovely out there at
night" said Nan.
Marvellous" said Robert, ankle deep
in the tide.
There was a shout from halfway up
the cove.
Nan! Mani 1t was Felix. His I'M
perious young voice was u~nmistakable.
Nan shouted back to him at once,
"Here!"
Want to come up to the Cromlech?"
Tonight"
We'll, I'm going now" This in a
rather hurt tone. you promised you'd
come whenever I went"
Yes, / know, but"
20, don't bother. 1 can go alone.
Thought you kept your promises"
You know I do. Course, I'll come.
Wait a minute, Felix"
BE quick, then" came the notified
answer
Robert was standing quite still by the
boat, the tide tapping his ankles. His
feet felt cold now in their squelchy
shoes. Nan looked at him pleadingly,
and he gave her a Pickering smile.
I'm awfully sorry" she said, but
I'd promised Felix ages ago"
"Of course. Doesn't matter a bit,
honestly"
Silence. Nan did not move.
"Would-would you like to come,
too?" she suggested timidly.
20, no." Robert was almost startled.
"I1l stay here. II think I'll row
about a bit until / feel sleepy"
Nan stood looking at him.
Hadn't you better hurry?" said
Robert. you do not want to climb
to the Cromlech?"
Not specially" She pointed to it
on the low hill above the farmhouse.
Its just an easy walk really-not a
climb. Hardly takes an hour"
That's good. Won't be much Of an
effort"
mo" She turned to 60, and Robert
heard her speak softly as she moved
away. I'm sorry" she said, but I
promised Felix"
Robert jumped into the boat and
pulled out to sea. He felt cold, and
rowed violently to warm himself. He
the Sleeping Lady and moored on the
seward side. He lay back In his boat
and tried to fight his trouble.
After what must have been a long
time he realized that lying still made
him icily cold again. He sat up and
stared about him. IT'D better go home"
he muttered to himself.
There was the splash of an oar. 1t
sounded quite near. Then he heard 1t
again-on the other side Of the rock.
Now it was coming nearer-rOund the
rock. Robert stood up as the bow OF
a boat swung round to the west OF the
Sleeping Lady. There was q girl row.
ing it-she was alone. Robert recog-
nized Mans shining head.
"Hello!" he said, and his voice shook.
She turned and smiled at him-then
pulled her boat in near his. He jumped
on to the lower edge of the rock and
waited to moor her. Nan shipped her
oars and stood up.
"Why did you come out?" said Rob-
ert.
Thought you might be here" she
answered softly, and her voice had q
culver in it, too. II saw your boat
hadn't come back" !.
He held out his hands to Nan, and
she jumped on to the ledge OF rock
beside him.
did you go up to the Cromlech9" he
asked.
She nodded.
Enjoy it?" .,,.
moo. Felix did, I think"
why didn't your" :.
Il was afraid I had hurt you,"
she said.
"Then hurting me matters?"'
eyes" she answered in a whisper.
Nan" he sobbed. 20, Mani" And
he stared into her eyes.
She gave him her two hands.
LET me kiss you'll" he whispered, /.
She came nearer to him and lifted
up her lovely face. His arms went
round her and they kissed.
1t was the first demand that either
of them had made on their young. and
shy emotions. Afraid Of the new force
that was shaking them, they chung to-
gether, as if, apart, 1t would have
frightened them still more. They had
no words for what they were feeling
they we're too young for tnat-and
could find help only in murmuring
each others names over and over
and over again. Together on their
rock they shed their childhood, and
helped each other to bear, for the first
time, the old pain Of love. tn voice
of the quiet sea did not disturb them
and the stars, as they rose, shed theil