By Kibesillah [pp. 540-552]

BY KIBESILLAH.
she said, with no trace of the dreamy ex pression he had admired so much a few
moments before. "I wish we could have
seen it longer. There is always some thing io see on this road. I walked out
here one morning with Miss Rivers, and
two or three rabbits ran right across our
path."
"Was Miss Rivers interested in the
rabbits? " he inquired, smiling.
"Well, no, I don't think she was,"
Kate answered, with a smile that was
neither slow nor unresponsive. "She
said I was so funny to care about such
things, and she did n't like this walk be cause it was so lonesome, and there
was no chance of meeting anyone."
"I see," said Arthur. "But then, it
is not always desirable to meet other
persons when you are walking. Just
now, for instance, I like this old road
better for the thought that you and I
have it all to ourselves,-don't you?
"Yes," said Kate frankly, "I do." A
moment later Arthur noticed that her
cheek flushed-a very unusual circumstance with her-and an expression of
uncertain embarrassment came into her
face. It was quickly gone, and she
said, with a coquetry that must have
been intuitive, "We stand a better
chance of seeing the deer as it is."
"Just so," responded Arthur coolly,
"that is exactly what I was thinking of.
But do you know, an interest in such
things is really very eccentric in young
ladies of your age. Most of them are
more like Miss Rivers."
"Perhaps so," said Kate, " but all
this free country life is new to me, and
it is very pleasant."
"But don't you care for other things
too?" Arthur persisted. "For people,
you know, and dancing, and the
theater?"
Kate looked at him curiously. "I
meet very few people," she said, "and
I know nothing of society and the pleas ures you speak of. But really, Mr.
Kimbrough, I don't think I can walk any
farther today, for Mother will want me
when she wakes."
They turned to walk back to the hotel,
and Arthur questioned her no more.
"What do you say to a long tramp to morrow?" Arthur asked, as the old
weatherbeaten gate of the hotel yard
was reached. "About five miles from
here there is a very beautiful spot which
I discovered myself, and where I have
never taken anyone else. We can get
up a party," he added, as he saw a
slight hesitation on Kate's part.
"But it spoils a lovely place to admire
it with a crowd," she objected, and Arthur glanced at her keenly, wondering
for a moment if she were quite so simple
and ingenuous as she seemed. Her eyes
reassured him, and he answered confidently enough.
"I can manage that, -we will just
leave the crowd!"
They had reached the hotel by this
time, and Kate went upstairs to Mrs.
Hatherton at once. Arthur stopped to
chat with Carrie Rivers and a mild-mannered youth who had recently arrived at
the Springs from Napa Valley, -drawn
thither by Miss Rivers's charms, it was
said. By the time Mr. Kimbrough and
his cousins walked to their cottage after
the evening meal, a pedestrian party had
been arranged for the next day, to be
chaperoned by Mrs. Preston and a San
Francisco school ma'am, and to include a
half dozen young people.
"It was kind of me to submit to an entire afternoon of Miss Kendrick's society
for your sake, Arthur," said Mrs. Preston. "And especially when Tom says
we ought to leave tomorrow. He is
anxious to get back to his office. As for
my chaperoning the party, it would n't
have been necessary at all but for Mrs.
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