How glad I felt that I was outgrowing that folly.

A shadow fell across my paper, and I glanced up.

Thunder out of a clear sky could not so have astonished me.

There stood a young lady, smiling at me! None of those rough Western pioneer girls, either, but a pale, delicate, beautiful young lady, about eighteen, with cheeks like wild roses, so faintly, softly flushed with the fatigue of climbing, and great starry hazel eyes, and dressed in a fashionable traveling suit, made up in the latest style.
"Pardon me, sir, for startling you so," she said, pleasantly.

"Can you give me a drink of water?
I have been climbing until I am thirsty.
Papa is not far behind, around the rock there.