The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-11-16

| hunS It's rare purpllng clusters from pen
dent boughs. Now Christy had an es-
peclai liking for wild grapes. She no
sooner saw them than, with deftmove-
ment of the oars, the boat was pushed
into the cove, and the rover, standing
On one OF the teeteriug seats, was trying
IN vain to reach the lowest tempting
cluster. It was out of reach. In vain she
jumped for it, at the imminent risk of
drowning herself in vain, forgetting
her aspirations after young lady dyhood,
she wished herself boy that she might
climb the willow from which it hung.
She did not know what pretty picture
she made as she stood there in the rich
purple shadows, the richer purple of the
fruit above her, the gold of stray sun
rays filtering down through the million
leaves above. Her dark, curling hair
was pushed back, her cheeks were flush
ed, and the sleeves had fallen away from
her upraised rounded arms as she stood
on tiptoe below the provoking cluster.
A voice startled her, and brought her
eyes back to the shining levels of the
river.
"Will you allow me to get you the
grapes p
If Christy had been a young lady she
would not have turned scarlet and utter
ed an exclamation of surprise. Being a
schoolgirl, she did both for there, be-
side her boat, was slender scarlet wher-
ry, the oars -ying Iengthwise, and the
occupant standing within it, cap in hand.
Christy did not need to glance twice at
the close cut jetty hair, the bearded lips
the face olive tinted by the sun, for sure
ly the dark eyes looking down at her
| could belong to no other than the hero
OF her girlish dreams-Belle's beau. Nor
could the t'fated fairy prince" who
comes sooner or later into the life of
most girls, have come in more attractive
guise than in the person OF the young
aristocrat who stood awaiting Christy's
reply, and regarding her with mingled
| amusement and admiration.
''Excuse me for startling you. I am
certain you can not get the grapes, and,
being a head and shoulders taller than
you, I am equally certain that [ can,"
he said, with smile.
'Oh, thank you. II do want them.
like grapes"
''Most people do" was the laughing
response, as he reached high over Chris
| ty's head and plucked two or three heavy
bunches. He dropped these in her lap,
and reached for more, while she sat, in
| schoolgirl fashion, holding the gather
ings and stealthily watching the gatherer
| from under her wide hat brim. When he
| at last looked down at her, having filled
| the bottom of the boat with grapes, to
ask if those were enough, she was betray-
ed into laugh.
ooh, great many more than enough
for me. But you like grapes yourself,
| don't you2"
''Indeed do. But pray don't do
thatl" for Christy was eagerly piling
fruit clusters into the wherry. ''There
| isn't room for them and for me too. If
you will let me- he added, with glance
at Christy's still flushed face, s'I will eat
one bunch here in the shadow before
rowing down the river"
There followed time Christy never
knew how long-of positive enchant-
ment. How it was that she forgot her
! awe of the elegant Mr.. Ross, and began
to talk to her companion of her doings
a mystery. And how thoroughly charm
ing he was How he listened and laugh
ed at her schoolgirl relations, and how
handsome his dark Spanish face looked
under the scarlet boating cap And how
enthusiastically he talked of hundred
things seen in travel, while Christy lis
tened as enthusiastically, with wide eyes
and lips, and fingers stained with the
purple juice of the grapes.
Mr.. Ross must have forgotten about
rowing down the river. The sun was
very low and the shadows were growing
chilly, when at last he said, apologetic-
ally, raising himself from his lounging
position in the wherry, 81 beg your par
don for talking to you SO long, and with
out an Introduction, too but believe
we know each other. You have twice
called me by name, so I know you know
me; and I know you are my neighbor,
the youngest Miss Evarts.'
"Christable Evarts,' she said, simply.
"You must let me row, or rather tow,
you homo, to pay for my impoliteness.
There is only room for one in wherry,
unfortunately, but if you will let me fas-
ten this chain to the bow of your boat,
it will save your rowing up stream"
The light of the sunset was on the
river, and they seemed to be going
straight into the crimson glory. Christy
was too much astonished at her position
to say much, but Mr.. Ross was very
merry-"iust like any boy" as Christy
soliloquized. The latter was still in
state of wonder as she stood again on
terra Jfr1na, and watched her cavalier
fasten the boat and remove the oars.
ST always do that myself" she said,
taking perforce the last clusters of Wild
grapes which were imperatively thrown
upon her. There was bow and smile,
and the scarlet wherry shot out into the
stream again. Christy turned and went
slowly up to the house, flaming bunch
of cardinals in one hand and the rem