The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-12-04
.-sz]a~m~ WELLINGTON O., THURSDAY DECEMBER A. 1879

stopped, although it was an unusua
method of calling attention.
Gentlemen" he said, still at tn,
top of of his voice. Il should be obliget
if you could give me a seat. l hav,
long way to 60, and am tired"
We looked at him and at each other
1t was free-and-easy style of asking ,
favor, but he seemed gentleman, ant
and elderly one, too.
81 am afraid, SIR" said Alf, "tha
we have hardly room. She is only
built for three" -.....-- .s-...... -
90. that doesn't matter" he said
"you can put me anywhere, or I'll takt
an oar for one Of you" s.
Twas on the point of advising point
blank refusal, not appreciating his off
hand manner, but ALI thought diff
ferently. .,-s. .-.-.--. ---.. ...
"Aif right" said he eve dom
mind, If you don't. Steer her m Jack. "
steered her in. No soon were we
near the shore, than quite unexpectedly
he stepped almost on my toes, rocking
the boat from side to side.
"Hang it," said; "take care OF
you'll have us over" H-r.' % as--
"What if L dol? :" he returned. It'll
only be a swim; and who minds swim
in weather like this?" ..... ..
We stared at him; the GOODNESS, not
to say impertinence, of the remark. was
amazing. Begging seat in our boat,
knowing it was full, and then telling us
he didn't care if he split us into the
river! He seated himself by me, set
ting the boat see-sawing again, crush
ing me into a corner; and without ask
ing with your leave. or by your leave.
took the steering lines from my hands
and slipped them over his shoulders.
excuse me-" Isaid, making a snatch
at them; Z" but if you'll allow me-"
'''' Not at ALL" he said. 81 always like
something to do. and l expect you've
had enough of it." ~.r- r.
His GOODNESS was amusing; he was
impenetrable. l know 1 for one re-
GREETED we were such mules as to have
had anything to do with him. We waited
in silence a moment or two.
Come" he said, when are you
going to startp'
i" Perhaps" said ALI, a bit nettled,
las you're in our boat a self-invited
guest, you'll let us choose our own
time"
The stranger said nothing; he sat
stolid and silent. Tom and Alf set off
rowing; the stranger steered right
across the stream. -s... ..
Where are you goingP" said Alf.
keep US in"
81 am going into the shade; the suns
too strong"
He had the lines; we could hardly
insist on his keeping one side if he pre-
ferred the other; he took US right to the
bank, under the shadow of the
willow trees. For some minutes neither
of US spoke. With him examining me
on my seat and jamming his elbows into
my side, my position was not pleasant.
At last 1 let him know it.
"I don't know if you are aware you
are occupying all my seat"
He turned on me short and sharp.
All at once l noticed his left eye going
up and down like blinking owl, his
mouth was wide open, disclosing as
ugly set of teeth as I should care to
see. Like a flash DR.. Rawle's words
my mind; tall, strong, about
forty-tive, iroh-gray hair; habit of
showing his. teeth and winking his left
eye: Gracious powers! was it possible
VIC uou q luuotlC WIbu US udWoTcSs
know the possibility, nay, the probabil-
ity of such a thing made me feel more
than queer. If there is anything in the
world l instinctively fear it is mad per-
sons. know little of them, have never
been in their company. Possibly my
ignorance explains my dread; but the
idea of sitting in the same boat and on
the same seat with q man who
DR.. Rawle's warning, " Don't let him
lose his temper, or murder will ensue,"
made me bound from my seat like Jack
The boat tipped right out
of the water, but didn't care. The
man was glaring at me with cruel eyes;
my muscles were strung, my fists
clenched; every moment l expected him
at my throat.
"What the dickens are you up TOP"
said ALI. whats the matter with
youp' .-. r-.-- ..... ....rl 49,.
'Excitable temperament, hot-blood.
ed youthr' said the stranger.
could have said something had /
but 1 preferred discretion; /
didn't like his eyes. ..a .... 81.
"No-o-thing." said. az think I'll
sit in the bow" 1 didn't wait to learn
if any one had an objection, but swing
ing round I scrambled past ALI, and
tripped full length on to Toms knee.
The boat went up and down like
swing; it was q miracle he wasn't over.
:. Is the fellow mad?'' roared Alf.
At the word "mad" the stranger
rose up straight as post. "Madr" he
said; do you know, sir" He checked
and sat down. ''Pooh! he's
only boy" r.. gsr... ....
In passing Tom, I whispered in his
ear. 1.-The lunatic," said.
70 "Whatr' said Tom, right out loud.
Hold your row, you confOunded
It's the man from DIR.
...-.--..-..- ....... .-.,. 81.
He was going to say something
know he was; but he
stopped short, and stared at him with
all his eyes. Either ALI overheard me,
OF else the same idea occurred to him
at the same moment, for he stopped
dead in the middle Of stroke, and in
Spected the man on the steering seat.
Tom and ALI went on staring at him for
a minute or more. 1 kept my head
turned the other way to avoid his eyes.
All at once 1 felt the boat give a great
throb. I turned; there was the strang-
er leaning half out of his seat, looking
at Alf in q way shouldn't have cared
to have had him look at me.
r" What's the meaning of this inso-
lencep" he saiG. ,rr. -.
The question was not unwarranted;
it could not have been pleasant to have
been stared at as Af and Tom were
staring at him. 14sa l.-.- .-4 ...
u beo your pardon ;, said Ale cool