The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-11-01

silvery fins glanced through the clear
brown water He had heard a law
and irregular sound of oars. and had
glanced with small interest across the
the high green reeds and low flower.
de luce to see a gaudily gilded and
very small skitf rocking dangerously
among the water lilies Just befor,
him.
The single occupant of the boat va.
a brunette fay, wearing fancy COS.
tune of some dark. rudy bronze stud,
with gold-hearted lily buds in her
corsage and an aigrette, tipped with
white gold, in her jaunty bronze velve,
cap.
As the young gentleman regar,iel
her with a differentiated gaze, she
.extehded her duskv jeweled hands
toward snowy blossom. dropping her
oars with pretty, careless gesture.
The next instant the oars we're drift
ing slowly away on the sluggish cur
rent; the next instant there was Il
splash and Il musical! cry for help.
The light craft was capsized and
Claudia Thorne was struggling and
gasping among the lilies.
How the spectator of the cat;istro-
phe rescued her he could never quite
clearly remember; however. he might
never forget the sensation of the
pleasurable triumph he felt As she lay
at last helple>sly in his arms-a saved.
thankful nymph SD drenched and
seemingly frightened that one much
l.>s gallant and susceptible than he
mast. perforce. have said to her some
thing very hattering and agreeable.
That episode was the beginning Of
charming little romance.
"If my m;shap he known shall
he riiicuied. declared pretty Claudia.
automatically, whereas she had pur-
posclv caused the accident. Il have
always been awkward with nv oars.
There is standing prediction. | be-
lieve, that | should I've capsized some
time. | must invent some neat tic-
ZION to account for these wet hnunce>
AMI this poor spoiled hat.
She WAS turning slowly away. and
her manner would seem u express that
her gratitude was too great To BE- vi
tered in the ordinary phr.lseoiogv con
si,iered conventional on such an Dcca-
sion.
The gentleman imagined that he
understood that stimulation of grace
lul timiIi,y. He thought her the
handSomest. the most Ingenious, and
the most charming young lady whom
he had ever met.
shall never see YOU again > he
inquired almost beseechingly.
Perhaps YOU may she returned,
with coquettish and bewildering
smile. Il row, or ride, or walk
every morning in this delightful place
| am absurdly fond of the brittle PA b
along the river bank, and of the cool
promenade among the willows
And SO am l." he asserted. quickly
and respectfully. 81 shall see YOU
often; but perhaps you will not think
proper to recognize me, if we should
meet" he supplemented uncasily.
With seeming bashfulneSs she
averted her bri ght face and brilliant
eyes but as she vanished among the
golden green willow shadows, she
murmurei "au revoir," I'm encour-
aging accents.
Claudia went slowly homeward.
Her mood was thoughtful and specu-
lative.
"He is certainly interested, and
perhaps infatuated" she unused with
great satisfaction. 81 shall meet him
often, aud long before we shall be for
mally introduced | shall be the be-
trothed wife of my titled millionaire.
whom most fortunately for poor, am
bilious. deceitful me, | already adore"
With all her unwomanly faults
Claudia keenly comprehended that Il
marriage without reciprocal love is
only all unho!y sham.
The Irritation under the willows
progressed us she had predicted, and
rs favOrably as she could desire.
Il shall allow YOU to tell me moth
ing about yourself at all. Practical
details would spoil al the romance of
our pleasant summer dream, asSer-
waited Claudia one morning. She
spoke with semblance of that blind
and trusting faith that she well knew
pleases and tlaiters and deceives even
the shrewdest OF lovers And more