Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-07-07

lace SuppOTteu IlOI sO MUM hS " Dlhu0,
of grass or bit of moss.
"Hop out" said Tom. "rve got to
see to the boat. guess you can climb
up to the top easy enough"
"Of course, can," said Josephine
"as if needed your help, you little
monkeyph
In n moment she stood at the top of
the rock, and in another moment de-
risive laugh came from below.
"Good-by, 10; l hope you'll enjoy
yourself. "rll see you later"
Plato says: "a boy is the most
vicious of all wild beasts" Plato and
Miss Vail were of one opinion on that
point. She looked about her and took
in the situation. She was monarch of
about twenty-five square feet of rough
gray rock, the sides of which descend
ed abruptly to the water. Perched
high on this massive pedestal, her figure
stood out against the sky in bold relief.
A book and parasol were her only ac-
cessories, for by some happy inspira-
ton she had clung to these. The sun
was high in the heavens, but its hot
rays were mercifully tempered by a
soft breeze on the lake.
Josephine seated herself, raised her
parasol and opened her book. She faced
the probability that at least two hours
OF MONDAY solitude were before her.
The only philosophical course of action
was to make the best of it. But what
situation to be discovered in. She re-
membered with satisfaction that large
party had gone on a picnic to-day
and she dowagers left behind were not
given to boating at high noon. She
tried to think how she should laugh it
off if anybody should see her, but un-
der the most cheerful aspect she seemed
to herself ridiculous spectacle. To
be ridiculous in good cause had in it
an element of heroism, but the present
situation was one of unmitigated alb
surdity, and Josephine Vail always felt
the heroic rather than the comic to be
her forte. Once tears of real vexation
started as her head began to throb in
sympathy with the hot pulsations Of the
air about her.
An hour had dragged its length along
when Josephine suddenly lifted her
head and listened painfully. A mans
voice singing and the splash of oars,
and, yes, in an instant, boat swung
slowly round the bend. One man sat in
it, lazily rowing and lazily singing.
"It's that bidse creature who whatched
us off this morning." thought Josephine.
"It's type l detest. And to think
he should see me here. IT. really more
than / can endure" The girl looked
with envy on the tortoise which slipped
easily from the base of the rock into the
water as he heard the disturbing sound
of oars.
al hope he'll have the good taste to
suppose / came here of my own free
will. He wouldn't think of interfering
coming straight toward me-"
Josephine turned the leaves of her book
with an interest that grew every moment
more intense. But at last dencency
required some recognition of the near
ing boat. The young man was rowing
now as if he had renewed interest in
life. He was soon at the base of the
rock.
81 beg your pardon" he said, as he
raised his hat; lean 1 be of any as
slstance to youp"
"You are very kind, sir. You find
me in very absurd position"
"You have evidently been ship
wrecked. Are you the sole survivorP"
mo, not shipwrecked, but put ashore
and abandoned by my cruel tyrant of a
brother. To tell you the truth, sir, | am
the victim of a practical joke. My little
brother has left me here while he goes
further up the lake to visit some friends
who are camping there"
II beg you will make use of my boat,
then. to return. Twill come up to you
in one moment"
Leaping out of his boat before Miss
Vail could say word, he drew it up on
low shelf of the rock and quickly
reached her side.
"Let me help you," the young man
said, with such n firm assurance of
good-breeding, that she made no resist
ance or attempt at independence, but
accepted the profiered aid in quiet,
matter-of-course way.
"Your boat! your boat, STRIP she sud-
denly cried. II was too late. The ris-
ing breeze drove the water with such
force against the rock as to dislodge the
boat, and before Adams could grasp it,
the little craft was gayly fitting about, a
half-doZen yards away.
The two looked at each other mo-
ment and then simply laughed, though
both were conscious of its being ques-
tionable taste.
Adams sobered and said: "Can you
ever forgive me, Miss"
"Miss Vail. am Miss Vail"
"And am Mr.. Adams. Can you be
magnanimous enough to forgive meP"
"That is the question l should ask
you"
"Ah. you evade mine. At any rate,
shall never forgive myself. A worse
bit of bungling never saw. The truth
is, Miss Vail, have had very little en-
perience in rescuing fair ladies. You
are the first whose life l have tried to
save. am no hero, as you see."
The genuine annoyance of her COM
panion reused the compassion of jose
phine, and she began to talk to him with
desperate cheerfulness and acceptance
of the situation.
What cold-blooded little villain
that brother of yours must be, Miss
Vail, to desert you in this fashion! /
suppose we must throw ourselves on his
mercy when he comes back. How are
you going to account for me? Consider
me your man Friday"
Beneath their light talk ran an under
current of more or less bitter medita-
ton on the part of each. Miss Vail
shuddered to think what good story
this adventure would make for circua-
ton among her friends, while Adams
foresaw how it would add to the con-
VITALITY of his club. He began with the
fervent wish that he was out of this con-
founded scrape, but he soon forgot to
be annoyed, and what is more, to be in
different. He ended, am obliged to
confess, by ceasing to envy Robinson
Crusoe his isle, and considering his own
far preferable. There was breeziness
about this girl that made one forget the
mounting thermometer. She had q
way of going to the point, and, more.
over, she had a point, two things which
Ben Adams toldhis sister he appreciated
in woman.
| l.. ,l1,t H.. Hit ~ Al.