Middletown transcript., 1882-03-24

lance, his delivery" that is the man
ner in which he made his stroke. Pro-
fessionals generally made fuller and
less jerky stroke, not allowing the oar
to leave the water so soon.
Of this Brandon had been warned by
his trainer, but in his usual puffy man
ner the son of Fairyiew's great mag
nate had affirmed that he believed he
knew what stroke he could make the
most speed at, and that was in fact
the stroke he wanted and intended to
adhere to.
1t was really not bad stroke, and
would have required no ordinary pro-
fessional to equal, and among the gam
blerS Brandon was the favOrite.
There were three pitted against him,
one of whom was Tom Hathaway, and
Reckless Tom was the only opponent
Brandon had cause to fear.
1T was not really known whether
Tom would participate in the race or
not, nothing having been learned from
him since the previous night.
He was not upon the river this morn
ing at the customary pull, and this fact
gave Brandon much satisfaction.
The impudent puppy" he NUT
tered, as he rounded the upper two
mile stake and glanced homeward over
the clear shimmering surface of the
lake. One thing in my favor, he will
not be in practice. Perhaps he will not
make an appearance when the race will
surely be mine. | hope though that he
will be present, for know that can
beat him, and it will be great salts
faction for me to do so.''
Tom at that moment was pacing the
shore at Crystal Lake below the boat
house in terrible whirl Of perpleXity
and doubt.
1t was not the approaching race that
troubled his mind, but the prospective
duel which weighed most heavily upon
his conscience.
Conscience whispered to retrace his
steps, apologize, and seek to settle the
affair amicably, but an exacting sense
of honor and false pride impelled him
onward to the verge of the fearful
abyss.
He dreaded to meet Minnie Stock
well, although it was not possible that
news of the affair had as yet reached
her ears.
But be felt an overwhelming sense of
guilt, and told himself that he would
never dare look her in the face again.
He had come down to the lake to
take his regular exercise at the oars,
but so troubled was the state of his
mind that he could not compose him
self sufficiently to enter the boat-house,
and so had sought the solitude of a
little strip IF sandy beach just below
the boat-house, where a growth of oak
came down to the waters edge.
He paced restlesSly up and down,
wrapped in thought, and noted not how
fast the time passed until suddenly he
heard rustic in the shrubbery on the
bank above his head, and lifting his
gaze his heart almost stood still to per-
ceive Minnie Stockwell, the beauty of
Fairview, and his pledged love, gazing
down upon him in surprise.
Why Tom ~ exclaimed the beauty.
What are you doing here in this
strange place. have been looking all
about for you. Your services are much
needed think at the boat house. There
is much decorating yet to be done, and
nobody knows how to do that but
you.''
Yes, said Tom, huskily, after sew
eral Intellectual efforts to clear his
threat. " Yes, Minnie, 1 will go now:
got into one of my thinking moods
and forgot myself. By gracious, l did
not know it was so late : One hour of
noon, and the regatta is to commence
at two O'Clock"
Minnie, keen little maiden, gave
Tom searching glance as size scTam-
bled down the bank to his side.
With kind Of wOmanly instinct she
guessed that there was something
weighty upon her boy lovers mind, but
she betrayed not the knowledge.
Z" Yes, and my brave knight, it is
even nigh time for you to don your
armor and enter the lists. See, have
chosen your color, blue, for you. May
it give you good luck.' -
!" | pray Heaven it may" said Tom,
in an unusually devout tone. Then, as
though he had forgotten himself.
. | thank you for the good wish and
will try to prove myself a worthy
knight"
But his inadvertent tone had not es-