The Red Cloud chief., 1882-08-18
A DESERT ISLE.

u WAS ttD Citth vi ~ July HlDIiii1L
and the larger fraction of humanity had
been some hours earning its daily bread.
The idlers had but just risen from the
breakfast table. To this latter class be.
longcd the young man who leaned laZi-
ly over the piazza railing and looked alb
sently out on Lake Winnipaka. Beside
HIM, in "A huge chair, sat a little woman
rocking 10 and fro, with an untiring
movement, and with deft fingers plying
in and out among bright silks and crew
els. She was idle. too, i'm her woman's
laborious way, but there wa a lack IF
rcpoSe in her Incidence hat made il
restful 10 turn again TO her brother. who
stood with statuesque in%action, looking
into the still water below.
What are YOU going TO do today"
the little woman asked.
Nothing"
There's a great deal going on. and
very nice sort of people. too. DO you
see that pretty girl down there at the
landing?"
The one with red?"
"Yc>: don't YOU think she's prctty?'
~ hadn't thought of it,"
SWELL, she is-remarkably. Wouldn't
YOU like TO meet her? | could easily
manage it,"
I'm not particular. Is she worth
while?'
ben, You exasperaie me. Do you
take an interest in a~nythingP'
Il don't do anything else in Wall
street. I'm of duty now. i believe in
resting in a philosophical sort of way"
well. i suppose you are tired, poor
fellow, / know how YOU feel. / am
tired myself. most of the time
Tired, | look like it," laughed the
young man. I'm tell YOU how it is, ]
simply want my liberty. IL doesn't
pay-this dancing attendance on half a
dozen girls whom you see again"
40, well, don't, then"
Ben Adams ut twenty-one had per.
formed his social duties with great zest.
Four years later he was still heart
whole. and beginning 10 take a purely
fraternal interest in blushing debutantes.
He danced less and went Ia the opera
alone or with his friend Rutland. a con
firmed bachelor of tw~enty-cight. With
entire resignation Young Adams acted
rs usher nj many fashionable weddings,
and without a sigh SAW Katharine, Kate
and Kitty led down the aisle by other
men. And so he approached his thir,
ties, and within a year OF them leaned
idly over the piazza railing at Lake
Winnipaka and declared 10 his siste,
that Robinson Crusoe was the luckies'
fellow of his acquaintance. "Gire mt
n desert isle for n summer sojonrn'
What would refresh a man like going
back TO savagery?"
IL don't think il would be enough o
n change to benefit some L know.
laughed his sister. "Well. Ben. all
can say is, you are very different from
what YOU used 10 be-"
In the meanwhile, the boat below
pushed off. and Adams followed il with
his eyes chiefly because it would have
been more trouble 10 look another way
The young lady in the stern was Miss
Josephine Vail, and the boy at the oars
was her twelve-year-old brother. 10
sephine was = young lady of views, sup
ported by more or less logic and by
what some plainly thought better, an
extremely pretty face. Her enemies
but She had none-would have said thai
while she de spised conventionalities, nc
one was more ANNOYED when Obliged Il
disregard them; that while she resented
the protecting limitations of her sex. she
was quite willing to accept the atten'
tions based on the theory of their exist
cnce. Her father had said one day
Nothing would take the kinks out Of
our Josephine like settling down with 9
good husband" The young lady tool
il in high dudgeon, and went away
neekly to wonder if it were true. On
this particular July morning Josephine
accepted her brother Toms services n
oarsman. no because she was not per
fectly well able to row herself, but be
cause it would keep Tom out OF mis-
chief.
Don't rock the boat, Tom. Il
doesn't brighten me, but l can't read
There was a pause.
Row near the bank in the shade,
Tom"
Another, longer pause.
"Say, SIS" said Tom, at length,
"now we're of I'll tell YOU where we'r
going"
Where you're goings Why. you're
going to take me out for a row
mot much I'm going two miles uf
above to see some fellows who an
And going to take mea 1 thinl
you're mistaken. sir. Give n,e thoss
oars"
"No. You don't. Leave 'em alons
and sit still"
Tom. turn this boat instantly q
I'll
"what'n you dos Come. now; yos
sit still or III
A thought seemed TO strike Tom.
"Conse. keep cool. 10. Wen 60 a
. piece .urther, anyway. 1 won'f TAX
you up to the camp il you don't want r
50. You don't want to 20 back ye
awhile, do you?'
"Tom. there's the Desert Isle Jus
ahcsd. Doa't nRnipto it BE careful
pour goiag :tsajght sosnG