The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-12
CHAPTER III.
TEE REGATnA

| The sun rose brightly in cloudleSs sky
upon the morning of the day set apart for
the Crystal Lake Beat Club regatta, and the
members and all the village folks in force,
who took uncommon interest in the affair,
hailed the welcome fact gladly.
From early hours extensive preparations
were made for the great event. PaviliOns
| were erected, substantial grand stand con-
| structed, and the boat-house put in order.
The boat-house, from whence the con-
| testants were to start, was galy decorated
with flags and banners and festoOns OF red
and blue cloth, the colors of the Club and
the immense dance hall which it contained
was put in readiness for the evening ball
after the sports of the day were over.
Such a carnival Fairview had seldom be-
fore experienced, and was not again to wit
ness for many a day.
Nearly ali the contestants in the different
races were upon the river early taking their
customary exercise.
Hartley Brandon was among them in his
costly cedar shell, made by one of the most
experienced boat builders in the State, and
which had cost its owner good round sum.
Brandon was undeniably good oarsman
indeed being counted the crack of the Club
by many, and bad been coached many weeks
by one of the most experienced boating men
in Maryland
But an expert would find a certain lack in
what is called in boating parlance, his "de-
made his stroke. Professionals generally
made fuller and less jerky stroke, not al
lowing the oar to leave the water so soon.
OF this Brandon had been warned by his
trainer but in his usual puffy manner the
son of Fairviews great magnate had af-
firmed that he believed he knew what
stroke he could make the most speed at, and
that was in fact the stroke he wanted and
int Ia1 60 oil 10
1t was really not a bad stroke, and would
have required no ordinary professional to
equal it. and among the gamblers 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, moth
ing been learned from him since the pre-
YiOuS night.
He was not upon the river this morning
at the customary pull, and this fact gave
Brandon much satisfaction.
THE impudent puppy" he muttered, as
he rounded the upper two-mile sake and
glanced homeward over the clear simmer
ing surface OF the lake. Zone 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 ne will be present, for | know can
beat him, and it will be great satisfaction
to me to do So"
Tom at that moment was pacing the shore
at Crystal Lake below the boat-house in a
terrible whirl of perplexity and doubt.
IL was not the approaching race that
troubled his mind, but the prospective duel
which weighed most heavily upon his con-
science.
Conscience whispered to retrace his steps,
apologize, and seek to settle the affair ami
cably, but an exacting sense of honor and
false pride impelled him onward to the verge
of the fearful abyss.
He dreaded to meet Minnie Stockwell,
although 1t was not possible that news OF
the affair had as yet reached her ears.
He felt an overwhelming sense of guilt,
and told himself that be 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 himself sufficiently to enter the
boatlhouse, and so had sought the solitude
of a little strip of sandy beach just below
the boat-house, where growth of oak came
down 10 The water's.edge.
He paced restlessly up and down, wrap
ped in thought, and noted not how fast the
time passed until suddenly he heard a rustic
in the shrubbery on the bank above his
head, and lifting his gaze his heart almost
stood still to perceive Minnie Stockwell, the
beauty OF Fairview, and his pledged love,
gazing down upon him in surprise
"Why TOMB exclaimed the beauty.
what are you doing here in this strange
place, l have been looking all about for
you. Your services are much needed 1
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 several
Intellectual efforts to clear his throat. Eyes,
Minnie, will 60 now. got into one of my
thinking moods and forgot myself. By gra-
cious, did not know it was so late. One
hour of noon, and the regatta is to COM
mence at o'clock"
Minnie, keen little maiden, gave Tom a
searching glance as he scrambled up the
bank TO her side.
With a kind of womanly instinct she
guessed that there was something weighty
upon her boy-lover's mind, but she betrayed
not the knowledge.
eyes, and my brave knight, it is even