National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-01
CHAPTER III.

The sun rose brightly in cloudless sky upon
the morning OF the day set apart for the Crystal
Lake Boat Club Regatta and the members and all
the village folk in force, who took uncommon In
erest in the affair, hailed the welcome fact gladly.
From early hours extensive preparations were
made for the great event Paviions were erected,
II substantial grand-stand constructed, and the
boat house put in order
The boat. house, rom whence the contestants
were to start, was gayly decorated with flags and
banners, and fCstuons of red and blue cloth, the
colors Of the CLUB, and the immense dance hall
which 1t contained was put in readiness for the
evening ball, after the sports of the day were over.
Such carnival Fairylew had seldom before ex-
perienccd, and was not again to witness for many
Nearly all the contestants in the different races
were upon the river carly, 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, aud which had cost its
owner good round sum.
Brandon was undeniably good oarsman, in
deed being counted the crack ofthe club by many
and had been coached many weeks by one OF the
| most experienced boating men in Maryland
| But an expert would find certain lack In what
Is called in boating parlance, his delivery" that
| is the manner in Which he made his stroke Pro-
| lcssionas generally made fuller and less Jerky
stroke not allowing the oar to leave the water SO
soon.
Ofthls Brandon had been warned by his trainer,
| but in his usual puffy manner the son of Fair
| views great magnate had affirmed that he be-
| lieved he knew what stroke he could make the
most speed at, and that was in fact the stroke ho
wanted and intended to adhere to.
| 1t was really not u bad stroke, and would have
required no ordinary professional 10 equal IL, and
| among the gamblers Brandon was the favoritc.
There were three pitted against him. one of
| whom was Tom Hathaway, aud Reckless Tom was
| the only opponent Brandon had cause 10 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 morning at the
customary pull, and this fact gave Brandon much
| satisfaction.
"The impudent puppy" he muttered as no
| rounded the upper two-mile stake and glanced
homeward over the clear, shimmering surface Of
| the lake. "One thing in my iaYori he Will not be
| in practice. Perhaps he will not make an appear.
ance, when the race will surely be mine hope
though that he will be present, for know can
beat him, and 1t 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 terrible
whirl OF perpcxity and doubt.
twas not the approaching race lhat troubled MS
mind, but the prospective duel which weighed
/ most heavily upon his conscience.
| Conscience whispered to rerace his steps, apol-
ogze and seek TO settle the AFFAIR anlcaoly, but
PEELED him onward to the verge Of tile fearful
lie dreaded to meet Minnie stockwell, although
ii was not possible that news OF the affair had as
| yet reached her ears.
| lie felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and told
I himself that he would never dare look her in the
lie had come down to the lake to take his regu.
lar exercise az the oars, but so troubled was the
state of his mind that he could not compose him
self sufficiently enter the boat house. and had
sought the solitude of little strip of sandy beach
just below the boat house where a growth Of oak
came down to the waters edge
lie paced restlessly up and down, wrapped In
thought and noted not how fast the time passed
until suddenly he heard a rustic in the shrubbcry
ON the bank above his head, and lining his gaze
his heart almost stood still TO perceive Minnie
Stockwell, the beauty Of Fairyiew and his pledged
love, gazing down upon him In surprise
why, TomV exclaimed the beauty. "What
are you doing here in this strange place? / have
been looking all ub ut for you, Your services are
much needed think, ut the boat house, There
Is much decorating yet TO be DONE and nobody
knows how to do that but YOU
Yes" said Tom, huskiy, after several inefiec.
tual efforts TO clear his throat, Yes Minnie,
and forgot myself, by gracious did not know I
was so late, One hour Of noon, and the regatta Il
to commence at Two o'clock"
Minnie, keen little maiden, gave Tom q search
ing glance as he scrambled up the bank TO hel
side
With u kind Of womanly instinct she guessed
that there was something weghty upon her boy
lovers mind but she betrayed not the knowledge
Yes and, my brave knight, II Is even nigl
time for you to don your armOr and enter the lists
See, have chosen your color, blue, for YOU MAJ
II give you good luck"
81 pray heaven IL may" said Tom, in an unusu
| ally deyOut tone, Then, as though he had forgot
ten himself, g. thank you for the good wish, anC
| will try to prove myself a worthy knight"
But his nadyerCnt tone had not escaped Min
ME, and she was not deceived by his assumed al
? of gayety
they had got two-thirds Of the way TO the boat
house, "wait right here What is the matter viii
you. Tell me right here. surely have right L
know"
"Yes-no, nothing Is the matter with me,
/ stammered Tom, feeling very uncomfortable.