The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-21

one of my fishing lines if you won't fuss"
said Dick.
DAISY or Katie might stay" said Madge.
wistfully. Il haven't been over to the Point
but twice all summer, and you're always 60
ing"
SNow see here Madgie," said Walter, COM
ing forward with trousers rolled up above
his knee, you can't do anything in the boat,
you know, and everybody else can. Even
Daisy can bail out the wafer and Katie is
going to tell us fairy story on the way over
Besides, we can't always be taking You around
with US everywhere. You can't go; that is all
there is about it. Well bring you back lots
of shells and things, so be good and don't
bother US"
Then Madgie satdown on the sand and be-
gan to cry There was no gainsaying her
elder brothers decision. but the disappoint-
ment was too great to be borne with calm
ness. She buried her face in her white apron
and would not took up as the boat moved
off. Seems to me girl nine years old is
too big to cry over a boat ride" said Bert
severely as he jumped in last. And then
the Ann Mary" danced away toward the
Point and the company within began
to talk very fast about all manner ofsubjecus,
and to look about them in every direction
but the one they had just left. Only Ned sat
very still with his eyes fixed on that solitary
little figure on the yellow sand, with the long
brown hair falling about its shoulders and its
head buried in its lap. Ned thought that if
he had little sister like that he would not
treat her as Walter and Katie did theirs. He
was quite angry with Katie for coming, and
reflected that all the grown people in the
house were gone for drive, and that there
were only one or two nurses and babies left
to be company for little Madge. OF course
it was no business of his. He wasn't respon-
sible for other peoples sisters, and and yetit
would oe lonely for the poor little thing.
For his part he didn't see why some one
N wifi Gfrlo
an awfully selfish set. Why, it would spoil
his pleasure for the whole afternoon to think
Of how she had cried when Walter said she
couldn't go.
He turned the subject over and over in
his mind while Katie began her fairy story,
and at last they neared long sp1r of rock
that stretched out from the shore, almost
half way to the Point be suddenly spoke
out
''See here. Bert, I've got to 60 back, There's
something want to see to on shore. Let me
off here, will you, and Twill walk back along
the beach"
There was general cutlery of surprise. Ned
was fayorite with every one, and no party
was complete without him.
why, what on earth" cried Bert, resting
on his oar in amazement. What's got into
you. Ned Hart?'
mo matter said Ned shortly. Pm not
going. that's ALL"
"Why, l think it is too bad" said Daisy.
What are you going to do, I'd like TO
known
1T doesn't concern YOU" answered Ned,
still more impatiently. i've got something
to see to. l say. Here. Dick, back water,
can't you, and bring the dory round, so /
can get out. Katie, you come and take my
oar. No l sha'n't go, so you needn't tease.
Just let me of, and let me alone"
Ned was decidedly cross as he stepped on
the first rocks. He knew perfectly well that
he was not the one to give up his fun for the
sake of q silly little cry-baby of nine years
old, but where was the use Of going on if all
the pleasure was spoiled already He went
springirg on from rock to rock with an inn
patient sense of injury. He had no idea of
letting Masge know that he had come back
on her account, but he would let her stay
with him till the rest came back at any rate.
1t wasn't long before he met her wandering
forlornly along the beach. with red rims
about her eyes and general appearance of
depression, which restored Ned's good humor
Immediately.
'Hullo. Madgie" he said, enjoying her
surprise at sight of him.
why, where did you come from?' she
cried. stopping short and regarding him with
establishment.
"They let me off up above there" replied
Ned looking down at her with his hands in
his pockets. 81 thought I'd rather take the
raft and go up the creek a way, to a place
know that's full of red lilies and raspberries
and things"
"0h," said Madge, relapsing into melan-
choly. The raft was the property of the
boys, and none of the girls had ever accom-
panied them on those delightful journeys up
the creek.
You can go with me, if you want to-"
sid Ned condescendingly. II don't mind
taking you, as long as the others aren't here,
sit Cfi 10 hob toll
YOU"
"Oh, 1 will l will" cried Madge, clapping
her hands with delight oh Ned VOC re
the best boy! Do let's hurry 1 wantto see
the red lilies so muchm
1t was only short walk to the mouth of
the salt creek that moved down to the sea
through the fields of the farm where the
children were spending their holidays
They reached the place in high spirits, Madge
dancing with joy, and Ned already making
up his mind that his small sacrifice was go
ing to pay"
"Now you sit still as a stone" said the boy
lifting his companion into the middle of the
raft I'm pole and you can be passenges-
or no. he continued with burst of benevo-
lence, II declare, I've a great mind to let you
pole too. Here, catch hold of this one and
and Just here by me, and now push. If
you do pitch in can pull you right out. so
you needn't be afraid. Now, off we 60"
/ think Madge has never known a more
delightful hour than that in which she and
Nea went up the creek together for the first
tine. winding among the hay-fields and or
cbaTds, now catching at the low hanging
branch of a thimbleberIy blush and staining
their fingers with the sweet berries warmed
through with the July sun; now watching
the shine of the sea through the bushes, and
again coming out into an open space where
they could see the whole sweep of the beach
with Point Lyle standing bold and rugged
beyond the level sands.
AS for pitching i'm t at foreseen coutin-
gency did actually occur, and Madge re-
ceived an involuntary duckiDg from which
she was promptly rescued by her boy pro
tector and placed dripping on the raft again
with the injunction to squeeze it out an
never mind, for salt water doesn't give cold.
And at last they reached the field where
the red lilies grew, thousands OF them, all
swaying and bowling to each other like So
many queens in gorgeous scarlet robes.
There was little thicket of bushes all about
the field, like wall for this royal presence
room, and overhead the sky was clear deep
blue and red butterflies were dancing high
in the air, as if some of the lilies had taken
wing and flown away to see what lay outside
of their pleasant green court.
Madge plunged into the lilies with ashriek
of delight, while Ned devoted himself to
thin bleberries, and reflected that little girls
Wal croO1 onH hat he