The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-09
IN THE TOLLS.

ened, water-coOled CharlevCiX in July
The blue lake stretched westward with
a dim purple cloud to define 1.-THE
Beavers; but to the north it looked
illimitable; its brim touched the sky.
Ont and in through the channel piled
little steamers, gay with flags; row
boats crawled hither and thither, like
crabs with shining legs: along the beach,
day in and day out, bent men, women
and children-demented agate hunters.
Not that one in 4 thousand found an
agate. but even the most geOlogically
ignorant could hope. And these were
all the signs of life there were.
IT'S stupid beyond belief, Crag-
mere" said Ellington.
CragmOre tossed his head backward
with half snort of amusement.
Nv here isn't it STUPID TO you, Eding-
ton? Upon nay word. you re the worst
bored man I ever knew
you think [ affect ennui? 1t is you
who aAcct," he retOrted. You affect
enjoyment, entertainment, delight"
Il a-rct! | aHect nothing said
CTagmore- good hum0redly.
''Iou tinI the lovely everywhere
You're one of those rhapsodical fellows
that Ike sunsets. ] believe you could
find = champagne bead in hotel coffee s"
Cragmore laughed aloud.
r"Yes, we're opposite types, no
doubt" he said. "You wear green and
yellow glasses, and they color the whole
world. Mine are of good, clear crystal,
and | see the broad, clear daylight just
as it is-thanS Heaven"
''And this" said Ellington, waving
his hand with supercilious irony around
the crescent OF beach where they were
walking, lis delightful, charming, CAV. "
"'Charming and delightful yes;
'gay'-not very. But can't you smell
the pines, Ellington? Can't YOU hear
Ghis swaSh on the stones? Can't YOU fill
your smoke -degenerated lungs with this
tonic north wind?"
Il can. But what difference does
that make? It's dull-it's Internally
stupid, and | ought to have known
letter than to start out on a wild-gOose
chase after pleasure with you. 1t
might have been Newport or Bar
Harbor." Then with sigh: ''But l
suppose this was my fate. | agreed to
be guided by you, and here I am"
s.T'll convert you yet, Ellington. Let
me once get you up the Jordan, where
Won can try your hand at landing u
twO-pound trout, and we'll see."
Nothing less than ten pounds would
give me the least satisfaction.
Ten, Ellington! You're preposter-
O,'s! You're a cut and dried cynic!
You arc"
There's FACET interrupted Eding-
ton, in half-whisper, touching his
friend arm 10 arrest his attention.
CragmOre stopped short in his speech
TO look.
a young girl in a most hideous beach
hat was struggling with anine-year-old
voUngSter to prevent his getting into q
boat, which the owner had left supposa-
bly, safe on the beach, while he hunted
up and down for agates. The waves
had looSened the boat and il was bump
ing about in q manner quite attractive
10 the ung0verna5ie boy.
80. dearie. don't you promised not
TO give sister any trouble. You must
not go out upon the water. 1t is too
rough"
But I'm going" roared the lad.
''No. no, pleaded the girl, physic-
ally not strong enough to restrain him,
t.yOu would be drowned, Johnny.
Please. Be good now-pray do"
But he broke away from her williully,
and began clambcring into the boat,
although the surf wet him to the knees.
''You distress me so, Johnny, cried
the Young lady, clinging to the collar
OF his Jacket, out of which he tried to
wriggle himself like muscular eel.
CragmOre stepped forward without
demur, and taking hold of the bow of
the boat kept 1t from being pushed off.
This Young man is incline to 90 to
sea- he said. Don't be troubled. He
won't drown. Such youngsters never
do''-th;s with a rueful accent that con-
Teyed ''more's the pity"
The lad felt comradeShip in the tone,
notwithstanding its implied undervalu-
alton of himself, and looked up with a
bright smile.
''Suppose you take me out" he said.
The young lady blushed why.
Johnny" she exclaimed deprecatingly,
show can your'
Cragmore laughed. He liked the
lads dire2tnesS, turbulent and Gisa-
greeable as he evidently was. And the
one quick glance he had given the sis
ter had made him aware that her face
was quite worthy even EdingtOn's fas-
tidiOuS regard.
Every we'll" said Cragmore. lump
in and take an oar"
Then, turning to the sister, he lifted
his hat, and. bowling low, said: HE
wants turn. He'll be quite safe with
me-" and to his friend: ''Wait here.
Ellington, won't be gone long," and.
stepping rather ciumsily into the boat,
for he was no STRIPPING. he pushed Of,
he and the lad rowing together.
In watching the half-confused, half
relieved look on the young lady's face
at this agreeable disposition of her I'M
ruly charge Ellington began to realize
the constraiat of his situation-tete-a
tete with strange young woman in
an Isolated place and for an indefinite
length of time.
She turned TO glance for the first
time at him, and blushed deeper than
ever at meeting so unsympathetic a
face. The half-sidelong, keen, critical
inspection to which she felt herself sub
jected seemed to jar upon every nerve
in her body like a rude hand paving
rather than touching the strings of some
delicate instrument. She gave half
gasp, as if she would have sat right