The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-07-25

Then row row row
SO mCrrily, merrily row.
The words OF the boating song
noated lightly over the waters, and
died in many echoes among the trees
on the river bank.
They brought a smile to the lips OF
Grant Clayton, artist and idler, as he
lay under the shadow OF these same
trees.
Lazily he lifted his handsome Saxon
mead, resting it on his hand, and
looked for the singer.
There she was in her light little skitf,
lust "feathering' the oars, seemingly
as happy as a child, with her bare
brown arms showing, graceful and
pretty, from the light muslin she wore,
and the sunset slanting on her dark,
uncovered head.
"A perfect pictured" the young man
thought, his artist-eye kindling 81
wonder if | have time to make q
sketch of her? | might call it Drift
ing JOve, how very beautiful she is
! could sit and watch her thus for
hours. What a face-and that voice
of hers is like a silver bell"
He drew forth his sketch book, sal
up and selected a pencil. In a mo-
ment he was making rapid lines and
curves, working with vigOr almost
unknown to the careless idler, who
but took pencil or brush as a child
takes playthings, but who had I'M
doubted skill and some talent.
by headand bold and winding bay,
That look 40 lovely far away,
How pleasantly we II sail along.
And listen to the bOatmans song"
She had drifted by while singing the
second verse, and, with her eyes on
the water, had ceased to lift the oars.
The sun had suddenly gone down,
and the shadows touched her pretty,
sheII-ike boat; but Grant had finished
his sketch and lain back among the
ferns and grasses, but, with his chin
on his clasped hands, was still watch
ing this fair Gladly OF the lake"
Though pillows rage and pillows roar,
God regns supreme on sea and shore,
And shields with His almighty hand
From dangers both by sea and land"
He sang the last verse clearly, with
a sparkle OF mirth in his usually in
dolent eyes as they watched the girl.
She seemed first surprised, then
laughed softly, and hastily backed
water" until the skiff was under the
shadow of the bank.
Rex :" she called. ''Come show
yourself, sir, I'll never believe you
again when you say you cannot sing.
Come and row me home; I'm tired"
Grant sprang up then-a tall, hand
some, but rather shame-faced young
man-and approached the bank. The
girl eyed him with perfect composure.
II beg your pardon" he STAN
mered; very much confused by those
calm, dark eyes. II am not Rex, who
ever he may be.
so see, she replied calmly.
And with motion of her slender
wrists she sent the skiff out again from
the shore; then bending gracefully to
the oars, she seemed fairly to fly over
the surface that her boat scarcely
rippled.
''Jovel what a iace" the young
man thought again, remembering all
its calm, dark beauty, as it had shown
on him from the shadows. II will see
it again ii have to haunt the margin
of this river forever"
The dark, glowing face went with
him the whole night long; it haunted
the parlors of Mr.. Nettleby, whose
guest he was, during the following day,
which was one OF constant rain, and
kept him indoors.
He made a half II dozen copies of his
hasty sketch, but not one of them did
Justice to the face of his ''lady of the
lake" Hetore them up in despair, and
wondered what allied him, as many
wiser men have done before him, and
probably will do after, when the first
light shaft has flown from the bow OF
Cupid, and the little god laughs to see
how certain was his aim
When the sun came out, on the third
day, very handsome young artist
might have been found in the very
spot from which he had seen the small
boat first; but, although he watched
for it until he almost lost his dinner,
ii never came.
Il am masculine Mariana" he told
himself in disgust. "She COmeth not.
and I'm making a fool of myself"
So he went back to Mr.. Nettlby s
and found the daughters of the house
ready to remind him of an engagement
which had completely escaped his
mlnd-a lawn dance, to which he was to
escort them, given by Mrs. Langton.
You have never seen Inez, or you
would have remembered, Miss Net.
tleby told him, and he laughingly de.
clared he had not
They arrived rather late at the pic.
turesque house OF the Langtons. and
found the merriest party possible
dancing and laughing, and turning
all things TO mirth" in Mrs. Langton's
grounds.
III | should meet her herer Grant
thought, as he bent over the fair hand
OF his hostess
And the lady, as if conscious OF his
prayer, led him across the sward and
straight up to a stately figure, which
was standing directly under a fall OF
rose-hued light.
The light came from a colored Ian
tern suspended from branch above
her, but to the dazzled eyes of the art
list 1t seemed to come straight from
heaven; for at the word. "Inez. my
daughter, | wish to present Mr.. CLAY
ton to you," the dark eyes turned In
MS direction, and they were the same
CAIN, clear, magnificent ones that had
looked up at him through the shadows
of the sunset.
lie was stammering forth somecom-
monplace words when burst OF music
drowned his voice, and in another
moment he found himself leading Inez
Langton toward the platform, which
had been erected among the trees OF
the lawn.
He had taken her for some farmers
daughter when he saw her rowing on
the river, but her beauty had taken
captive his artist soul.
He found her a very queen OF socie.
ty, possessed Of every grace, when he
met her in her stately home; and ere