The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-07
MISSED THE BOAT.

best OF our way to the boat"
"Yes, of course we must" he re-
turned chceriully. ~ wish we could
find some one to direct us. don't
know this part OF the world at all.
Where are we to meet the shallopp"
What, don't you know" questioned
Miss de lara, an alarmed look coming
into the blue eyes.
~ must confess don't. [ supposed
you would be sure TO know, and the
others; or perhaps never thought
about 1t at ALL"
ooh, dear, this is unfortunate |!
What are we to do? / was not there
when the arrangements were made.
What can we dO?"
IF you are not too tired, think we
had better walk on; we must try and
strike down the river"
So they tried, but they did not appa-
rently succeed, for no river came In
view, and poor Maud, who never was
good walker, began to stumble over
the long graz from fatigue.
Then Mr.. Dunstan insisted upon her
taking his arm, and they grew more
cheerful under this close contact, the
girl feeling that, awkward as was their
position, she had still strong arm to
protect her. At length they came to a
cottage, and went nc once to the door,
and were told that they had come quite
a way from the river, which was now
about mile and half distant; then,
seeing their plight, the good.natured
country woman invited them In, and, mo-
ticing how tired pale poor Maud looked,
she made her some tea and insisted on
her taking off her shoes and doing her
best to do dry them by the lire.
Mr.. DunStan inquired whether any
conveyance could be found to take them
to the riverside, but there was none to
be had within getable distance
Refreshed with that beverage which
cheers but does not inebriate, Maud
started of once more with her COM
panion, leaving a glad heart behind in
the humble cottage, for Edwin Dun.
stan was a generous fellow, and, seeing
evidence Of the pinch Of poverty around,
had left a golden piece in the woman's
palm. When they reached the river
they could, for a time, gain no infOrma-
ton respecting the Swan, and they
walked along the water side, hoping
that the boat would soon oy ertake them,
and the girl grew so tired that Edwin
Dunstan persuaded her to rest under
tree, with a fallen limb for seat. But
no shallop arrived, and the pretty face
became anxious and worried.
By-and-by barge came up against
the stream. Mr.. Dunstan hailed 1t, and
found that the Swan was long way
down the river-thc barge had espe-
cially noticed her; and upon further
inquiry he was still more annoyed to
earn that they were not more than
half mile from the point from which
they had started SO it was evident tina
they had doubled, like hares and the
only thing for tn, m to do was to re-
turn to the creek where they had
landed and hire boat to convey them
to Radleigh, u distance Of ten miles.
Tears rose in the girls eyes when she
heard of the dilemma she was In, and
her companion strove to reassure her.
Don't fret, Miss de Lara; who knows
but what we may Overtake them? They
are sure to wait reasonable time for
us, and we will make inquiries at the
locks"
They ha some difficulty in persuad.
ing any of the bcatmen to take them SO
great a distance; but money does most
things, and it overcame the unwilling.
ness of the men to start for so long a
pull when evening was so fast closing in
on such dismal night.
They did their best to be cheerful
even trying snatches Of songs, theil
voices blending together and going Out
over the water softly and melodionsly
so that passers-by on the land stopped
to listen, and more than once faces
peered from the windows of houses upor
the banks, attracted by the music under
that umbrella.
But the singing proved a failure al
the shades OF evening drew on, and thu
shivering girl drew closer to Edwin
Dunstan for warmth and shelter.
There was no one there to see them
even the boatman was shut out by tina
paragon frame covered with thick brown
silk. There was no one TO hear, fu
the boatman was decidedly deaf. Hst
|, these two met under ordinary circum
stances they would, OF course, have
been ordinary acQuaintances upon this
the first Of their meetings; but the cir
, camstances were not at all ordinary
! and Edwin really felt obliged to pll
, his arms about the little, shrinking form
= to protect it all he could Tor at any rat
,, it pleased him TO think SOY from tn
-, stormy night wind, for the rain ha,
i, not ceased for a moment, and 1t SCENE
: quite natural to clasp the small, col
. hands which She trusted into his wit
such child-like confidence, and when
few tears rolled slowly down the pal
face, there is not much wonder that h
kissed them away under that proteclin
umbrella, nor that he strove to cOmfor
her in his own fashion.
= IS said you were not to be conven
tional, little Maud" he whispere
4. softly. REST your head upon m
q shoulder; that will be a pillow 70
= YOU"
!, "But onght |? Do you think ought
y What would Beatrice say?"
J, lie was nearly as possible saying
!, "Bother Beatrice!' bur, instead, he Il
piled.
= ~ am sure you ought and mus
h Little one, cannot you trust yourself t
u me?"
:, And she had crept quite close, like
4 tired child, glad to be ut rest, and so h
+ had held her tenderly, his heart goin
" out to her with great love.
;, Then he leaned over her and spok
A." again: "Only fancy, we met to-day fc
:, - the first time, and yet It seems as thong
y had known you all my life. PerhaI
% | have seen you in my dreams; but swet
q Maud, cannot part from you agaiI
" You asked me just now what Mrs. Role
u would saw: that | lo not knnw hi
. . whatever 1t may be, you will give m