Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-16

DRIFTING.
By MARY G. PRESTON.

ne DOat IL trlmmfQ Win Sail ana oar,
And all prepared to quit the shore;
Then Oh We 90, with wind and tide,
Across the sunny waves to glide.
Then row row rowl
Merrily over the waves we 60!
Then row row rowl
So merriy, merrily, row!
The words OF the boat song hoated light
ly over the waters. and died in MANY
echoes among the trees on the river bank
They brought smile to the lips of
Grant Clayton, artist and idler, as he lay
under the shadow of those same trees.
Lazily he lifted his fine Saxon head.
resting on his head. and looked for the
singer.
There she was in her light little skiff,
just "feathering" the oars, seemingly as
happy as child, with her bare brown
arms showing graceful and pretty, from
slanting on her dark. uncovered head.
"a perfect picture!" the young man
thought, his artist-eves kindling. 81
wonder if have time to make sketch
OF her? | might call it Drifting Jove
how very beautiful she is | could SIT and
watch her thus for years. What face
and that voice of hers his like a silver
bell''
He drew forth his sketch book, sat up
| and selected pencil. In a moment he
was making rapid lines and curves, work
ing with vigor almost unknown to the
careless idler. who but took pencil and
brush as child takes playthings, but who
had undoubted skill and some talent.
"By headland bold and winding bay,
That look so lovely far away,
How pleasantly Well sail along,
And listen to the boatman's 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 shell-like
boat but Grant had finished his sketch,
and lain back among the terms and grass
es, but, with his chin on his clasped hands,
was still watching this fair LADY of the
lake.
Though pillows rage and pillows roar
God reigns supreme and shore,
And shiel Ids 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 indolent
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.
"Rexn' she called, ''come show your
self, sir! I'll never believe you again
when you say you can't sing. Come and
row me home; I'm tired"
Grant sprang up then, tall, handsome,
but rather shame-f faced Young man, and
approached the bank. The girl eyed him
with perfect composure.
| II beg your pardon !" he stammered
very much confused by those calm, dark
eyes. 81 am not Rex, whoever he NAV
be-"
$50 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.
glove! what a face :" the Young man
Thought again, remembering all it's calm,
dark beauty as it had shone on him from
the shadows. 81 will see it again if
have to haunt the margin of this river for
ever"
The dark, glowing face went with him
the whole night long it haunted the PAT.
lors of Mr.. Nettleby, whose guest he was,
during the following day, which was one
of constant rain and kept him indoors.
He made half dozen copies of his has
ty sketch, but not one of them did Justice
to the face Of his "ady of the lake" He
tore them up in despair and wondered
what allied him. as many wiser men have
done before him and probably will do af-
ter, 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, II 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 Tor it until he al.
most lost his dinner it never came.
Il am masculine Mariana" he told
himself in disgust. 'She cometh not. and
am making a fool of myself"
So he went back to Mr.. Nettlebv's and
found the daughters of the house ready tc
remind him OF an engagement which baC
completely escaped his mind-a lawn
dance to which he was to escort them
given by Mrs. Laughton.
You have never seen Inez or Vol
would have remembered" Miss Nettleby
told him. and he laughingly declared he
had not
They arrived rather late at the pictur
esque house OF the Laughtons, and tounC
the merriest party possible-dancing ant
laughing and turning all things tc
mirth' in Mrs. Laughton's grounds. IL
should meet her here!' Grant thought
as he bent over the fair hand of his hos
tess.
And the lady. as if conscious of hi
; prayer. led him across the sward ant
straight up to a stately figure, which wa
standing directly under fall of ros,
hued light.
! The light came from colored lanter,
suspended from branch above her, ba
to the dazzled eyes of the artist it seemed
to come straight from Heaven. for at tn,
words "lnez, my daughter wish to pre-
sent Mr. Clayton to you," the dark eve
turned in his direction. and they were th,
same calm. clear. magnificent ones tina
had looked up at him through the shad
ows of the sunset.
He was stammering forth some com
momplace words when burst of musi,
drowned his voice, and in another moment
he found himself leading Inez Laugtor
toward the platform. which had beer
erected among the trees of the lawn
| He had taken her for Some farmer