The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-10-18
A ROMANCE OF TO-DAY

This was q ridiculous time Of year to be
staying in what was in reality a summer
hotel. There was no help for it, however. A
calamity had befallen Mr.. Banjamin Baxter's
town house. 1t was one Of q row OF hand.
some marble-front residences, and a fire that
had occurred nextdoorhad resultedin his own
domicile being SO thoroughly flooded with
water as to require almost endles repairs
and renovations to furniture, carpet, walls,
ceilings and the like. The fremen, too, had
with commendable zeal smashed in a large
section of the roof, necessitating considerable
repairs in that direction. .
Mr.. Baxter, WHO was q retired plumber, be.
lievedin repairing this sort ofthing thorough.
ly, and also in personally experimenting the
work. Moreover he informed his excellent
wife and dutiful daughter that such was his
hatred Of city hotels that he would rig up a
tent and camp out in the vacant lot oppo.
site should they attempt to move into town
before their dwelling was in readiness to re.
ceive them. As for himself, there was no
difficulty; he was comfortably provided for
in the rooms of an elderly bachelor friend in
the same block, right on the ground, where
he could hurry the repairs forward with all
possible speed. ~ :
Mrs. Baxter, being.a thoroughly amiable
lady, and devoted to her husband, acquiesced
in these arrangements, though there was a
good reason why they should be particul.
arly trying to her at this time.
continued presence of the two young
men who had persistently laid siege to the
affections of her daughter Ethel all through
the summer. And, in order to obtain an
idea OF the exact situation at this time, q few
words of explanation are necessary.
The two young men were named respective-
" Mr.. Edgar Ingram and Mr.. Clarence Forbes.
They were residents of the same city as the
Baxter family, and as q matter of course,
while ~outwardlyJ civil to each other,
were in reality on terms of the
deadliest rivalry. Mr.. Forbes had the ad.
vantage of old acquaintance, having known
the family for nearly two years. Mr.. Ingram,
on the other hand, was q comparative novel
ty. He had known the family only a few
months, but had certainly made good use of
his time. He possessed the advantages of a
certain sort of good looks, cultivated man.
ners and considerable money. Mr.. Forbes, on
the contrary, had little in the world save q
handsome figure and a still handsomer face.
He was a struggling young attorney and still
intimated, had not as yet come to an open
quarrel, though they had several times come
perilously near it. OF the attitude of the pa
rents it may be said Mr.. Bakers was
one Of total indifference; he simply
ssia in his effect f"ir-9 tsnt t5 girl Sna
nothing on earth she could not do that she
had a mind to. Mrs. Baxter, however, was,
not unnaturally, strongly in favor of Mr..
Ingram, whose superior advantages in the
way of wealth n position there was no de-
nying. Miss Ethel herself was noncommittal,
so far; but, being an extremely dutiful
daughter, wal far from being unaffected by
her mothers counsel. Then, too, Clarence
had chosen to be as jealous and hateful as a
bear of late. and the desire to demonstrate
to him that she was entirely mistress of her
own inclinations was much too strong to be
resisted. :.
This morning, a dull, gray, unpleasant
morning early in November, MI. Forbes
and Miss Baxter had come nearer
to an open quarrel thar for
many q long month. He had accused her
point-blank of triAing with him; she had re-
torted that she did not wish to trife with
him an instant longer than he himself
choose to be tri1ed with, SO there. Her
big blue eyes had snapped wickedly as
dered away alone down the beach, q very
disconsolate man indeed.
1t was nearly two hours when he returned,
much to late for dinner. Just as he was
turning aside to ascend the slope to the hotel
he caught sight Of small group of figures on
the beach, axdf Observed a lank fisher
youth, with bare feet and "a battered blue
flannel shirt, in the act of LAUGHING a heavy
yawl, used at this late season for fishing ex-
cursions. Mr.. Forbes hesitated a moment,
glanced at the sky, and then walked quickly
down and joined the little party, Miss Ethel
glanced at him indifferently; Mr.. Ingram ac-
corded him with a supercilious nod. Mrs.
Baxter barely noticed him. ~
II beg your pardon" began Clarence, bow
ing gracefully, "but l venture to hope that
you do not contemplate a sail this morn
"Oh yes, Mr.. Forbes, we did," replied Mrs.
Baxter, cheerfully, with an unmistakable
emphasis on the pronoun. "
Clarence ignored the snub and began again:
81 beg you will not think me intrusive, Mrs.
Baxter" he said, 'but / can lay claim to
enough weather-wisdom to feel certain that a
sail in a tub like this to-day may prove ex-
tremely unpleasant, and l hope you will not
undertake it."
Mr.. Ingram's sneer became more accentu-
ated.
But Clarence looked so handsome and so
earnest that Mrs. Baxter, who was not a
valiant soul on the water, might have relented.
But Ethel, h got it into her sunny
little head that Clarence merely wished to
spoil her sail in Ingram's company, decreed
otherwise. With Ingram still sneering
industriously, she stepped into the
boat, drew her mother in after her and signed
to the fsher-boy- and Ingram to push off.
Don't be concerned about us, Mr.. Forbes
she called out, sweetly, but you may come
with us, if you like, and if you are not afraid. -
She had no idea that he would accept the
invitation, but it was all he was waiting for.
The boat was ten feet from shore, but he ig-
nored the ruination wroughtto his handsome
and rushed through the strip ofwater, clutch
ing the gunwale just in time to be drawn into
the now rapidly-moving craft. Both ladies
gave vent to q cry of surprise at this extra
ordinary proceeding, and Mr.. Ingram SO far
forgot his task of sneering Is to laugh
little. Clarence said nothing,
but glowered at him very savagely and clam.
bered down into the bow, where he crouched
down, very cold, very uncomfortable and al
together miserable
He had not been there five minutes before
he began to feel thoroughly thankful that he
was there. The yawl was under mainsail,
top soil and jib, nj by and by her old timbers
fairly Cracked with the way she was flying
throughthe water. The wind was a%lmOstdead
off shore and increasing every moment. Mr..
Ingram stood at the tiller and directed the
boy in the manipulation of the sails. Ethel
fairly shouted with glee at themagniicence OF
the run, n Mr.. Ingram almost felt compen-
stated for his rivals presence.
1t was not long, however, before Mrs. Bax.
ter noticed the extreme haziness of the shore
line and began to realize the distance they
were out. In spite of Ethel's protest she
peremptorily bade Mr.. Ingram put the boat
about and make for the shore.
1t was not until the young man attempted
to put her orders into execution that those
on board realized tide force of the wind that
was blowing. 1t a m with great, powerful
gusts and made o horribel singing sound as
itsswept through the scanty rigging. Then,
too, it suddenly beanie apparent that while