Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-08-22
A 6AR-HAReoR ROMANCE.

shore. Maud is full of carefully-con.
cealed fears of spill; Harry, OF per-
fectly patent alteration of her)
Maud (apprehensively)-Have you
ever been capsized?
Harry without refection) OOH, yes;
lots OF times (Bethinking himself
That is. | mean never; or, at least, not
when l had passengers.
Maud-Didn't you say just now that
this is the first time you've asked any
one to go out with you?
Harry (heedlessly ardent)
yes! l have always preferred being
alone until-until now.
Maud Gathering to the point)-
Then you have never had any passen-
gers?
Harry-N-no.
Maud lin Q. E. d. tone)-Ah. I
thought so!
Harry (thinking opportunity favora-
ble)-What need you fear when with
me-when with one who would gladly
give his life
Maud (aside)-Oh, dear, oh. dear,
oh, dear! He's going to speak! And
of all places in the world, in this hor-
rid, webbing thing. that the least
lurch may turn bottom side up! One
might as well make a declaration on q
tight rope over Niagara Falls!
Harry fear you think me pre-
sumptuous-
Maud (aside)-No, not at all; but
so dreadfully fidgety! Why can't he
propose quietly? Every time he
clasps his hands in that agonized way.
we only just miss going over!
Harry-But if you knew my suffer-
ing!
Maud (aside)-And if you knew
mine! Oh, how he makes us rock
when he signs!
Harry Growing desperate)-And
you sit there
Maud (aside)-It's all 1 can do
though, when you bounce about so!
Harry (wildly)-Calm, cool, uncon-
cerned -
Maud (aside)-Any thing but that.
Harry-Motionless
Maud (aside)-One of us must be, if
we hope to see land again.
Harry Sinking down)-I almost lose
hope.
Maud (aside)-And you'll COM
pletely lose your balance. if you don't
mind.
Harry Tin great excitement) But
nevertheless. l will risk my happiness.
Maud (aside) And our lives!
Goodness! We took in bucketful
that time!
Maryland ask if you love me?
Maud (aside)-Oh, what shall do?
If say Yes" Gas always intended).
he'll instantly seize me in his arms,
and then souse we go into the water.
And l really can't say mo" to the
dear fellow, even to save capsize,
but
Harry (despairingly throwing HIM
self back mo answer!
Maud (aside)-Oh! All! But he
mustn't be permitted to do that again.
It's miracle that we're still above
water. I'll temporize little-hes-
itate-coquette- thing, any
thing to keep him quiet. and this
wretched craft right side up until we
can get ashore again. (Aloud.) Mr..
Spooner-
Harry evidently starting up)-Don't
call me that!
Maud (aside)-Every thing-silence
Or speech-seems to agitate him; and
worse, makes him agitate the canoe
(Aloud.) Well. Harry. then!
Harry (much excited)-She calls me
Harry!
Maud (aside)-I certainly won't
again, if it causes such plunges as
that l thought we were gone!
(Aloud.) This is so sudden-so unex-
pected. that I hardly know what to say.
We are both very young
Harry half rises to his feet in pro-
test.)
Maud (aside) doomed to die
so, it looks to me. He'll be through
the bottom. indeed he will! (Aloud)
scarcely feel that /
Harry Gearing his hair)-She's go
ing to refuse!
Maud (aside)-Not in case that is a
specimen of the way you'd receive the
announcement. How passionate he is,
and how he does thrash around! No
girl who couldn't swim would be like
" to refuse him-until she got ashore.
(Aloud). You misunderstood me, Mr..
,Sp-Harry.
Harry (demonstratively)-Then you
accept me!
Maud (aside)-Mercy on me! Do
all his emotions take the form of
spasms? (Aloud). Please paddle
back to the pier; and, on the way,
will consider my answer.
Harry (gloomily)-Very well.
Maud (aside)-Tm saved! Evident
" the feeling of suspense is the sole
one that doesn't react under his mus
cular system. Half way in. already.
Poor boy, how anxious he looks! He
fears I'll throw him over, when it's
only that / want to prevent his dom g
the same to me. But a few rods more.
Suppose l speak? One little word
would entirely reverse his feelings -
yes, and the canoe likewise. No. I'll
wait! Twenty yards-fifteen-ten-
and here we are.
Maud (aside) Thank the stars!
Now he may be as convulsive as he
likes. (Aloud). Well. ye-es. Harry
dear Harry!
Harry somewhat later)-Do you
know, darling, that by your conduct
in the canoe you quite upset me?
Maud (very tenderly)-Yes; but you
don't know how often you almost upset