Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-08-07
something cleaned at the edge Of the seat


"There is yellow silk handkerchief on
the seat" said Adelaide. "Oh, there's
somebody in the boatl' she cried; pull on
the other oar, Tommy, quickW
BE carefulr' screamed Maria. tom
my, stop"
The bow of their boat shot to the left,
and the stern swinging around just grazed
the other In the bottom of the boat lay
at full length young man clad in white
boating suit. His hat was off and his
blond head rested on his crossed hands.
He was gazing straight up at the leaves
overhead and did not stir as the Alexander
boat slid alongside. Then came dead
stop. For one long second Cora looked
down into pair of deep blue eyes which
looked up into hers. Then Tommy began
to splash wildly with the oars.
"If ever come out on the water again
with a rude, noisy boy" began Maria as
soon as they were out of hearing-"row to
the shore at once"
What makes you so cross this morning
sisf" said Tommy plaintively. VI haven't
done anything have lT'
LET us get out below here and get some
marguertes," said Adelaide
AS they stepped out of the boat Cora put
her arm around Tommy and kissed him.
Hes sittin up in the boat" said
Tommy.
Tommy, don't you dare to look back, 1"
said Maria
IL know him." said Tommy; "he lives in
the big house across the river He talked
to me yesterday while was catchin' frogs.
He showed me where he lived and asked
me to come see him, and I'm goin' He
asked me if all three of the young ladies
were my sisters"
81 hope you told him nothing about us"
81 said you two girls were my sisters and
Cora was my cousin, and then he asked if
the dark young lady was Miss Cora, and
said yes, and that she didn't live with us;
that she lived in Greene county, O., and
that she was engaged to be married, but
that neither of you girls was-oh look
there's frogr
They staid for some time gathering
marguerites, hut Cora wherever she looked
saw only two flowers, side by side, and of 6
deep blue color When they rowed back
she saw them in the water, but the boat
was gone.
The next morning she came alone tc
walk by the water. Adelaide had a head
ache and the children were off somewhere
with Maria. She was glad to be by her
self, in the quiet of the woods and away
from the sound of their noise and bicker
ing
She walked down the stream as far a:
the dam, and returning sat for long time
under the overhanging rock. Suddenly {
boat glded around the bend and came di
rectly toward her. In it sat young man
He rested on the long oars and looked a
Cora The boat slid into little cove jus
above the rock, and kneeling on the sea
the young man began to fasten it with I
chain One Of the oars dropped from tn,
rowlock and floated down the stream to
ward Cora She had risen to go, but see
ing that he did not miss the oar she STOPPED
and lifted it dripping from the water. HI
turned at the same moment, and seein!
what had happened sprang from the boa
and came toward her
"Thank you, very much" he said, "bu
| am sorry you have wet your arm"
at is of no consequence" said Cora, dry
ing her hands on her handkerchief.
He stood before her, slender, graceful
, figure, holding the oar lightly in one hant
: and his hat in the other, until Cora hac
dried her hands and tucked her handker
: chief in her belt Then she turned to g
away.
please don't go just yet" he said, tax
ing step forward. II haven't Thanked
you enough have driven you away from
your place too"
"Oh. no." she replied. 81 was just &C
ing"
won't you sit down and talk to me
: only for few momentsS" he said smiling
, then won't feel that have dispossesse,
YOU have been out rowing for tw
hours, and it is very lonely, not having
soul to talk to-"
Cora was greatly embarrassed, bu
feared to appear rude before this hand
I some and polite young man.
II must go back" she said irresolutely
for my cousins do not know where am.
3 Then she sat down. He flung himself o
the grass near her. Now" he said, Wv
{ can talk like two old friends"
t He began to tell her of the Bronx regio
and the different beautiful places along tn
y river He pointed out the gable of grea
white house just visible above the trees o
e the other side of the stream, where
q lived in the summer with his mother an
sister
I'VE are very quiet now" he said, "br
a little later we shall have a house full {
company, and if you are to be here tn
a summer ] want my sister to know yol
v What! you are going away tomorrow
Oh, | am sorry for that-just as we hay
become acquainted How often it is s.
o the beautiful and charming things IN tn
u life scarcely come to us before they a.
gone"
u He looked down into the water as
! made this commonplace remark, and Coz
stole a swift look at him His face WI
serious and had an expression of real pal
II She thought him very handsome. Lift
d by little her constraint disappeared
the rapid flow of his talk there was lit
S required of her by way of reply, and s.
spoke mostly in monosyllables, but she
at longer felt i'll at ease. She was sorry $
lie had not met her companion a week ago.
p After awhile he talked more slowly, al
paused between his sentences as though
give Cora an opportunity to say son
m thing, but she remained silent. After o
r. of these intervals, during which she hi
m gazed up into the swaying branches abo
It. them, he turned his eyes to Cora's al
Us said
Isn't there something fascinating in t
IS thought that we have met like this, ha
zee sat together on the banks of this river a
talked as two friends, neither knowi
la, even the name Of the other-when, I'm