The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-05

Then Mrs. Lawrence observed: "Good
so often comes out of suffering, doesn't
F.. it?"
at indeed seems to be the way of the
world"
GA woman placed as you describe, Mr..
Vansittart, would feel. 1 am sure, so
deep, so strong gratitude for the man
who had nobly dedicated his life to her
that as time wore on she would give to
him an affection, different in kind, per-
haps, but not inferior in intensity, to
that which she had felt for the man who
first won her heart"
"That would be the only reward 1
should hope for" said I.
$50 that, in the end, should feel-it
would be borne in upon me that this
man was my real, my true, my only
At this point Mrs. Lawrence stopped
and, on looking up, we saw a stout,
elderly man, wearing a blue jersey
standing just in front of us.
"Beg pardon, num-" said he, "but are
you the lady what asked Jim Dobbs
about the gentleman what's out in the
boatP"
about the-whatp Oh, yes, l sup
pose-oh, yes. l am"
well, you've no cause to be put out
about i'm, mum. He's just rounding
minutes time"
"But Dobbs said it was very danger
Gus" protested.
"Dobbs don't know everything, sir,
beggin' your pardon. Anyways, the
al 81 e. l<0T14 - f<r-
your sake, num-"
"Thank you-thank you so much, ="
said Mrs. Lawrence.
The elderly man stood looking at me
in such manner that I took a six
pence out of my pocket and gave it to
him. To be frank, l have seldom
grudged sixpence more. Then the
elderly man passed on.
There was long silence. Mrs. Law
renee had made quite little pit in the
gravel walk. Once she looked at me,
and finding me regarding her (rather
gloomily, / believe) hastily turned away
again with a blush. At last the silence
became acknowledgements improper, in
fact.
"What were we talking about when
that man interrupted usP" asked Mrs.
Lawrence, with desperate assumption
of ease.
1t is rule of mine to give a plain
answer to plain question.
I'VE were talking" said l. "of what
would have happened if Dobbs had
known everything" And, having thus
said, suddenly began to laugh.
Women are strange creatures. Mrs.
Lawrence leaped up from her seat and
stood over me. Her eyes flashed with
Indignation and she positively brand
ished her parasol at me.
"You horrid, horrid boy!" she cried.
"My dear Mrs. Lawrence" pro-
tested.
"You've made me talk as if /"
at was mere hypothesis, l plead
ed.
"As if I-oh! Anyhow, if my husband
were drowned a thousand times over,
I'd never speak to YOU"
$50 you say now," said I composedly.
"But you know you were quite taken
with the prospect little while ago"
'Mr. Vansittart, you're wicked! How
can l 60 and tell my poor dear Rob-
bie?"
81 don't insist on your telling him, "
perhaps you think I don't care for
himP" she cried defiantly.
"The hypothesis was that you did, p"
said 1. That's what made it so inter-
esting."
81 shall sit somewhere else at dinner
tonight" Mrs. Lawrence announced,
haughtily.
"If you 60 on like this, I observed
warningly, Il shall end by being"
you can be just what you like"
"By being glad" concluded.
"Glad! Glad of what?"
"Glad," said I, 'that l see your hus-
band walking toward US in perfect
health"
AS I spoke he came within speaking
distance.
"Hullo, Georgie!" he cried to his
wife. Here am-had bit-of blow,
| though.
Mrs. Lawrence ran few steps toward
him. took the liberty of following.
"Vansittart been looking after youp"
asked Lawrence with a smile.
"Oh, my darling Robbie" cried Mrs.
Lawrence, "Tve been Imagining all
sorts of things about you"
foolish child" said he, fondlv.
"Did you think 1 was going to be
drownedP"
"We didn't exactly think it, broke
in. "We assumed it by way Of"
please. Robbie, will you take me in
to the house?" said Mrs. Lawrence,
hastily.
Mrs. Lawrence did sit elsewhere at
dinner. but Lawrence said to me, as we
! played billiards afterward:
Tell you what old chap. if a fellow
wants his wife to be extra pleasant to
him, he can't do better than risk his life
on this beastly lake." and he smiled
most contentedly.
1t was merely penitence. of course.
But let him alone.