Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-27
THURM0NT, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday August H. 1896

MY teuCneT Is HdttcllnS. buJ per
haps may be able to display my skill
in practical way, if only we get a
breeze this afternoon"
Count on me to be severe critic"
said l. "By the way, Miss Gray, do you
mind if combine business with pleas
ure? I have an errand to do at MIR.
Lamar's, and if you would land me near
his house, and then pick me up again,
should be your debtor forever"
She fell in with this plan. and turned
back to the house to secIre q volume
which Lamar had asked me to lend him.
1t was a small textbook OH histology,
remember, though why he should have
desired 70 get smattering of that
branch never learned. When reached
the boat Mrs. Loring was enthroned in
the stern sheets, while her niece was
perched on the narrow seat in the bow.
The air WAS sitting hot on the sheltered
waters OF the creek, and the sweat
gathered on my face as busted myself
with the oars.
nace," protested, ceasinS rowing for
a moment to wipe my forehead u
envy you ladies your parasols and cool
attire"
"Ah, but woman's dress is so illogical,
you know, so contrary to the dictates
Of sense and science" said Miss Gray, q
little mali"iously. To tell the truth, l
think shc was quoting Il remark of mine
with reasonable accuracy.
"Do you believe that?" asked, rather
fceDly, glancing at her over my shoul-
der. She wore Il gown OF some light
thin fabric, and. with the art possessed
by many of her Sex, looked daintily conf
Portable in spite of the outrageous tenn
pcraturc.
"Of course she doesn't" Mrs. Loring
broke in. "Ifa any girl says such thing,
Il is because the fashion is not becoming
to her"
A remark so direct, so unqualified,
and so free from repetitions was Il nov.
city. 1t centered my attention on the
speaker, who, now noted, was dressed
almost as seasonably as her niece, al
though she favored darker colors.
"Noman's opinion seems to be weighty
enough to count" said l, especially as
the kickcrs would, no doubt, be the first
to protest if their objections were
needed and led to rational dress"
"Oh, really, I don't know" said Mrs.
Loring, rising to the opportunity.
Some men are so persuasive, so delight
fully persuasive, doctor, they can con-
vince you, or make you think you're
convinced-which is almost the same
thing, don't you know? And so many
of your profession, doctor-when l
think how great my acquaintance with
them has been, it appalls me, it really
appalls me argue SO beautifully, but
so differently, doctor, so differently.
And very likely it would be the same
thing, the very same thing with them,
if they had to devise q national costume
which should be healthy and hvgienlc
and all the other things it should he
and they say it isn't now, doctor. Now,
l like, yes, really, l must say, like
variety. You can't imagine how pretty,
how very pretty some of the girls will
look in their fete dresses, as peasants,
don't YOU know, doctor, and all sorts of
picturesque people. 1t seems pity,
such pity, that they can't wear them
all the time; though how the poor
things would manage in winter-no,
I'm afraid the short skirts wouldn'tdo;
do you think they would, doctor? Or
in church--how would they look in
church? No, no, they wouldn't do in
church, they really wouldn't; not ex-
actly sacrilegious, don't you know, but
inappropriate - yes, that's just the
word, inappropriate. BuG for six days
in the week, doctor, for six days in the
week, think how romantic, how very ro-
mantle they would be. That is, in
warm weather, of coursc--in warm
weather. you understand"
"You are right, dare say" admit
ted. I'VE are looking forward to
great treat. But i: you will pardon
personal comment, III repeat that you
two ladies fill me with envy"
''IIow nice of you to say so, doctor,
how very nice, indeed! But then yop
physicians have an art, such an art, of
saying delightful things. You have
such practice, you know, such wonder
full practice, soothing the sick, doctor,
and comforting the dying ="
AUNT Miss Gray broke in with
some haste. please do not talk about
about-dress any more on such terri
bly, warm day. IT excitcs you too
greatly"
"If I'm to attend my errand now"
added, "it might be we'll to put me
ashore. shah not be gone long; prob
ably not more than ten minutes. Where
shall rcjoin you?'
We were abreast of the knoll, and not
very far from it. l ran the boat to the
bank and stepped upon it, Miss Gray
taking my place at the oars.
"How will it do" she suggested, "for
us to run down to the bay, and then
coast along until we come to that other
inlet, which runs so close to Mr.. La
mars house? We can run up it, and
take you on board very conveniently
Excellent" said I. "You will find
me a little distance landward from the
house. There's some air stirring over
the bay now, and you mny meet real
breeze on the open water. 1t will be
pleasant change
'"Then we can spread the sail" said
Mrs. Loring. "Do you know, doctor, l
adore sailing, l really adore it,"
Her niece bent to the oars, and the
light craft glided on its voyage. While
Icilmbed the side Of the knoll could see
the boat enter the bay. A moment
later the girl had ceased rowing, and
had shipped the slender spar which did
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