The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-12-24
obstacles had been removed from my

obstacles had been removed from my
path.
When meditation had become
weariness-and when one is i'm love il
requires a vast amount of brain-rack-
ing TO produce this result picked up
my hat and left the house, greatly in
fiuenced by the hope that Miss Gray
might be tenanting some shaded nook
in the neighborhood. Somewhat to my
surprise, she was walking slowly down
the road.
"We're going boating" she explained,
when overlook her. 1T is so oppres-
sively hot on shore that both aunt and
| decided that IL could be no worse Oh
the water. Then, too, there is chance
that we may find some breeze stirring
on the bay. win you not join us?"
with pleasure" said l. "But how
does Mrs. Loring contrive to spare the
time? She is supposed to be busy
day and night with the arrangements
for the fete you know"
$50 she is" said the girl, with \
smile, "but when proposed that she
should take vacation for few hours
she saw the wisdom of the idea. She
will follow MS to the boat in a few min
utes. Really, l think it was the allure
ment of little trip on the water which
won her over TO leaving her designs
and programmes. She is devoted to
boating, you know; it is surprising that
she has resisted the temptation so often
lately. She has been out with me hard
ly half dozen times; and Mr.. johnson
has had but one pupil at his sailing les
sons"
And how have you improved them ?"
'My teacher is fattering. But per-
haps l may be able to display my siull
in a 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? / have an crrand to do at MIR.
Lamar's, and if you would land me near
his house, aud then pick me up again,
should be your debtor forever"
She fell in with this plan, and 1 turned
a
which Lamar had asked me to lend him.
1t was a small textbook on histology, !
remember, though why he should have
desired 20 get sInattering of that
branch l never learned. When l 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 WIS sitting hot on the sheltered
waters of the creek, and the sweat
gathered on my face as busted myself
with the oars.
Ugh. this is like the fue of fur
nace," 1 protested, ceasins. rowing for
a moment to wipe my forehead. 'J
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, n
little maliciously. To tell the truth, l
think she was quoting a remark of mine
with reasonable accuracy.
"Do you believe that?" asked, rather
feebly, glancing at her over my shoul-
der. She wore a gown OF some light
thin fabric, and, with the art possessed
by many of her sex, looked daintily com
Portable in spite of the outrageous tenn
perature.
"Of course she doesn't" Mrs. Loring
broke in. "If any girl says such thing,
| it is because the fashion is not becoming
| to her.
A remark so direct, so unqualified,
and so free from repetitions was nov
city. 1t centered my attention on the
| speaker, who, l now noted was dressed
almost as seasonably as her niece, al
| though she favored darker colors.
"Noman'snpinion seems TO be weighty
enough to count" said /, especially as
| the kickcrs would, no doubt, be the first
to protest if their objections were
needed and led to rational dress"
"Oh, really, l 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