The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-24

, lnen tne Ddnk cierk grew pdle anu
splashed frantically with his oars and
the girl with the steering lines lost her
head and forgot which side she should
) pull.
The young Delaney girl with beau
tiful wisdom stood up in her place
: and screamed. Eyther gave little
, gasp and chung to the friendly arm
beside her.
But Aunt Emmelina thrust her
roughly aside and almost fell across
the boat to the middle seat. She swept
the bank clerk out of his place into
feeble and astonished heap, seized
the oars, and with couple Of power
full strokes swung the boat round out of
danger.
Afteward the bank clerk had con
fused remembrance of being called a
COMPOUNDED young idiot, and he re-
scented it with an air of dignified
surprise toward the chaperon for the
rest of the day.
Aunt Emmelina resigned the oars to
the squatter when they were in clear
water again, and seemed much troubled
because she had burst her black kid
gloves. She smiled at the surprise of the
party at her act, a I'd said simply she
had been used to the management of
boats since her earliest youth.
When the meal was over Aunt
Emmelina felt very much what is pop
ularly known as "out of it"
Aunt Emmelina was dying for a
smoke. II she could have talked to
Esther she would have sacrificed the
desire, but as it was she merely an
athematized the squatter and kept fin
gering the pipe and tobacco pouch
she had carefully put in her pocket
until she could resist no longer.
| Would you like to come out in
boat with me, my child?" she said, at
last, gently, to Thea who was feeling
somewhat exhausted after a prolonged
attack upon cream cakes.
Everyone remarked how well the old
lady pulled and Ella waved relieved
farewell from the shore.
Aunt Emmelina rowed at rate
| that wsuld have fairly electrified the
picnickers could they have seen.
Then she gave the oars to Thea, sus
bided into the bottom of the boat
lighted her pipe and had luxurious
smoke that soothed her injured feel
ings and RULED nerves into placidity
again.
1t isn't many others would do what
I've done for you girls, she said, as
Thea pulled back again some hours
later
Two or three Of the girls, Esther
among them, had strolled some dis
lance away and were standing on a
bowlder, idly throwing stones in the
dancing water and watching the
circles.
A frightened scream broke the hot,
quiet air over the river Two Of the
girls were running frantically about |
water. They all knew by the sailor |
hat bobbing about that it was Esther.
The squatter gave an answering |
shout and started running at great |
rate, taking off his coat as he went.
But Aunt Emmelina shot along in front |
of him. Her skirts were gathered up |
in a rough bunch under one arm, her
bonnet hung down her back by the
strings, her glasses tumbled off, her
hair wabbed about and fell in gray
mass over her shoulders.
Jack knew himself to be no mean
swimmer, but the skirts tangled his
feet and the tight jacket held his
arms. The squatter was only a few
yards behind. Jack stuck out wildly
and made rapid pace. But somebody
seized him under the arss and he
struggled for moment TO free himself
from the jacket.
1t was one of the officers. better
swimmer than either of them.
"My-dear madame, (" he painted,
holding him in firm grip and trying
to swim back with him, put your hand
on my arm-so.
drown your grandmother - sput
tered Jack, swallowing pint of
water, as he freed himself. Can't
you see who | ann"
The squatter was ahead of him. He
trod water for second and flung off
the jacket that bound his arms.
He gained on the squa:ter. He re-
ceived the splash from his circling
boots full in the face, and the temp
tation for water leapfrog was too
strong to be resisted.
He trod water again, came up be-
hind his enemy, planted his feet on
his shoulder and sent him downward
with the greatest good will and energy
Half dozen more strokes and he
was alongside Esther.
Jack oh, dear Jack-oh, jack"
she said, Historically, as his wet beam
ing face bobbed up beside her head,
that he was trying to keep Eat on
the water il floating position.
ITS all right, little girl, The said, re-
assuringly. Everything's all right
now. You're as safe as church. -
There was general roar of laughter 1
as Jack climbed out and lifted Els
ther from the water, little the worse
for her adventure. He had left his
bonnet and his wig and his jacket in
the water and appeared in white ,
flannel shirt and long, dripping skirt.
Jack unfastened the hook and he E
kicked them off and stood before them J
attired in his boating flannel.
"Thank heaven" he said, with J
pious fervor. Then an adjournment {
was male for drying purposes to
cottage close by, and Esther submitted /
" ithout protest to the Supporting arm
Of her recurer. The rest of the day .
was confusion and merriment, but Q
there we're five white minutes at the +
end that spread out afterwards over :
the whole lives of two people.
How can l ever thank your Esther
said, and blushed beautifully, for she i,
knew quite well the way she could. =
"In book Jack whispered, 1.-THE !.
nero and heroine wonld be sure to !,
marry after such an adventure and live !,
happily to the end of their lives. :"
ooh - said Esther.
"And the heroine would be abso-
ut.Iv certain TO reward the here with L