The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-11-27

forward enough" she continued, with the
aggravating smile still on her lips. "But
shall land here. Goodbye"
| She turned her boat toward the shore
and Mr.. Watts continued his way up the
stream, an angry and Inundated man.
A train was waiting in the station as he
approached and he ran for it, jumping into
the first carriage that caught his eye. 1t
was not until he had shut the door and the
train had left the platform that he saw
what he had done.
He had got into compartment reserved
for ladies, and in the corner of it sat the
girl in the white blouse
81 beg your PARDON he muttered; 81
didn't notice it was a ladies' carriage"
"Oh, it doen't matter, she said showing
a row Of white merciltss teeth as she smiled.
II don't require carriage to myself"
There was the slightest possible stress on
the II, which made him vince Evil
IDENTIFY she was not going to spare him.
CHOW far did you get?" she inquired
He named the spot where he had turned
back.
You didn't 20 far I hope our little
race didn't take it out of you too much. -"
This was said with an air of innocence,
which it was impossible to take offense at
openly, but it was none the less irritating,
She continued her crushing process until
the train reached Barnes by growing o\ er
him about the race. The Growing" was
done very deicately and sweetly, but it
was 'crowing." nevertheless. She dis
cussed form" and ''style,' told him he
depended too much on the strength of his
arms and not sufficiently on his weight,
and altogether made him feel like a cock ney
novice than a racing man.
To do Mr.. Watts justice, he submitted
to it fairly we'll
Three weeks later they met again under
rather odd circumstances and this time Mr,
Watts had his chance Of scoring.
He had been padding about on the river
for an hour or two when he felt a splash of
rain. There was evidently going to be a
heavy downpour. 1t happened that he was
at part where there was not scrap Of
except at one place where IA huge elm hung
over the water and provided one of nature :
umbrellas.
He had scarcely reached it when he heard
the swish of oars and looking through the
leaves he saw the girl in white blouse
coming down stream at racing speed. a
CLEAN of triumph shot into his eyes. She
was making for the SAME tree, but there
was only room for one boat, and he clearly
had the right of prior possession.
She slowed down and backed water skill.
sheltered under the thick leaves look
Of vexation came into her eyes. "You
must make room for me somehow" she
said GROSSLY.
"Come along, them" he said, Selling a
branch of the tree and easing his boat out
into the stream. She padded into the
shelter.
"What are you going to do now?" she
asked in doubtful tone.
Il shall make the best of my way back
to Teddington.
"You'll get wet through" she said.
81 must chance that" he said g owe
you a good turn for the nice way you
treated me when we raced the other day -
If Mr.. Watts had thought for week he
could not have hit on better way o
humiliating her. She was thorough little
sportswoman and felt the satire keenly
To treat her with courtesy after what had
happened made her feel very much smaller
than vulgar revenge would have done.
She told her best friend about it and
said: 81 was never more taken down in my
life | would much rather have gotten wet
through. But it's always tne way when
you quarrel with a man he treats you gen
erously and makes you feel small"
Nevertheless, Mr. Watts modified his
views of mans superiority from that hour
and has never been known to repeat his
celebrated argument about record breaking,
especially as he has taken his conquerol
into life partnership. Rambler.