The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-07-14

how very pretty some of the girls will
look In their fete dresses, M peasants,
don't you know, doctor. and all sorts OF
picturesque people. II 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--Aow would they look in
church? No. no. they wouldn't do in
church. they really wouldn't; not cx-
actly sacrilegious, don't you know, but
inappropriate - yea, that's just the
word, inappropriate. But for six days
in the week, doctor. for six Gays in the
week, think how romantic, how very ro-
mantle they would be. That In. in
warm weather. nf coursc-in warm
weather, you understand
You arc right, ] dare say" admit
ted. ave are looking forward to q
great treat. Hut !: you will pardon n
personal comment, I'll repeat that you
two ladies' I'LL me with envy"
"lIow nice of You To say SO. doctor.
how very nice. indeed! But then you
physicians have an art, such an arr, Of
saying delightful thing.. You have
such practice, you know, such wonder
full practice. soothing the sick, doctor,
and comforting the dy ing"
AUNT Miss Grny broke in with
some haste. please do not talk about
about-dress any more OH such terri
bly, warm day. 1T excites you too
greatly"
'If I'm 10 attend my erTand now"
added. cit might lie well 70 put me
ashore. shall not be gone long; prob
shall rejoin your"
We were abreast Of the knoll. and not
very far from It. ran the boat TO the
bank and stepped upon IL. Miss Gray
taking my place ut the oars.
allow will il do" she suggested, "for
us 70 run down to the hay, and then
coast alonG until VIC come to that OF her
inlet, which runs no close to Mr.. La
mars horse? We can rum up II, and
take you on board very conveniently"
Excellent" said ]. "you will find
me . little distance landwarl from the
house. Therc's some mir stirring over
the bay now. md you mny meet real
breeze on the open water. II will he
pleasant change"
Then we can spread the sail" said
Mrs. I>oring. "Do you know. doctor.
adore sailing. I really adore t."
Her niece bcnt TO the oara. and the
light craft glided on its vcyaRs. whiIs
Icilmbesl the side OF the knoll cos1d ere
the boat enter tho bay. a moment
later the girl had ceased rowing. and
had shipped the slender spar which did
duty ms q mast There appeared TO lie
just breeze enough TO MI the tiny sail.
lamar met me Mt the door.
"IIere's that book you wanted" said
]. There was an oppoi tunity 10 de-
liverit this afternoon, and improved II.
Anything else you would like 10 have
doner
Nothing. I thank you.~ he answered,
turning lack into the house. The dire
full news he had received % recently
had had no sofsesing sBset upoa him.
He showed NO loaGinG for sympathy.
no desire TO seek from his physician
word Of encouragement.
johnson was at work near by, and I
stopped TO chat with him, while !
watched the boat move slowly north
ward and turn ~ last into the inlet.
Miss Gray. sitting on the midship
thwnrt, wns managing the sail. while
Mrs. Loring, Mt her old post, held the
steering lines. She was leaning over
the side, noticed. catching at bits of
driftwood floating in the current
"It's ladies' breeze. johnson" sail
], "barrly enough TO give the boat steer.
age way"
"Ain't much Of H." he answered, "and
what little strength there's In Il comes
in pufYs. D'you notice emf"
"Yes. but they're baby pufRs; no
weight in them"
"Not much, sir, that's true" aaid he,
going back to his task.
I took my time In reaching the spot.
about 100 yards from the houar. where
the boat " rs To touch; but 80 slow hsd
been Its movement That when ! looked
back IL was yet opposite the knoll. Mrs.
Loring was amusing herself rs before.
while Miss Grny wns exchanging friend
ly mods with the fisherman. On the
water just nstern Of the craft was a
dark line. advancing rapidly toward IL
and marking the coming Of gust lit
tie stronger than any Of its pr-sleccs-
sors. a few seconds later the sail filed
with the breeze, and the boat keeled
sharply, just rs Mrs. Loring made an un-
usually reckless grasp at the driftwood.
saw her. under the combined Impetus.
lose her balance and pitch hea<ilong
over the side. struggle wildly In the
water, and then disappear beneath the
surface.
! ran nt top speed toward the knoll.
but long before I climbed its slope
johnson had Icaped into the stream. He
had soue little distance 70 swim, how
ever. and. though once the drowning