The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-02-05


tifuI hand Of hers often; he might even
put his arm around her waist in a moth
erly kind of way.
So they set out. And surely in all the
annals Of chaperondom there had never
been quite such a charming, gentle, en-
tertaining old lady as Aunt Emmelina.
"Come and sit here. my dear" she
said, as Esther was guided carefully
into the boat by the bank clerk. "Come
and tell me about poor little brother"
Esther took the place rather unwill-
ipgly She had promised to sit on the
same seat as the squatter while the bank
clerk rOwed.
There were three other boats, and
Jack had seen that the good rowing men
were equally distributed in them. In
his own, however, the bank clerk was A
very poor oarSman. and the squatter a
great deal out Of practice, so they were
left somewhat behind
Just past Hunters hill a great sailing
boat came bearing down upon them and
a steamer was close behind. but no one
had noticed such details until it was al
most too late.
Then the bank clerk grew pale and
splashed franticaliy with his oars AMI
the girl with the steering lines lost her
head and forgot which side she should
pull,
The young Delany girl with beautiful
wisdom stood up in her place and
screamed. Esther gave a little gasp and
chung to the friendly arm beside her.
But Aunt Emmelina thrust her rough
~ aside and almost fell across the boat
to the middle seat. She swept the bank
clerk cut Of his place into feeble and
astonished heap, seized the oars, and
with couple Of powerful strokes
swung the boat round out of danger,
Afterward the bank clerk had a con-
fused remembrance Of being called a
COMPOUNDED young idiot" and he re-
scented it with an air Of dignifed sur
prise toward the chaperOn for the rest
of the day.
Aunt EmmelinR resigned The oars to
the squatter when they were in clear
water again, and seemed much troubled
because she had burs; her Hack kid
gloves. She smiled at the surprise Of
the party at her act, and said simply
she had been lis 70 the management
Of boats since her {, estyouth.
When the meal was over Aunt Emme-
lima felt very much what is popularity
Known a. 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 anath-
cmatized the squatter and kept finger
ing 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 a
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 a rate that
would have fairly electrified the pic
nickers could they have seen. Then she
I gave the oars to Thea, subsidized into the
bottom of the boat, lighted her pipe
al had luxurious smoke that soothed
her injured feelings and rufled nerves
into placidity again.
ut isn't many brothers would do
what I've done for you girls" she said,
as Thea pulled back again some hours
later.
Two OF three of the girls, Esther
among them, had strolled some distance
away and were standing on a bowlder,
idly throwing stones in the dancing
water and watching the circles.
4 frightened scream broke the hot,
quiet air over the river. Two of the
girls were running frantically about
and the third was struggling in the
water, They all knew by the sailor hat
bobbing about that twas Esther,
The squatter gave an answering shout
and started running at great rate, TAX
ing 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 wabbled
about and fell in & gray mass over her
shoulders.
Jack knew himself 10 be no mean
swimmer, but the skirts tangled his
feet and the tight jacket held his arms.
! The squatter was only q few yards be-
hind. Jack struck out wildly and made
rapid pace. But somebody seized him
under the arms and he struggled for a
moment to free himself from the jacket,
1t was one Of the officers, a better
swimmer than either Of them.
"My dear - madame" he painted,
holding him in a firm grip and trying
to swim back with him, put your hand
on my arm-so."
/ Drown your grandmother" splut-
tered Jack, swallowing pint of water
-