Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-20
LOVE LeVelS Ali.
"Ts this the ferry?"

whose pale statuesque beauty was ac-
centuated by her mourning dress and
black hat, and her inquiry was ad-
dressed to handsome broad
shouldered young fellow in fannels
who was fastening boat up to the
steps.
As the young man did not reply, the
girl repeated her question.
s.Can you tell me, please, if this is
the ferry?"
Then he looked hastely around, and
as there was nobody else in sight, he
seemed to come to the conclusion that
he was the one to whom the lady was
speaking.
''I beg your PARDON" he said, 81
did not know that you were address
ing me. This is Twickenham ferry
''Thank you," responded the girl.
"And will you be good enough to
ferry me over?"
"With pleasure, was the reply,
and stepping forward, he assisted her
into the boat, showed off, and COM
menced sculling across the river.
When they arrived at the opposite
bank, and, as the young lady was
being assisted out, she asked:
"How much do 1 owe you, please?"
The ferryman turned rather red and
hesitated for few moments before he
replied:
"The fare is penny, but you had
better pay when you come back.
81 am afraid shall have to-" re-
piled the fair girl, looking in herpul Sc,
''for 1 have nothing less than a
shilling"
''Shall I expect you down this after
noon for row?" inquired the young
man.
every probably think so, land, by
the by, what's your name? Whose boat
shall ask for?"
''My name is John, but my friends
usually call me Jack.
every well, John, 1 shall be at the
landing place about half-past q" And
she walked away with that grace and
vigor which are inseparable from a
girl who has been brought up in the
fresh air and athletic surroundings OF
country life.
The half hour had barely struck
when the young lady made her APP
pearance at the ferry. Jack was wait
ing for her, and without any loss of
time they got ahoat and started up
the river.
This was memorable day with
Geraldine, for it was her first intro
duction to the ''Silvery Thames" and
ss she leaned back ON the cushions in
the stern sheets, the ripple of the
water and the songs OF the birds COM
bined with the rhythmic sound of the
boatsman's sculls to make sweet
music, which she enjoyed in silence
until they arrived opposite Pope's
Villa, which Jack duly pointed out.
"a grand poet!" exclaimed Geral-
line, with enthusiasm.
''Much overrated," answered Jack.
"His brain was as crooked as his
Ggu-a w -5~
"You have been misinformed, OBJ
serced Geraldine. "Of course, you
have not read his 'Iliad'-it is not a
book that would appeal to you.
But" @
go! yes, I nave" interrupted, Jack.
"And his Odyssey, too. But | would
rather read one canto from sChilde
Harold than the whole of Pope's
works"
This led to disputatioHs argument,
in which Geraldine lost her temper,
and was rude enough to say
''You are evidently an examplifca-
ton of the old saying that "a little
learningis dangerous thing.'"
III 1. ~
Jack, with satirical smile, ''if that
isn't little too bad. For, if there
was one thing that was supposed to
be good at, next to rowing, it was
Greek"
''You seem to be very well educated
Jor your position in life," remarked
Geraldine.
go, don't know" answered Jack,
md he added, quickly, ''the free
libraries are so convenient, you know.
But L might return the compliment,
and say that you seem very well read
for young lady"
When they returned to the ferry
Geraldine extracted her purse; but, as
she was taking out the money, Jack
said, pointing to Hammerton, the
ferryman:
''That is the person to pay, please
I am not allowed to take any money
After she had gone Jack said to th,
ferryman:
''Don't forget, Dick, if she SHOULD
happen to make any inquiries, that
am only one of your assistants.
''All right, sir. answered Dick
with knowing look, 81 won't for
get"
For the next month Geraldine wen
on the river every fine day, sometime
in the morning, sometimes in th
afternoon; and those boating exped
tions were extended on many occasion
up the river to Kingston. Molesey
and Sunbury. and mauy an argumer
they had on literature and art-for, a
rule, their opinions ON these sui