The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-08
WITT GOES ROWING.
Ma. M'NAeosTT's PLEASANT EXPERT
ENceS ONE FINE AFTERNOON.

ENC6S ON6 FINE Ar IEhNOON.
Even II He Didn't Succeed In Enjoy.
ing Himself quite In the Way He
Had Expected, He at Least Had
Plenty Of Exercise.
The little boat lay lazily rising and
falling at the end of the pier, and its
principal ornament was Mrs. Twitt Nc
Naggett, who sat very gingerly In the
stern and gave vent now and anon to
short EXPLANATIONS, which might have
been meant as expressions Of JOY, but
which, IL SO, were strangely misleading.
On the pier stood her liege lord, a go-
rious vision in white duck, with brass
buttons, tan shoes and neat yachting
cap.
His whiskers were freshly dyed, and
he didn't look his age-55-by several
weeks.
He was talking to group of pretty
girls, and his soft, persuasive tones could
be heard above the din of the adjacent
factory whistle for it was high noon.
"Oh, Mr.. McNaggett, we're afraid!'
The youngest and prettiest said this,
with coy giggie, which filed Mrs Nc
Naggett's devoted heart with acute jeal-
ousy. .. ,...
Don't ask them to go, Twitt," she
said. You know you can't row."
1t was an unfortunate remark.
Mr.. McNaggett's face looked like
thundercloud vanished with vitriol as
he turned on his wife.
"Who can't row?' he shouted. What
dye mean by sitting there and-and
making false statements? If there is one
thing can do, it's row! II that's the
way You feel, why don't you get out and
70 homer
81 will" retorted his wife, with an an
noying show of spirit, and she climbed
out of the boat on to the dock, "and you
ought to be ashamed of yourself to talk
that way to your lawful welded wife"
Then she flew up the dock and was
lost to view.
Mr.. McNaggett gasped intentionally
and looked sneakingly at the group of
girls.
1t was evidently Joke to them, for
they were laughing heartily.
So he drew deep breath and assumed
n debonair manner that he was far from
feeling.
well, will you go?" he queried. =.
ooh, yes" chorused the group. "WeH
go little ways"
I'VE can ali SWIM" was the cruel re-
mark of one. -.
And you seem like a nice, strong,
! careful old man." smiled another-the
| president
The word "old" almost killed Mr.. Nc
| Naggett.
The Joy of the morning seemed to fade
away, and black pail Of gloom fell upon
| his soul.
Had he toiled for two hours at those
whiskers, dyeing even the back of his
neck and the tip of his nose, to he called
"old?
He "cast off, with heavy heart and
| looked at his cargo of five sweet ana
solid maidens with mixed emotions.
Then he sat down in the center seat
and picked up the oars in professional
| manner.
A burst of laughter came from his pas
sengers.
"Why, Mr.. McNaggett, you're sitting
the wrong way
He was indeed facing the bow.
He turned clumsily, almost upsetting
the boat and laughed in CHASTITY way. j.
Gust did that to see if you'd notice it,
he snid.
Then he plunged the oars into the wa
ter and pulled.
"Look out for that fishing boat" they
screamed.
They grazed it by quarter of an inch
and were soon in midstream.
81 want to go back" walled the youn-
gest maiden.
$50 do ~ cried another.
But by this time Mr.. McNaggett was
doing very well.
| Desperation nerved his arm, and, be-
sides, he was going with the flood tide
full in his favor, though he did not know
this.
Its all right" he said. "Why, this
is easy"
1t did, indeed, seem So
They were going down the bay in fine
STYLE, and his breast swelled with pride.
Cant row, ehF' he muttered. Il
only wish she could see me now
In about half an hour one of the
young women said:
Hadn't we better turn back Mr.. NC
Naggett? You know luncheon is at l.
Well lust about have time to get there
For answer the man at the oars nod
ded. He ceased rowing and proceeded
to back water with his port oar while
he pulled with his starboard.
The boat took all his strength to turn
but at length he headed her up stream.
Then he drew a long breath, settled
himself firmly in his seat and pulled
He pulled again. He kept on pulling.
whats the matter, Mr.. McNaggett?
"Tide's pretty strong" he nuttered.
but we're going backward" scream
ed one.
He knew that. What fools womeI
were.
He gave eight more frantic pulls anl
then dropped the oars in distress. Ih'
women all screamed.
81 cant row any more he gaspcd
with his hand on his side. Il think In
dying
"Oh, you old wretch" shriekcd tn
prettiest girl, ito lure us out here to b
drowned"
But the eldest maiden was a girl o
ideas.
"You lie down in the bow she sai
to Mr.. McNaggett sternly. Nov. Rosie
you and Katie take one oar, and Mar
and l will take the other. Susie ca
steer"
And in this ignominious fashion the
reached the pier after an hours har
work, and, OF course, Mrs McNagget
had to be there on the lookout.
, Its all your fault" snid her hushan
as they sneaked home through the crir
ming village ut wouldn't have hal
pencd il you'd staid in the boat
But the ridicule is too much for NJ
McNagGett, and he has decided to NOV
away, just as his wife has made fe
. treuds.-New York Herald.
Oyertnxed Courtesy.
: age tyn lel 3" sui1 Mrs COrnt OsSpI