Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-11-25

D Il
yourself
But what is the matter with it?' asks
Monica, pecring into the boat. at looks all
right; can't see a hole in IT."
ITS nothing bit holes, in my opinion"
says the strange young man, pecring in his
turn. IT'S n regu'a coffin. Iou will be
committing nothing less than suicide IL you
put your foot In it,
Dear me-" says Monica, blankly, feeling
impressed in spite of herself, II do think
am the most unfortunate person alive. Do
you know" lifting her eyes to his, "I didn't
sleep a wink last night, thinking of this row
on the river to-day, and ROW it comes to
nothing! That is just like my luck always.
| was so bent on it; wanted to get round
that corner over there" pointing to it, Ito
see what was at the other side, and now l
can't 20 it,"
There is no reason why you shouldn't"
lis beginning, anXiously, when she con-
tradicts him.
After ALL she says, doubtfully, bending
over to look into the clear bed Of the river,
81 don't believe, if things came TO the worst,
and | did get swamped | should be drown
ed."
Certainly not, If you could swim, or IL
there was any one watching over your well
fare from The banks that could.'
We'll, | can't confeSScs Monica, with o
sigh; "and unless yJu," with an irrepressi-
BE laugh that shows all her white and even
teeth, will promise to run along the banks
of the river all the afternoon to watch over
me, don't think there is much chance Of
my escaping DEATH"
II shouldn't mind in the least being on
guard in such cause" says the stranger,
! Full nI
smile upon his lips (Which are very hand
some) as had moved them a while ago.
! Command me il YOU will but would have
you remember that even though l should
come to the rescue, II would not save you
an unpleasant ducking, and and your pref
ty gown" with q glance that Is almost af-
fectionate at the white Indian cotton, 'would
be completely ruined"
even that dire idea doesn't daunt me-"
! says Monica. gayly; You forget that the
more limp am the more aesthetic | shall
! look. Well" with n sudden relapse into
melancholy, II suppose i must give it up,
and not go round the corner to-day"
But lchy not?' eHclaims he, eagerly. my
boat Is at your service. DO take It, | have
| quite done with it, have indeed, and it is
lighter than il looks"
TOO heavy for me, | am afraid" says
Monica, with sigh.
as it? Then" with desperate boldness,
"let me row you"
'Oh, nor returns she, blushing warmly.
"YOu forget" with swift glance at him,
'yOu are quite stranger to me-"
| Yet he is not quite such stranger as she
! thinks. She is not such n stranger to him
! at least, because her face, seen for minute
! about week ago, he haunted him persist
| emily ever since.
"AS we live in the same neghborhood, we
cannot long continue strangers" he says,
! gently; 'and, in the mean time, why lose
! this lovely afternoon, and that corner you
were speaking Of! The view Of the sea,
when you get round it, is really worth see.
! ing"
"Yes, yes, dare say" reluctantly turn
| ING to leave him. 81 shall see it some day."
| Look here says the young man, very
earnestly, following her as she moves. IF
you will come with me you will see it 'lOlo.
! ! will only be your oar,man; | won't say a
word to you unless you wish it; won't
| even look at YOU. Think Of me as common
boatman you have hired by the hour; or,
| better still, doG't think of me at all. With
little care you might bring yourself to i'm
| agine j wasn't there"
But if we met any one%" says Miss Beres-
ford, visbly rclenting.
impossible! There Is never a soul on
this stream save myself. i have been here
now every day for ten days, and never yet
came upon even the ghost Of anything hui
man."
Every WE'LL" says Monica, though still
with palpable hesitation. Now, remember,
you have pledged yourself not to speak to
NE, or to look at me-" At this he fixes on
her so prolonged q gaze that one may readily
understand he means it to be a last one for
some time.
Then he turns aside, and, having brought
his boat TO her side Of the fence, holds out
to her his hand. AS he does this he keeps
his eyes bent upon the ground as though
determined to let her know his penance has
already begun.
II am net in the boat yet" says Monica,
with quaint little smile, laying her palm
Oh his. Whereupon he looks at her again;
and then, as their eyes meet, they both
laugh joyously, as youth will when it meets
youth.
Lightly she steps into his boat, and slow
ly, lazily, he rows her down the little river,
--hower-clad Oh either bank,-letting the
boat drift almost at its own sweet will.
Monica is letting her little slender fingers
trail through the water and the fiat leaves
of the lilies tie, with his coat off, is pre-
tending TO row, but III reality is letting his
body grow subservient to his mind lie has
even adhered honorably to his promise not
to look at her, and is still mentally ambi-
tiouS about being true to his word In this
respect, when an exclamation from her puts
an end to all things.
"Ol look at that lilyV she says excited
ly. WAS there ever such a beauty? If you
will row little more TO the right, l am sure
l shall be able to get it,"
Don't stir. I'll get it," returns he, CRATE
full to the lily for this break in their pro-
gramme; and presently the floating prize is
secured and he lays it, wet and dripping,
IN hcr outstretched hands.
after all, you see, you broke your prom
ise, I" she says,a moment later, most migrate
fully, glancing up at him coquettishly from
uEder her long lashes.
'But who made me do it?'' asks he, re-
PEACEFULLY, whereupon she laughs and red
dens.
II never confess" she says, shaking her
pretty head; "and after aldo you know?
Il am rather glad you spoke to me, because,
though like being quite by myself at times,
still l hate silence when any one is with
me-"
$50 do l." says her companion, with the
utmost cheerfulness.
II think" leaning toward him with
friendly SMILE Il cannot do better than be-