Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-12
The S0ISeI RegQIII.

Mr.. Richard Davis a married man
with q family, had lately retired from
business upon q substantial compe-
tency. Office life had given him no
opportunity of developing his muscles
He looked a frail figure as, steadying
his boat under the shade of a tree,
he once more summed up the points
upon his fingers. "Shall | settle,
here, in Salsey?" he reflected. "Ihe
town seems pleasant enough. The
housel It is somewhat small; but
the garden borders upon the river eN-
actly as want it. The schoolsl
Everybody says that / could not do
better for the children. There re-
mains the river to be considered. And
that" Mr.. Davis looked round with a
peculiarly critical glance. That
ought to do. There is not too much
current for what / shall want.
Yes til settle in Salsey."
Mr.. Davis had a fixed intention to
devote himself to a certain aquatic
hobby. Il would keep him in the open
air, while filing up his time and pro
viding him with amusement. AYE!
and it won't be half such hard work
as handling these SOULS" he reflected
to himself, whilst rowing on. The
pleasures of anticipation kept Mr..
Davis company till he stepped from
the boat upon the wharf of Bonsors
boatyard.
II have had it out for an hour and
half?" said he, lnterrogatively.
The waterman referred to a memo
randum book. "Ninepence, sir" he
replied.
isu,i,o,., 49,, o~c. - cofa +t,o s,tr,,,,,,.
taking the money from purse.
When Bonsor's is not busy It
gossips. Mr. Davis YIELDED himself to
the atmosphere Of the place, sitting
himself down upon a wooden trestle
to watch and listen. Five minutes
passed
Ere they comet" said the water
man, admiringly. Now, mister, youn
see i'm e's coachin' 'em to-day
ready for the regatta"
The sharp nose of a racing boat had
just appeared under the central arch
of the gray bridge. Scarcely a sec.
ond elapsed before an eight-oar came
into full view with a splendid vigoI
of back and blade. Steering by the
boundary walls and gardens of the
reached, the Town eight travelled rap
idly toward the boat yard with
rhythmic rise and fall of it's green and
white jerseys.
Easy ALI" the coxswain shouted.
His voice was manly and authoritative
In an instant the powerful "clock,
clock" OF the oars ceased, their blades
fioated fatty upon the surface of the
dark green water; and the boat,
steadying of its throbs, Kissed slowly
into rest alongside the yard.
Edward Foster, the coxswain, who
now stepped ashore, was an old
Blue" and president of the Salsey
Rowing Club.
The Londoner eyed the local cele.
brity all over, taking in the green cap,
the green blazer and the short flannel
breaches reaching just above the
knee. Il wouldn't especially care 70
fall foul Of him." he remarked, after
a pause.
Il shouldn't think you would" the
waterman replied, glancing with n
scarcely concealed disdain at the
whippety figure Of the Londoner.
Bons0r's is approached by a lane
running, first, through an open space,
where Salsey's outdoor entertain
ments-such as circuses-are held,
and afterward between high brick
Some weeks after the conversation re-
corded above, a bathchair was being
drawn along this lane by a boy in
buttons. Its occupant was a young
lady--a cripple for life. Her ap-
proach was not noticed till she enter.
ed the gate of the b.atyard. Then
there was an immediate stir among
the watermen, and one ran forward.
Yes" said the young lady; tell my
brother that / am here. please.
If Edward Foster, with his physical
strength and popularity, was occasion
ally dictatorial with people. he was
never so with his sister. Pulling on
his blazer, he descended the ladder.
A few seconds later Edward Foster
had gathered his sister tenderly up Ia
his arms and was carrying her to the
boat. It was a feat of strength that
the yard liked to see.
The environs Of Salsey were soon
left behind, and the brother and sister
found themselves meandering with
the river through some fiat green
meadows.
The invalid did not talk much.
Lazy rowing, warmth and the coca.
sional pauscs here and there for a
flower, made the president Of Salsay
Rowing Club grow droWsy. His eye
began to watch the smooth, oily flow
of the current, his ear to listen to the
water ripping under the keel. Fringes
of feathery reeds appeared on either
bank. Soon the meadows were hid
den, and the river was twisting and
turning with the short reaches to
ward the green-gray bulk of a distant
wood. Suddenly there was a noise
a strange mixture Of rattle and splash;
and man seated Apon an object like
a cumbersome tricycle. came swiftly
round a curve OF the river. There
was just time for Edward Foster to
unship his left scull.
Sorry! Sorryl" said the stranger
spasmOdically.
The president OF the Salsey Rowing
Club had no sympathy with tho
muscle-saving machines. They appear
cd unmanly to him. For a moment
he was dumb with indignation at the
peril to which his sister had been ex
posed. Then he blazed out:
"Sorry-are you? You ought to be
have head complaints Of you before
sir You're a nuisance upOn the