Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-06-27
BIZ WILLIAM BLACK

az the spot where the canal debouchss
INTO the river-beheld that long White
Noan's Ark Of Q thing slowly Approach
ing. When she came into the last lock
We got on board. and. having seen that
tne additional towing line was attached.
and the longest poles ready. we awaited
the opening Of the great gates. A pleas
anter Gay FOR our entrance into the Sew
ern we could not have demanded. There
was q soft sOutherly wind blowing up
stream. ruffling the wide yellow waters
and stirring the foliage Of the high wood
ed bank; on the other shore the fat gold
en-green meadows were glowing In the
sunlight: and far beyond them, and be-
yond some darker lines of elms, the pale
blue Malvern hills rose into the shining
silvery sky. brisk and breezy day.
sufficiently warm and sufficiently cooi al
together an auspicious setting forth.
A most beautiful river the Severn h:
and on this mellow afternoon the wind
had mostly died away: SO that the high,
red banks. all hanging in foliage, were
faithfully mirrOred on the smooth surface
OF the stream. save where some chance
puff would come along. breaking the oil
russets and olive greens with q keen
shaft Of blue. the color Of the overhead
sky. Subjects for a water-cOlor painter
formed themselves at every turn and
winding: and. at last. when We came In
sight of the square gray tower of Tewks-
bury Abbey. just visible above the trees.
and the ruddy houses of the town appear
ing here and there beyond the warm.
green meadows. the tower houses and
meadows and trees all aglOw in the light
over from the western skies.
we began to think that too much had
Avon and Thames and Kennel occupied
our artists, and that some OF them whom
we knew and could name might do worse
than pitch their tents more frequently
just little further west.
At dinner that evening we refrained
from lighting the lamps. the twilight
without being SO singularly beautiful.
Now. all this time Queen Tita had
said not q word about the possible COM
ing Of Jack DuncOmbe; perhaps she fear
ed that the mere suggestion might bc
by Col. Cameron into . hint
that he should vacate his berth. That
was not 80. as it happened: nevertheless.
his offer to quit was sufficiently prompt.
"Oh. Peggy" said she, that night after
dinner. in an off-hand kind of fashion.
would you be surprised to find an old
friend coming to join us at GlOucester!"
Miss Peggy glanced up in rather q
frightened fashion, for Col. Cameron was
also sitting out there in the warm, still
night, cOntentedly smoking his cigar.
Queen Tita caught sight Of that quick
loOk-the glow from the open door of the
saloon falling full on the girls face.
NO." said she, gravely, ut isn't Mr..
A'Becket. 1t is strange we have heard
nothing OF him."
''Oh. well. thought he might have
some more information to send you" her
hostess remarked, in . general find Of
way. 81 don't think We study the guide
books rs closely as We ought. However.
it isn't Mr.. A'Becket. It's Mr.. Dun
.Oh. indeed" said Miss Peggy. "That
will be very NICE"
II am not sure he Is coming" she con-
but we have telegraphed to him:
and you know how anxious he was to see
how the boat would answer in going
down the Severn. So / shouldn't be sur
prised to find him turning up at GlOu-
cester."
"In that case" said Col. Cameron, with
perfect good humor. 81 must clear out.
shall hate him heartily. l know. but
still I've had my turn
"Oh, no. no, not at ALL" Queen Tita
said at once. and most anxiously. ''Sure-
~, II this caravansary of thing has any
it ought to be able to
take in another passenger, and easily.
Why should not one Of you gentlemen
sleep In the saloon? Murdoch can make
up an extra bed, he has often had to do
that for us on other boats: and all that
is necessary will be for you to choose
among yourselves which Is the earliest
riser. What can be simpler than that?"
'And then his being on board would
.ome in so well just nOw." said Miss Peg
", with demure eyes. There would
be Capt. Columbus. Murdoch. Mr.. Dun
.ombe, Col. Cameron. you two. myself
yes, that would just be right-he could
lake our motto. We are Severn"
Peggy" said Mrs. Threepenny-bi,.
severely, this is business: won't be in
by your irresponsible frivolity.
Well, now. supposing Mr.. Duncombe
should be able to join us. he Is the new
conner, and should take his chance.
But have had my turn Of the cabin.
Col. Cameron demonstrated. and as
sure you I shall be most comfortable IN
the saloon. I should call the whole ar
rangement the height Of luxury"
But your things are all in your cabin.
and why should they De disturbed sir
Even" said she.
aust as you please" said he. though
I don't know that it is wholesome tram
ing for Q soldier to find himself n1ed IN
such comfortable quarters. However you
must promise me one thtng-that the mo.
ment you find me in the way you VIII
tell me-"
q little laugh.
,v and snugly shut in from the dark anu
.;,ant world without, there was q vague
hint yentured about a game OF WHIST OF
something Of that sort.
"Ve should have to clear all those
,h;,os Of the table," said Mrs. Three
nannv. hit. regretfuIly. "and they are SO
bondy. Peggy, why don't you bring out
,our banio? What has made you 80 lazy
Won ought to be ashamed OF yourseif:
The fact was, Miss Peggy had harusy
.ver touched her banjo since Col. Cam
IRON came ON bead WIZ. We hardD
L,.v Rut somehow she had always
seemed disinclined to open that ieatne1
case since Sir Even Cameron Jo'"e" U.s.
A nd SO she was on this occasion.
.It ia 40 DELIGHTFULLY."- quiet here. she
ia ..;t I. a shame to spoil it by that
strumming." c., has
,.vsr heard you sing Nelly Gray.
Nrsen rita suggested. insidiously.
"And / should very much like to near
IT," said he. ..,, won't and 10,
..s h.n;o- and resumed her place on tne
eouch: then, with q few ripping notes o'
nrclude. she began to sing:
.-rbere.s a low, green valley on 'ne o''
Kentucky shore . hour.
Where I'VE whiled many happy no'''
away" =, hardly
And very well she sung. too. I,.r; II s.ro
H;th the confidence she usually o'~'''