The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-19
81 Little
git Of Braid.

e HE TURNED her head very slight
y ly, SO that the man behind her
caught the narrowing OF her eyes
her rounded chin.
Clumsy" she said in a voice ring
ing with scorn. She caught up her
skirt, just raising it from the ground,
and FASTENED on. But she threw q
few more or less acceptable home
thrusts over her shoulder as she Went
on.
Il cant think what you have been
doing with yourself lately. Not inn
proving, anyway. And you won't get
on in the direction you are taking,
can assure you. 1t makes me very
doubtful as to the truth of all your
yarns Of con0uest---they are just what
j took them for---fairy tales every one!
For no girl would be tame enough Ia
be trampled on, If that Is your habit
You could not be so blind as that"
She gave the offending skirt, with
the loop of braid dangling uncomfort-
ably a further hitch. She had the
daintiest ankles--the word expressed
her altogether--and the man following
her made no objection.
1t was, indeed, his continued silence
she seized on neXt-to misconstrue.
AT least" she said. with sistcrly
straightforwardness, you might apol-
ogize."
They had reached the landing stage
where the boat was moorcd. The cir
proceeded to take her place in it with
the calmness and ease which only
come to her sex through practice and
long suffering. She was seated with
the ropes in her hands before she
really looked up at the man who had
followed her--into the boat by this
time.
Now le. me see the stroke which
takes captive your best girls" she was
saying, and then her eyes met his.
Though it would have seemed more
appropriate that he should be the one
to blush, ii was to her cheeks thu
color mounted. She actually hesitat.
ed before she spoke.
SO he was given the opportunity OF
speaking, and by this time he awaited
himself. willingly.
Il do apologize nc said. very hum.
bly," His manner and the laughter in
his eyes did not, however accord Who'll.
ly with such an attitude.
"Well--realy." she began, but hc
| Interrupted her.
Il will go further--you will grant II
Is a long way further--I will explain
There seems room for it"
He was quite Il genius at seizing hi
chances. He took her words as a
concession and dipped his sculls into
the water at the same time.
u shall be able to talk so much bet
ter when we are moving" he said art
fully. II fancy my stroke may prove
as worthy Of comment as your broth
er's," he added. He was still smiling
and he noted. with growing satisfac-
ton, that SO was she.
"Well, OF all the"
And you do not even know who
am. Check? Oh, don't be hard. Luck
if you like. I am proverbially lucky
/ am not to blame for that am L.
Your brother told you he was expect
ing his college chum, Charles Dean?
was just coming along--neither of you
saw me. ! heard you send him bacl,
for your cape" he paused, with sud.
den compunction,
You are not Cold?" he questioned
| anxiously. 81 forgot, and have moth.
ing In the way of a wrap to offer YOU
"No. 7 am not cold" she said, as
stiiiv as she could.
You walked on. you know, and thel
| temptation seized me. An evil spirit
disguised. most chalmingly disguised
as n piece Of braid! And could no
resist it, was only afraid you woult
think had been suspiciously quick
for a brother"
II wasn't thinking" she admitted
| dimpling.
The mood for confession grew OF
him. "Or that you might lool
around" said he.
Il wish"
"No, don't say II. Hear me out first
Honestly, I was not entirely actuatod
| by motives OF mere selfshness, a;
might at first appear. | put it 10 my
self like this: Here is n charming
| girl COINS to spend a most perfectly
! delightful summer afternoon on thC
| river, With no more exciting compan.
/ ion than the brother She has known
from her Snst days; whose thought;
| arc as op her as her own; who
hasn't n hharity, or even a virtue
left undiscovered, argued with my,
self about it, Should / let such Il pal
! try thing as the lack of an intrOduc.
tion prevent me from giving this gii'
a treat"
"Oh," she cried, ''you really are"
| YES" he said. at stands to reason
even as a study. a sort of unexnlorpo