The Press., 1901-10-31

set up in your notions might be
tempted
'There, now. you're beginning again.
I'm going to swim ashore"
Its a mile or MORE" he shouted.
'For heavens sake. not to speak Of
mine, don't think of it,
"Well. you stop talking nonsense.
then"
ut isn't nonsense.
"It is"
I'm serious"
"That settles it." Her arms came
down from the canoe. 'I'm going to
try for the shore"
He tried waddling along the side of
the canoe to get at her arm and detain
her. The shell trembled along its en-
tire length and sank far down under
his weight. She laughed derisively.
and he grew pale.
Every funny. isn't itY' he asked.
Decidedly. Do you think If you sink
it We'll be any better OFF,
As she had ceased to make demon
STATIONS shoreward he felt that his
purpose was accomplished and SO said
nothing. A moment later he made an
other mistake.
"It's getting along" he said. Some
body will be out fishing soon and pick
| us up"
1t was her turn to look scared.
"What would they think II they
found us like this?' she ventured. Il
won't permit it."
"But everybody around here knows
we're just friends he said. You
know you've talked Plato till
Don't be silly. 1t wasn't that fear
ed. l don't care what they think on
that subject. But l don't propose to
have them think I went out with q
stupid man who couldn't paddle boat
without upsetting it."
| mot to speak Of a girl who didn't
know enough to keep STILL"
| For answer she gave kick that sent
the spray into his eyes. Then she
shrieked with laughter. His arms were
beginning to get very tired, and it sud-
denly occurred to him that she also
might be fatigued
eff you keep quiet a moment" he
said, 'T'll swim around to you and hold
you up. That will rest you"
"Pshaw! Rest yourself. I'm all
right"
He paid no attention to the injunc-
ton, and few strokes brought him to
her side. The tide was running strong,
and they were drifting farther and
farther from the shore.
"Just place one hand on me, If you
dare" she shouted, land I'll let go the
canoe. Then see how quickly it'll be
out Of sight" The threat was effective.
1t was such pretty canoe, and he had
no desire to lose it. So, commenting
on her stubbornness, he waddled back
and took hold of his end again.
Then q sound of oars was heard, and
soon two men In a boat were within a
few yards of them.
| "Say, there" was Bob's inquiry,
"what are you two trying to do?"
Hold on a little longer" came back
the answer. well have you safe in a
minute"
"Were all right; don't trouble" said
the girl.
Keep OFF, shouted Bob. IF you
come any closer, you'll scratch the
paint on my canoe"
what do you meanY' inquired one.
"Do you mean to say that you care
more for the canoe than for-for"- He
hesitated.
For mev' she shouted. Eyes, that's
it. For woman's only woman, and
a good canoes a boatw
After some parleying the boatmen
consented to be careful. With their as
sistance the canoe was righted, and
the friends made their way shoreward.
But the gossips in the small Hudson
river town have had good food for
much reflection, and the oldest dame
Of them all admits that even she
doesn't understand it.
"Why, Jim tells me-" she said, that
when they got ashore she didn't show
the least concern for the man. Now,
the least you would have expected
would have been that she'd throw her
arms about him and say that she
would never leave him."
"And didn't sheY
mo. She just kicked up a pebble,
wrung the water out of her skirt and
laughed fit to kill. Then she said. kind
of short, Thanks and went into the
house."
"And did the man seem cut upY'
'No. He just looked at his old canoe
sharplike and cussed. III have ia
blow in a ten to get it in shape again.
he said."-New York Times.