The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-10
IY NORMAN HAMPTON

sincere in his protestatons of affection for
a third party.
Bawn offered as an explanation the fact
that he was stuck on a sandbar and could not
work off till after u. but this was rejected
with fine scorn, and as Edith moved away
from the desk she remarked that an engage
ment to go rowing would u indefinitely post
poned Then, womanIike. she hed to her
room and spent the rest Of the afternoon in
tears.
That evening she went to the boat land
ing alone, and selecting a light boat, set
out for a solitary row. She padded about
the lake for a while thinking Of the trips
she and Ralph had enjoyed: then, with a
sudden determination, started away from
shore.
Bawn had told her that he had stuck on
a sandbar at Plum island, in the center of the
| lake, and around the point from the hotel.
Edith decided that she would look at the
Plum island sandbar herself and make certain
that there was absolutely no foundation for
Bawns tale.
She found relief from her vexed feelings
in the exercise, and setting her course for the
island she pulled Justify. She did not realize
what progress she was making till she found
that the boat had stopped-on the same bank.
She reversed the oars, but the momentum
had carried the boat well on to the bank OF
mud and her effort was without result.
out and push, but a preliminary sounding
with the oar, an after thought, proved to her
that Bawn's contention had been correct and
that the mud was too deep and too soft for
such a proceeding.
| The twilight feded into dusk, and with the
darkness came a sense of utter desolation.
Once far-off whistle told of the approach
| of the night train, but for the rest there was
only the sound Of the crickets on the island
and the call of an owl somewhere on the
mainland. She laid her head a seat and
for a second time that day she enjoyed a good
cry.
About 10 the moon rose, silvering the lake,
and deepening, by contrast the gloom of the
shore. Across the lake she could hear the
regular squeak of oars in their locks, and
straining her eyes, she could JUST make out a
familiar form. 1t was Bawn, and, like her
self, he alone.
He was too far off to hear her cry. She
raised oar, and roughly initiated the
Morse code. Bawn, amazed, recognized the
strokes. 1t sounded to him il some one
were trying to initiate the telegraph instru-
ment. 1t was his call, "R. B.-R. B.-R.
| B."
Curiously he searched the water. Edith
stood up. Her light dress backed by the
wooded island, caught his eye He raised his
oar. Down it came upon the gunwale. He
! was sending the call "73-7S." Then he bent
] 10 HIS OARS anu Will IOHSf Sleduy blAOhSS
forced the boat toward the island. He ap-
preached cautiously and did not strike the
| bar.
II am glad to see you realize now that I
couldn't help getting home late" was his
greeting. Edith's spirit was gone
"Take out of this horrible place,
Ralph" she said, "and forgive me for being
| cross. l take 1t all back"
There was a rope in the bottom Of his
| boat and he threw her line. His back
heaved as he tugged at the oars, and soon
she was in clear water. He took her into
his boat, and towing the other, made his
! way back to the landing.
| What he said, and her answer, are not
recorded, but the conversation may be
| imagined from their talk on the landing.
"Just one kiss" he urged, as she stepped
| out of the boat.
mo" she answered firmly, blushing as she
spoke, 'but some day you may have not
! one-but-seventy-t three"