Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-12-06
A PRETTY GIRLS METHOD
OF TURNING DOWN A HATEFUL sUITOR.
She Goes Away With His Rival Leaving Him
on the Lake in Poleless Punt.

Datpln run through tHe llOppieSJ Vi
hats by her maid, so that, quite plain
ly, she was going out to brave the sun.
eff any one wants to know where ]
am, " she said admonishingly, "you
haven't the slightest idea-unless
Captain Suttlebury asks-and then
you might fancy that I'd gone in the
direction of the kennels. ~
eyes, miss. "
"And now, if that pin is in, I'm
going down to the lake, | do hope
nobody will see me. "
She rose, as graceful as a panther
and full of spirits, and went out
swiftly and silently into the park.
She dived into the nearest green
shade, and took the avenue leading
down to the lake, The kennels were
in quite the opposite direction; but
then, Miss Rye had "A passion for the
waterside, particularly this morning
when the sun was riotously hot and
the mere sound of the swish in the
reeds would be cooling. Also, nobody
ever went down to the lake in the
morning. She would be alone and
unpestered for once. Captain Suttle-
bury could bestow his insufferable at
tentions upon the hounds She
laughed aloud at the thought.
1t was understood that Miss Rye
was the destined bride of the captain.
He was ugly, vulgar, and one of the
wealthiest landowners, SO that he
could marry any one he chose. And
his choice seemed to be Miss Joan
Rye.
Beauty and the Beast, as Lord
Waffle remarked to his distant con
nection and temporary private score
tary, Dick Maynard, anent this affair.
The young man nodded.
81 hope she'll refuse him. he said
frowning.
my dear man." said Lord Waffle,
"how can she? Lady Waffle gives me
to understand that Mrs Rye and SUIT
tlebury have fixed it up, kindly max
ing my house the base of operations
He's vulgar little brute, and he'll
hutter round till she's worn out. Then
| shall have to congratulate him. -
Maynard shut his mouth at this
feeble minded view and busted him
self over his work. He spent a restless
night irving to devise disinterested
saved from the tolls. and woke early
and angry, with conviction that
secretarial post precludes one from
the duties of knight
errant. Usually he was sufficiently
and philosophic not to
heed his position, He did not even
mind that when Waffle House filled
with guests he was apt to be consid-
cred nonentity among all these rich
people. But this morning he found
himself grinding his teeth at them all
for fair haired set of apes. And hav-
ing nothing to do and plenty to think
about, he went down to the lake be
,ause in the morning nobody ever
went there, got "A rod from the water
man, and, having punted himself
across to the shady side, fixed the pole
n the reeds by way of anchor, set his
loaf running. clinched his rod in the
BOWS, and promptly fell asleep among
he cushions.
That is why the following things
,ame to pass, when about half an hour
alter Miss Joan Rye came down to the /
followed at a discreet dis !
ance by the irrepressible Captain SUIT |
lebury, who, by an i'll chance, had |
marked Miss Rye's direction and had !
lot therefore taken the trouble to in
Iuire of her maid as TO where she |
night be found. The captain was
ceiling uncommonly sulky and spite
III, knowing he had exerted himself
or some days past in manner that
mo woman was worth without
marked success. Miss Rye was the
irl to marry, if one must marry, but
hat he should have to run after any
'ody, as if he were a turnkey, was Che
ssured Mrs. Rye contrary to his
abits and his dignity. Only because
he was Internally pretty and would
ay for it in the end had he $50 he
ssured himself) condescended to the
base. but that end must come
retty soon. His plan was to let
er get on to the lake, then pursue and
'orry her into an engagement.
Meanwhile Joan came to the waters
dye. The waterman was nowhere
bout, and Joan had to unmoor her
wn craft. She had fixed on a Cana
ian canoe, and, having seated herself,
lade away, rejoicing in her liberty
nd her solitude. This was what she
ad desired, and for time at least
nat broad, hazy mere seemed almost
Ike a sea unknown. inyiolable, roman
c, into which she might escape for
YER
She had disappeared into the haze
eyond Captain Suttlebury's view be
re he was ready with the punt in
hich he meant to follow. And on
lie other side of the haze things were
of which Joan's first init
alton was this. Toward her, from
lie opposite bank, came an apparent
unoccupied punt. 1t came errati-
lily, with slow jerks and swerves to
# and right 4 stout pike rod was
xed in the bows and bent almost to
acking.
Some one must have been fishing
ON it., " thought Joan. The float was
visible. but the taut line and twisted
el showed her what was the matter.
he fisher must have gone ashore and
pike hooked himself in the mean
me- And then
why. it's Mr.. Maynard" she
led quite suddenly. 'Asleep!"
She padded up to the punt and
epped aboard-took up the rod and
eed the reel carefully.
What a splendid fish it must be !"
e said feeling it delicately as she
eled in little.
Now, a pike is not the gamest of
ings that swim, but even pike will
AXE some struggle, and this was a
g one. Joan reeled in, and the pike
sisted, and the punt rocked up and
wn. Presently from a dream in
itch he and Captain Suttlebury were
changing pistol shots across pocket
for the love of