Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-12-25
The Marooning
" OF Captain
! Suttlebury

asessssssssssssseseeseeesssessessssssSs
Miss Joan Rye was having the last
hatpin run through the foppiest of hats
by her maid, so that, quite plainly, she
was going out TO brave the sun.
IF any one wants to know where
am she said, "you haven't the slightest
idea"
Eyes, miss
mot the slightest" repeated Miss Rye
admonishingly, unless Captain Suttle-
barry asks,an then you might fancy
that I'd gone in the direction Of the ken
nels."
Eyes, miss"
"And now, if that pin is in, I'm going
down to the lake. l 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, taking care to
evade any other of the guests who might
be about-not that many were likely to
be, for it was still early, and their de-
cisions for the days amusements were
not yet arrived at. She Owed 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 passion for the
waterside, particularly this morning,
when the sun was SO 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 Suttlebury could bestow
his insutferable attentions upon the
hounds. She laughed aloud at the
thought.
1t was understood, as such matters
generally are understood, that Miss Rye
was the destined bride of the captain.
He was ugly, vulgar and one of the
wealthiest of landowners, so that he
could marry any one he chose. And bis
choice seemed to be Miss Joan Rye.
That is why the following things came
to pass when. about half an hour later,
Miss Joan Rye came down to the boat
house, followed at a discreet distance by
the irrepressble Captain Suttlebury,
who, by an i'll chance, had marked Miss
Rye's direction and had not therefore
taken the trouble to inquire of her maid
as to where she might be found. The
captain was feeling uncommonly sulky
and spitefu., knowing he had exerted
that mo woman was WORTH without
marked success. Miss Rye was the girl
to marry, if one must marry, but that he
should have to run after anybody as if
he were a 6unky was Che assured Mrs.
Rye contrary to his habits apd his dig
nifty His plan was to let her get well
on to the lake, then pursue and worry
her into an engagement.
Meanwhile Joan came to the waters
edge. She had fixed on Canadian
canoe and. having seated herself, made
away with broad. gentle scoops of the
paddle. rejoicing in her liberty and her
solitude. This was what she had de-
sired, and for a little time at least that
broad. hazy mere seemed almost like
sea unknown, inviolable, romantic, into
which she might escape forever.
She had disappeared into the haze be-
yond Captain Suttlebury's view before
he was ready with the punt in which he
meant to follow. And on the other side
of the haze things were happening of
which Joan's first intimation was this:
Toward her. from the opposite bank,
came an apparently unoccupied punt. 1t
came erratically, with slow jerks and
swerves TO left and right. A stout pike
rod was fixed in the bows and bent al
most TO cracking.
Some one must have been fishing
from it," thought Joan. The float was
! invisible. but the taut line and twisted
reel showed her what was the matter.
I The fisher must have gone ashore and a
pike hooked himself in the meantime.
| How annoyed the man would be! And
| then
why, it's Mr.. Maynard" she said
aloud quite suddenly. Asleep
| She had wanted solitude. but somehow
was in no way veXed to come on man.
! Otherwise she would not have done what
/ she did That was to paddle up to the
punt and step aboard. She took up the
rod and freed the reel carefully.
What a splendid fish it must be" she
/ said. feeling it delicately as she reeled in
a little. 1t must have been the sporting
| instinct that was aroused. for she forgot
her canoe and her desire for solitude and
began to play the fish.
Now, pike is not the gamest of things
! that swim. but even pike will make
some struggle. and this was a big one.
Joan reeled in, and the pike resisted,
and the punt rocked up and down. Pres
! entity from a dream in WHICH he and
Captain Suttlebury were exchanging PTS
I tOl SnOlS across pocket udHukeFchiei-
all for the love of a lady-Dick Maynard
swoke and rubbed his eyes. The girl
was standing at the far end of the punt
with her feet firmly planted, tense in ev-
cry limb and beautifully balancing the
heavy rod.
"Can | help?" he said, half unwillingly.
She answered without turning her
head.
"Have you got the landing metz"
"Yes."
He went forward, and she held up the
pike nearer to the side. She was little
GREATNESS. but talked without allowing
her attention to be distracted from the
business on hand.
"You owe me a pair of gloves, Mr..
Maynard. Fast asleep - aren't you
ashamed-only an hour after breakfast"
"Was I really asleep?"
"Were your"
The pike was head up, trying to fur
| - 81 h.. ,xyttk