The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-03-28
A LOVERS QUARREL.
BY MABEL QUILLER-CoUCH.

He paused for want of breath, his
eyes flashing, his nostrils dilating-
with calm contempt, it is to be sup
posed
NO, my dear Dolly, l daresay you
will be expecting me to come and apol-
Ogize, and implore you to come out on
the river with me, but you'll have to
send for me first
With which noble display of indie
peDdence Robert Jameson flung out of
his room and down to the river, meta
phorically patting himself on the way,
and all the time dreading the blank in
his life which he would feel as soon as
his rage should cool down.
Dolly Parsons put on her prettiest
white frock and picturesque sun hat.
'1f Mr. Jameson calls, tell him | am
out, - she said to the maid. Il am going
on the river"
She told herself this last piece of in
formation was for the benefit of the
servant, III case she required to know.
when he comes and finds me gone,
he will be furious. [ will take my canoe
and stay out till quite late, I'd love to
brighten him thoroughly"
Miss Parsons bright brown eyes
flashed little. A faint flush appeared
on her pretty checklist was flush of
anger but it was eminently becoming.
She looked maddeningly pretty as she
sat in her canoe and padded away up
stream. 1t was a glorious afternoon,
and the river was looking its best: but
Dolly Parsons eyes were not filled with
appreciation of the beauty around her.
She repeated to herself again and again
the horrid things Bob had said.
No, she would not forgive him for a
long time: it would not do; the circum-
stances were too aggravated. He would
be coming back expecting her to for
give everything-some girls might be SO
silly, but he would find she was made of
different stuff"
And all the time she knew that she
dared not let her anger cool, for a
horrid, absorbing pain would fill her
heart at once, and wretched feeling of
loneliness and depression, and she hated
to be unhappy.
She padded on and on, until the other
boats were all left behind. She was very
tired, but she would not stop. Her mind
was made up on one point; she would
brighten Bob Jameson into apprecia-
ton of her worth
1t was almost twilight when she turn
ed to go home; the river seemed to her
to have suddenly become lonely and de-
pressing; the sun had gone down and a
chill wind and sprung up. Dolly pad
died fast and splashed the water over
her pretty frock, and grew cross and
miserable She had quite expected Bob
would have followed her to make it
up she had decided how long she
would keep him in suspense, and how,
at last, to forgive him.
A clock in the distance struck. Dol
ly padded faster and faster though she
hardly knew how to go on. She looked
anxiously along, when swiftly around
the bend she had just cleared shot
another boat, close in her wake. 1t
came so swiftly it was almost on her be-
fore the sound of the oars made her
glance up: it came so close that her cry
TO '.look ahead" came too late.
She screamed with alarm and missed
her stroke. The man in the other boat
looked around with annoyance written
on every feature, and then, before he
could back water, the impetus of his
last stroke brought the nose of his boat
with crash into the stern of her canoe
which filled and sank instantly.
Bob, Bob, Bob, Help But before
the cry waspast her lips Dolly had gone
under
'NGGat Scout. 1t Dolly.
In a second Bob had sprung into the
water after her A stupefied face rose
above the surface and two hands strug-
Cling wildly to clutch something; then
She sank again. In desperation Bob
made a wild plunge at the spot where
she had gone down, and this time
caught a bit of her sleeve. 1t was bare
ly enough to support her by. but having
"a hold ha ado flp nf il and
managed to keep her up until he could
grasp her firmly then by degrees he
drew her to the bank, and in time man
aged to lift her into the boat, which
fortunately had drifted to the bank.
She was conscious again by that time,
and he laid her in the boat and wrapped
his coat about her. She was not really
hurt, only overcome with the shock and
WEAKNESS; but she looked a very piteous
and forlom little creature as she lay
shivering in the bow while Bob pulled
as quickly as he could to the boathouse.
In spite, though, of her plight, her
spoiled clothes and general discomfort
she did not feel as depressed as she had
done before the plunge, nor did the
world seem so utterly devoid of happi-
ness.
Bob she said, after silently watch
ing him for some moments. Bob why
were you up the river so late?"
why were you?" answered Bob, not
without embarrassment.
will you tell me if | tell you?"
Eyes," he said, his color heightening.
We'll, | was angry with you, and
wanted to-frighten YOU
You carried you scheme to perfec-
ton, dear"
But Bob l didn't-oh, Bob,' in a
great state of CONSERVATION, you can't
think l fell in ON purpose?"
NO, dear, | am quite convinced Of
that"
Dolly looked at him thoughtfully for
moment
Bob" she said severely, "what do
you mean?"
"Well," he answered with conviction,
young women don't put on their pref
test dress when they contemplate a
dive"
Dolly had the grace to blush. my
poor dress. she said dolefully: land
was looking SO nice when l started"
she added regretfully. Il must be a
fearful fright now, though" with sud
den consciousness. Am |, Bob? Do
look very Dreadful
Il have seen you looking better,
darling"
Doilys brow puckered again.