Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-07-24


aware of presence
On the landing linger quite a num-
Der, who watch the white sails dimin-
ish. The canoes are scarcely visible.
There is restless movement; all ewes
turn toward the catboat. The vision"
is there with Verna by her side. Both
are in full yachting costume-serene.
glowing, compelling. The boatman.
owner of the Helene is saying:
But can you manage it?"
Watch me-
Their eyes meet. His fall.
She steps lightly into the Helene.
and moment later Verna leaps into
her arms
Cast off," commands the fair skip
per-
The breeze has freshened. When the
Helene found itself clear of the
anchored yachts it made sharp tack
TO port, then bee line for the fleet,
now half an hour in advance
All on shore could see that a reck-
less but a masterful hand guided the
fortunes of the Helene, but at the first
sudden tack many "Os," abs" and
signs came from the landing.
The Helene was too long and too
narrow for the customarily quick
maneuvers of boats of its class. Other
wise, except for its unusually long,
deep centerboard, it was a catboat
pure and simple
For half mile outward it held it's
course well aport of the fleet. Sud-
denly a dip to starboard, and the
Laura, the Thrush, and the Nancy
Deane accepted the challenge.
The breeze, now grown to a steady
blow, had changed several points with
in the hour, and is almost directly to-
ward the Oaks landing.
Nancy Deane was nearest the pivotal
point, .le Thrush next, while the
Laura was practically out of it, being
a quarter OF a mile away when the
challenge came and the turn was made.
The Helene cut quick and clean
between the Nancy and the Thrush,
and so suddenly did it right and fill,
after the second tack to starDoard.
that already it was winner as to posi-
ton and start.
The five in the Nancy Deane regard
ed each other blankly. Dan was on
the alert, but said nothing. Fred saw
only the vision Nell spoke to him.
He did not hear. Dan watched Nell.
The vision" turned once and
or n t.
was a CLEAN of defiance Fred misin-
terpreted it. Nell saw. She felt Fred's
heart follow the Helene A slight
pallor crept over her cheek for an in
slant only, succeeded by a faint flush,
which remained. She turned to see
what the two men were doing. Her
eyes met Dams.
sCan we do it?'' she said
S'.We'I try
The wind increased.
She's mad.'' said Dan. "'The Hell
enc can't stand it,
Silence
On they scudded.
All eyes were on the Helene. Its
rail was on the water Fifty feet more
and it would strike the Leopard. II
did not strike. Its single mast snapped
off like match; clear, but for the
tangled cordage.
a Dumont. leaving the tiller sprang
forward with something sharp in her
hand. cut away the ropes, gave the
Helene strong turn to port. cleared
the Leopard with Craze, and then
the landing
Thank God she's safe" said Dan.
Fred looked bewildered. Nell's hand
found Dams.
When the fleet" reached the line
the vision" was saying to the boat
man:
Present your bill at the Office" and
when the ''groupe" had landed she
was sitting upon the veranda with
Verna by her side.
The next morning, at 10, stranger
came. Entering the office he inquired
for Miss Demar" No such guest had
Registered. A smile passed over his
clean cut features. Miss Dumont and
Verna passed by window upon the
yeranda.
Members of the 'groupe" were here
and there. Fred was alone. Dan was
not far from Nell, nor she from the
Bairds.
Good morning" said the stranger,
emitting names.
The vision turned trifle pale
such a mere trifie.
Are you ready to go?" he contin-
ued, kindly, with pleasant smile and
reinsurance in his steel gray eyes
yes" she faltered, and saak into