The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-10-09

Puppet of chance for that day. At
the house on the lake brink he was
made very welcome, Notwithstanding
he had not darkened it's door since
the night of the dinner party and the
riot. Charlotte was cCrdial-nay,
something more; was evidently glad
to see him; this though he made sure
that some remains of the barrier he
had raised in his laundering was still
between them
After luncheon they all went out
on the lakeside veranda; and later,
when the doctor had driven away,
and Miss Gilman had gone in for her
siesta, Griswold made a bold pro-
posal.
1.-THE afternoon is perfect, Miss
Charlotte, and the breeze has fallen
to 'ladygale.' VIII you trust your
self to go out with me in the Sprite?"
Now Charlotte could be as conven-
tional as Miss Grierson was reckless
OF the conventions; but there were
many things waiting to be said to
Mr.. Kenneth Griswold, and she made
the possible opportunity her excuse.
and said she would go.
Griswold left her when she went
in to get ready, and had the cat-boat
unmoored and around at the Farm
ham landing when she came out and
ran down the lawn. He handed her
into the boat and placed the cushions
for her; and when he was showing
off, the Grierson launch put off from
the Mereside pier with a gay party
grouped under the red and white
striped awning.
The two craft passed within hum
dred feet of each other, and Griswold
lifted his hat to Margery. A little
later, Charlotte took her cue from
the incident.
'1ou asked my advice about some
thing a few evenings ago." she be-
gan. Did you take it?''
II made a consummate fool of my
self few evenings ago." was his re-
ply.
Did you?" she countered, with
sweet frigidity. And then: "Am I to
take that as an answer to my ques-
tion?"
. NO. My foolishness didn't go the
length of an appeal to Miss Grier-
son.
Didn't it? l thought, from a word
or two that Edward let fall, that
Miss Grierson was in some way re-
sponsible for the ending of the
strike
$50 she was; but not at any ask
If Tn, 70
her since that night-not to speak
to her"
''What did she do?" asked Char
lotte, mildly curious.
Il don't know; really. Raymer is
as dumb as an oyster on that point.
All he would tell me was that Miss
Grierson had found woman's way
out of the trouble, and had taken it,
Charlotte was silent for time.
for SO long a time that the catboat
had made good offing before she
spoke again. And when she did
speak, it was not of Miss Grierson,
or of the strike; it was of the
weather. Off in the west little
cloud was mounting, and she pointed
it out.
Does that mean more wind?' she
queried.
Il think not" said Griswold. But
if it does, I'll run in at once"
II am afraid you think I am
sorry coward of wind and water,''
she ventured after little. II used
not to be. I used to have a boat of
my own, and go out in almost any
weather. But since the capsizing of
the Mysie-''
Were you here then?" asked Girls
void. The sinking of the steam
yacht Mysie with all on board in one
of the sudden summer squalls some
years before was the major tragedy
of the lake, and it had had full col
umn in the New York papers.
II was here, and-and I saw it,
It happened just little way out
from our pier. Oh, it was dreadful"
she shuddered. "To see them drown
ing and not to be able to do one lit
tie thing to help Them
Griswold nodded in sympathy. II
can understand. Shall we go about?'
The cloud in the west, which had
been no bigger than the 'Sprite's'
mainsail had suddenly grown to half
the width of the horizon, and cool
little puffs of wind were coming
across the lake.
DO as you would if you were
alone" she said. II am not afraid
with you"
None the less, Griswold put the
helm of the catboat down and stood
in for the Wahaskan shore. For a
few lengths the ';Sprite" shot ahead,
and then a dead calm, the lull before
the approaching storm, came and sat
upon the face of the waters, and the
boat merely rose and fell with flap
ping sail. 1t was too late to retreat.
Griswold measured the possibilities
in a swift backward glance at the
darkened sky, put the tiller into
CharlOtte'S hands and went to dOuh1e-