The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-01-04
ISIS JOAN RYE was hav-
ing the last hat pin run
through the foppiest of


swiftly and silently into the parE
taking care to evade any other o
the Waffle House guests who Nigh
be about.
Inc Kennels were in quite the op
posite direction. but then Miss Ry,
had a passion for the waterside, par
ucularly this morning. when the SUI
was so riotously hot, and the mer,
sound OF the swish in the reeds would
De cooling. Also, nobody ever wen
down to the lake in the morning. Sht
would be alone and unpestered FOL
once.
Captain Suttlebury could bestow hi.
lnsunerable attentions upon the
hounds. She laughed aloud at tn,
thought.
IL was understood, as such matter.
generally are understood, that Mis-:
Rye was The destined bride of the
Captain. He was ugly, vulgar, and
one Of the wealthiest of landowners
so that he could marry anyone 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 secre.
tary, Mr.. Dick Maynard. anent this
affair.
The young man nodded.
Il hope she'll refuse him." he said,
browning.
MY dear man." said Lord Waffle,
how can she? Lady Waffle gives
me to understand that Miss Rye and
Shuttlebury have fixed it up, kindly
making my house the base Of opera
tions. He's vulgar little brute, and
he'll futter around till she's worn
out. Then shall have to congratu-
late him."
Maynard shut bis mouth at this
feeble minded view and busted him
self over his work. He spent rest
less night trying to devise disinter-
ested schemes whereby Beauty might
be saved from the tolls, and woke
early and angry. with a conviction
that a sccretarial post precludes one
from undertaking the duties of a
knight-errant
He went down to the lake because
In the morning nobody ever went
there). got rod from the waterman,
and. having punted himself across
to the shady side. fixed the pole In
the reeds by way of anchor, set his
float running. clinched his rod in TIE
bows, and promptly fell asleep among
the cushions. with a pipe In his
mouth.
That is why the following things
came to pass when about half an
hour later Miss Joan Rye came down
to the boathouse. followed at a dis
erect distance by the irrepressiblc
Captain Suttlebury. who by an Ill
chance had marked Miss Rye's direc-
tlon. and had not therefore taken the
trouble to inquire Of her maid as to
where she might be found The Cap
tain was feeling uncommonly sulky
and spiteful. knowing he had exerted
for some days past In n man.
ner that "no woman was worth"
without marked success.
Meanwhile Joan came to the waters
ridge. A shimmering heat-haze lay
lightly over the lake, making dim
ia further shore under the hill.
whose imminent pines would, as she
knew. throw the coolest shadows, and
ell among the rushes on either side
Df the boathouse the coots winged
! hustered escape at her approaching.
Some white swans, too. cared them
selves or shore after the fashion of
shocked dignity. The waterman was
Nowhere about. and Joan had to un-
moor her own craft. She had fixed
IN a Canadian canoe, and, having
seated herself. made away with
broad. gentle scoops Of the paddle, re-
oicing in her liberty and her soli-
ude.
She had disappeared into the haze
'eyond Captain Suttlebury's view
'efore he was ready with the punt In
which he meant to follow. And on
he other side Of the haze things |
we're happening OF which Joan's first
was this: Towards her,
rom the opposite bank, came an ap-
unoccupled punt. 1t came |
rratically. with slow jerks and |
wcryes to left and right A stout |
'ike-rod was fixed in the bows and |
,cnt almost to cracking.
Some one must have been fishing
rom It," thought Joan. The feat |
vas Invisible. but the taut line and |
visited reel showed her what was
lie matter. The fisher must have
one ashore and pike hooked him
elf In the meantime. How annoyed
nc man would be. And then
"Why, it's Mr.. Maynardw she said,
loud. quite suddenly. Asleep
She had wanted solitude. but some
ow was in no way vexed to come
man. Otherwise she would not I
ave done what she did, That was to
addlc up to the punt and step aboard.
he took up the rod and freed the
eel carefully.
What splendid fish 1t must bem
he said. feeling 1t delicately as she
rcied In little. 1t must have been
40 sporting Instinct that was aroused,
,: she forgot her canoe and her de-
lie Tor solitude. and began to play
,e fish.
NV. isisc is not the earnest of
i:ngs tia.t swi,::;. but even. pike
i'll inaSc some slru@..e. AMI this
'as q tiS one. loan reeled in. and
~ PIKE resisted. and the punt rocked
p aad down. t'reseatly from dream