The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-09-24

~ OBBI!
TX Miss Dexter looked up from
- the big trunk she was unpack-
ing and glanced out of the window as
the sound reached her. She saw red
haired, freckled-faced boy about 10
years old, going out the gate He turn
ed. waved his hand toward the back
door and started running over the
rough road as fast as his bare feet
would allow.
So that was Bobby! Miss Dexter
sighed. Mrs. Morton had already told
her about her nephew, Bobby, and
what a dear boy he was. No doubt he
would be there half the time, and she
hated boys. With her mind made up
to go home If he annoyed her, she re-
sumed unpacking. She had come from
the city to board with Mrs. Morton
because it was quiet and afforded a
chance to live out Of doors.
II could not get Bobby to stay to
tea" Mrs. Morton remarked as they
sat at the table. Miss Dexter said
nothing, but felt grateful. 'Bobby's
a good boy" continued Mrs. Morton;
that's his picture up in your ROOM
Miss Dexter"
what that pretty boy with the
curls?" She looked incredulous, think
ing of the boy she saw that afternoon.
Eyes, indeed, 1t is, and he is a sight
better looking than that now"
Miss Dexter smiled.
Several days passed, and Miss Dex-
ter meandered at will through the
woods and down to the pond, where
she would read for hours, undisturbed
by anyone, still when she reached
home Mrs Morton would speak Of
Bobby having been there and how nice
he was, but that she could not get him
to stay until she got back.
AS she was starting out with her
book one morning Mrs. Morton said in
suggestive tone that Bobby had start
ed to go fishing on the pond and had
forgotten the box Of lunch she had pre-
pared for him. ''He only just started"
she added. Miss Dexter smiled at the
broad hint and offered to take 1t to him
as she was going to the pond.
When she reached the woods she call
ed Bobby" several times, but there
was no answer. 1t was a well-known
path through thick wods, where many
wild flowers grew. She took off her
hat and commenced filling 1t with
them, pausing to tuck some scarlet
blossoms in her belt and in her dark
hair. Soon she commenced to sing lit
tie bits Of different songs. She re
membered Bobby and sang:
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea,
He'll come back and marry me,
Pretty Bobby Shaftoe.
The notes rang loud and clear, with
a slight teasing sound. AS she reach
ed the end Of the path she called again:
"BobbyP' and heard an answer just
beyond. Then she heard step, and
looking up saw Robert Maitland War
rem, whom she had met in Boston sew
eral times the winter before.
"Why, it's Miss Dexter, I met at
Cousin Mans last winter" He lifted
his hat and clasped her hand. WAS
that you calling?' he asked In few
minutes.
Eyes, l am in search of a small boy
named Bobby, who forgot his lunch"
Guess 1t belongs to me. / am Bobby
and forgot my lunch" and he held out
his hand for the box.
She shook her head mo, he's red
headed and freckle-faced."
what makes you think SOP" and he
looked with laughing eyes into hers.
"Auntie always talks as If 1 were
about 10 years old, but l didn't know
she gave the impression l was red
headed" and then he laughed such a
delightful laugh that she had to join
In.
He proposed that they go boating
and take the lunch together This was
the beginning Of many boating trip,
she having decided that Bobby was not
the least mite of a bother.
She wondered many times II he had
heard her singing Bobby Shaftoe,"
but did not dare to ask. One evening
when they were walking home In the
moonlight he asked her to sing.