The Tupelo journal., 1903-10-23
The WOOir1g
Of "BuSter"
Tale of a Maids Way With a Man
birds of a feather may flock togeth-

birds of a feather may flock togeth-
er, but they do not always fall in
love with each other. AS a rule, 1t takes
birds not of a feather to do that. Atany
rate this was the case with Miss Chris
tobel Merlin and Peter funston; and
yet, so different were they that the whole
affair seemed altogether hopeless up to
the time that Miss Merlin's catboat came
between them. 1t is strange that any,
thing coming between two people who
love each other should bring them to-
gether, yet this may happen if the wind
be in the right direction.
At ~Sandheaps, where Miss Merlin's
father had a cottage, and where Miss
Merlin, with her diminutive catboat,
had learned to be one Of the best sail
ors among the summer contingent,
there had been a lack of visitors owing
to bad weather, and the hotel, usually
crowded, looked lonesome up to the
first of July, when the guests all seemed
to come at once. And among them
came Peter, or, as his class Familiarity
called him, Buster"
lHSy IASl dI d oaluluOy CNCAluS hops
He was brought up and introduced by
Christobel's cousin, Jack. He bowed
awkwardly.
MAY l have this dance?" he NUT
tered.
with pleasure" she replied.
In a moment they were whirling
around the room, or, rather, they were
trying to whirl, for funston, with his
100 pounds, was not the best dancer in
the world.
After awhile they stopped.
I'm not much of a dancer" he OBJ
served, alphabetically.
His partner tried to smile.
Never mind" she said; I'VE will sit
it out"
They strolled on the piazza, where the
wind from the ocean, cool and refresh
fng, famed their cheeks. The contrast
between them was striking. funston,
heavy, clumsy, almost a giant, lowered
above his slight, ethereal companion,
whose delicate, classical, sensitive face
could express every shade of meaning.
She looked up at him half shyly, even
in the semi-darkress. His stature awed
her. She knew ~instinctively that he was
everything she was not, and the
thought made her love him. AS for Tun-
ston, he could not have described his
feelings if he had tried. Self-analysis
with him was an unknown quality. He
only knew that he felt uncomfortable.
I'm a beastly dancer" he half
stammered. as they sat down. 81 never
tackle it if l can help it, but Jack said
thai
Said" she repeated, chat l was
dying to dance, l suppose. Well, Jack
doesn't know everything. How do you
like it here?"
"Bully beach. Good surf-seems like
a decent sort of place" said funston.
do you sail?"
Not much. l play ball a good deal in
the spring and fall, water polo in the
winter, and in the summer-well, these
dinky little boats don't appeal to me-"
She smiled.
That's what I've got-a dinky little
boat"
He colored.
"Oh-beg your pardon. I didn't know
it."
Don't apologize. It's all right. ! can
understand how you feel. But I enjoy it
hugely. Papa got me my boat last year,
and l go sailing in it every day"
"Alone?"
ooh, yes. That's the fun"
The propriety of a young man go
ing sailing with a young girl alone in a
small boat has often been discussed.
and probably never will be determined.
1t is all right, of course, to take a girl
for a long stroll up the beach when the
elder people are having their afternoon
nap and where there are plenty of shell
tering rocks, though the prudes sniff
even at this. But to go out in a boat
alone with a young man, at the mercy of
sea and wind and tide, is quite a differ
ent matter.
Miss Merlin's father might have OBJ
jected to such a proceeding, had he moi
such confidence in his daughters judg-
ment and her sailing powers. AS for
Miss Merlin, she was more or less above
such things; American to the core, she