Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-12-08
THE BOAT THAT
JACK BUILT


Jack was sulking over the deck rail
OF his spick and span yacht Why
had he gone to all this trouble mere
ly for q girls whim? Here was the
yacht, all finished. just launched. and
fitted cut In time to witness the inter
national races from her deck, yet her
captain and owner was disappointed
As an expectant host, his expression
was an abominable failure. Unques
tionably he sulked. dreading the ar
rival Of the boat party which was to
be his during the races.
II was almost the hour mentioned In
his invitation. and the trim. white.
serge figure dropped dlscontentedly.
Was that his bunch coming over in
that laHnch7 Yes. he saw a flaming
yellow parasol.
No one but Mrs. Rodney would car.
~ a thing like that. he knew, and be-
sides, he could distinguish BonnebePs
big red face In the crowd.
So Jack choked down his glum dis
appointment and went to the gangway.
She hadn't written a word after prom
race That had been in the spring.
Here 1t was August, and not sign.
not a word in regard to it. Only COM
plete ignoring of his countless letters,
And he had built The thing for her.
Wiping his forehead disconsolately,
he assumed stereotyped smile and
helped the ladies aboard. They were
as CHEEKY and pleasantly fussy as q
brood of sparrows, and Jack had to
make the best of II.
Bonnebels red face was redder and
more comical than ever. Jack welcom-
ed him and the other fellows as heart
lily as he knew how.
"Oh, when are the races going to
start?" was the chief feminine ques.
ton.
Say. old man, who've you got for
chefT' needed more frequent answer
ing among his male guests but Jacks
patience held out beautifully, consid-
ering They praised his taste in de-
sign, decorations and fittings, they
adored his yacht they assured him.
He felt like hurting out the whole
miserable truth, just to relieve his
feelings, that 1t was the taste OF a
girl who had spoken, then gone away
and made no other sign, and that he.
Jack, owner and fool. had merely done
according to her within. He had built
this boat from which she might wit
ness the races for the Cup. and he was
still waiting.
He was on the point of giving 1t all
out and getting bitter enjoyment over
their amusement-those people who
thought him such a lucky young dog.
But suddenly a wee boat with SOL
itary rover came alongside. A girl in
blue sat at the stern. She was wav-
ing a stick bound with bright ribbon.
They were the colors Of Jacks flag.
Jack saw and gave yell Of delight,
going down the gangway four steps at
a time.
The girl in blue skipped out lightly
right into Jacks arms.
"Oh, Jack, dear. your yacht is love-
lyw
1t had been said to him a dozen
IlucS WlIUlu luG nOuis Jul WHY
through her voice did 1t gain meaning.
"It's yours, little lady. every link
and spar Of IT," he replied gleefully.
She sprang up the ladder with
fatuous though thoroughly happy
laugh.
He turned her. sudden idea seiz-
ing him.
"Shall tell them whose boat this
tsp
she nodded after seconds hesita-
ton.
And when they reached the deck he
told the assembled guests why and
for whom the yacht had been built.
Not that 1t served its primal pur-
pose, when alls considered.
For. though they witnessed the
races from its deck, neither Jack nor
the girl knew which boat won.
It isn't on record that either cared.