New-York tribune., 1903-01-11

was one thing; to be recognized while doing it
was another But Bob smiled sweetly. "They
just in time" she said, well make them
help" and, hatless but bland. she advanced to
invite the round eyed Wadsworths to help steal
their own fathers property.
The Wadsworths did help. They laid hold as
if pink finger nails were of the smallest con-
sequence, and by their stanch support the raft
launched. Wont you come with us?"
asked Belle, graciOusly; but the little girls
looked back at the grand new house, wherein
all modern improvements and a gov
erness, and sadly shook their heads
The three embarked. Belle took the centre of
a broken board squeezed it along between the
banks. Wistfully the little Wadsworths waved
farewell-and they were off.
That fair voyage At times the banks
left the tinieSt thread of water and they had
to elbow their way along; again, it would get
deep that polling of no use and they had
through wooGs, then salty pastures where they
caught black villanous crabs and turtles with
red frOntlets Soon the grass grew rank and
reedy, rosemary appeared, and then-they saw
the great blue Sound and heard the pleasant
swish of pebbles on the shore
"Hurrahl" cried Tonic He gave one tre-
mendous plunge with his pole. 1t stuck fast.
At the same time Bob, at her end, urged their
leviathan with all her might. A gentle splash
was heard.
"Oh Bobi" cried Belle in anguish, "Tonies
goner'
Just then his head appeared above the water.
He clambered up the bank-a dreadful spectacle
The green scum of the creek adhered to him
in patches, and the water oozed down from his
clothes.
What shall we do with him?" cried Belle,
really moved.
"Tutl Let him wash off in the Sound" said
Bob We're not far from the bathhouse; come
along"
Away they bounded till the bathhouse came in
view Once there, they scrambled into bathing
suits. and then-they spoke word until the
waters had washed all traces of their brgand-
age away-washed off the slime and mud and
butter. the grass stains and the wheat. Sleek
and brown they crawled out the sands.
1t was place of peace. No human being
in sight. The usual morning swim good
but not to be compared to such an isolated bliss
this. No elders to give tedious precautions
or to cut short time. All the afternoon they
caracoled like porposes, raced silently
sharks. or basked like happy turtles in the sun.
There was no need for games. Imagination is for
the wanderer who would perfect the land in which
ne roams, but here was home. The endless sea-
The whistling winds, the Tapping gulls and our
three centaufs. all were one The sun began to
make the sands look golden, but they did not
notice it. Sometimes they ran with all their
might the wet red sand, sometimes they
clutched the water for the unseen jellyf1sh,
sometimes they flung themselves face down
upon the waves, as on a bed, and lay there till
heir breath gave out. Why think Of ever leav
ing?
Holding hands, they backed up to the dune
20 take running jump. They held their breath,
each raised foot. when from behind a large
hand closed upon Tonie's He turned and
behed his father, arrived, how Unexpectedly,
just that hour from the city.
Il thought" he said in tones of sarcasm,
that l might find you here. Robina, Mr..
Wadsworths man has just returned me this,
and he held out Bob's discriminating hat
A silence fell on them-not of remorse for
what was past, terror for what was at once
to come-simply a sadness that the day was
ended. Reluctantly they hurried their
clothes. and soon Belle and Tonic were step
ping inland manaced by firm fathers hand.