The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-02-26

posed a letter. sitting on the back We
randa, while Kitchener made love TO
the cook. When the letter was done,
he addressed it in a scrawly but dis
tinct hand to MIR. Edward Wharton,
Brighton, England
The letter ran as follows:
Dear Mr.. Wharton-Mr Chartris told
about you and | like you my father was
cavlry officer TO and l don't like the
navy one BIT and ! don't want navy man
for my new father
l think Kickner and Id rather have you
II you'd like 1t I'm sure Mama and you
would be CRATE friends Yours with love
ROBERT FAIRFAX BROWNE
by Jove! said Wharton, and he
threw back his head and laughed-a
splendid, ringing laugh that consorted
well with the CLEAN of his white teeth
in the dusk Of his beard and the flash
of his deepserdark eyes. This Is GER
tainly uncommon. 1t must be Char
teris of the hussars. and - lets see.
that's a Scheveningen hotel. I'd like
TO see the boy again. I'll run over
there after I've been to London"
Some days later Bobs and Kitchener
took it into their heads to play in an
eAlpty boat. Kitchener found the boat.
and Bobs led the way into it, Then il
gently parted company with the land
and drifted away. The place was nj.
most deserted ut that time Of day, and
Bobby, half frightened, half elate, held
manly to call for help. A sudden gust
of wind struck the craft, and some
how or other the two went over the
side just as Captain Lawton and Mrs
Browne came strolling along the pier
Mrs. Browne gave cry Of terror
ITS Bobby she exclaimed.
A moments hesitation was all that
saved Captain Lawton's immaculate
garb, and in that instant a huge swift
moving form went by them dropped
into the water with tremendous
splash and swan with strong. assured
strokes toward the dots in the water.
1t was all over in a minute and Mrs
Browne, all regardless of soft silk dra-
peries and floating laces, had Bobby in
her arms, and Lieutenant Charters.
who had come running up, was saying:
"'Pon my word, Bobs, you and Kitch-
ener'-
Thep his eye fell upon the rescuer.
and he broke his sentence off in the
middle to grab the hand of the biz,
tall, very wet man who had dropped
his travelling bag to take an impromptu
swim. There were iniroductions and
handshakings and tears. When Bobby
heard the name of Wharton, he stared
round eyed, and when Wharton heard
the name of Bobby he, too, said, Up
on my word" to himself
Perhaps all this had something to do
with the fact that when on the follow
ing evening Captain LaWton came for
his final answer 10 his suit the pretty
widow knew her own mind and an
swered him with gentle but decided
No"
At about the same time Wharton
was confessing frankly TO his friend
Charters that he WAS bowed over for
the first time in his life, and would
there be any chance for him? That
naval officer, you know
Charters glinned. L don't think you
need worry about him" said he. TO
in, old chap. and here's luck"
The rapidity of Wharton's courtship
shocked the whole place. 1t was not
more than six weeks after his first ap-
pearance that he WAS walking in the
twilight with a charming, gay goWned
dame, and she Mis- saying in that
delicious soft voice of hers
but it wasn't all what You did that
first day. Edward, though I'd have
been friends forever with any one who
had saved Bobby's life 1t was just
that you We're you, and don't you
think it WaN fateY
Il think" said Wharton, with n
twinkle in his eye, that it was the
Vaccinations of Robs."
And then h. told her.