The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-08-10
RIM afraid It'll take a teenty bit longer


You see, it's worse'n l thought"
do you have to stop like this
often?" asked Marian.
= "Wellsa sometimes. But now last
week she didn't break down, Monday
nor wednesday, all the hull way overg'
And, saying this. Old Abe rose to his
fun height, grinning with pride.
"Well, suppose it can't be helped,
them" submitted Marian, but she ap-
peared SO very much annoyed that
Abe at once leaned down and con-
tinued his work with a great show of
hustle
The rain was not yet over, and Allen
was bnsiiy engaged staring very hard
at nothing whatever. Marian looked
at her watch. 1t was past lunch time,
and, as she had felt too miserable to
eat much breakfast, she commenced to
feel hungry. A sudden thought bright
ened her conference.-the had with
her a box of candies which she had
purchased for her sisters children.
She could get them another box She
looked at her watch again. Only
few minutes more had passed, but her
She loosed the string from the box,
opened the paper, removed the cover
and ate chocolate.
Afte- she had eaten several Of the
candies she glanced over at Allen.
Fastened to the wall of the cabin op-
posite him was an old landscape in a
dingy frame, and he was gazing at
this with the concentration of a stole.
"a landscapev' mentally exclaimed
Marian, as she recalled his dislike Of
landscapes. "How he must hate me-"
she continued. eating another candy,
"when he'd rather look at that than at
me! l wonder-what had ought to
do? If he and were utter strangers,
lost on a desert isle, and he had a
dozen kernels of corn / should think
him a cad If he didn't offer me half.
l think I ought to offer him some Of
these candies, even If we're not on
speaking terms"
Then, sitting back with eyes straight
ahead, Marian pushed the candy box
along the seat. Allen paid no attention.
won't you have chocolate?" Ma.
rian asked ut length, hesitatingly.
Allen made no answer.
"Will you"--und Marian stamped hel
little foot-"I say, will you have a choc-
olate?" she continued impatiently.
mo, thank you," he replied, and re-
sumed his contemplation of the land.
scape: s
A long pause ensued. The box re.
manned half way between them.
II think you're very-ungentleman
ly," ventured Marian.
Last night you were of the same
opinion" retorted Allen.
"You are more so now"
"HowY
"Well, you-you know that I'm too
polite to eat these chocolates and let
you go hungry-and Pm simply starry
cd"
With an air of exaggerated polite.
ness Allen reached over, took a candy
and ate it, his eyes fixed the while up
on the landscape. Marian then ate one
waited in silence for ten minutes and
again offered the box to Allen, who
helped himself very gravely and hand
ed it back. This operation was re-
peated until soon only one candy was
left. The remaining one was heart
shaped.
Allen handed the box to Marian. She
took the box, but directly offered it
back to him.
mo, thank you," said Allen on look
ing in the box.
But l am offering it to you," insist
ed Marian.
Its yours replied Allen. And he
shot quick glance at Marian, who
had been gradually moving from her
end of the seat and was now past the
middle. She slightly raised from her
seat and, leaning toward him, said:
''Lon-pardon me-Mr. Allen, please
take it. want you to have it."
''Is lido you mean-you are offer.
ing me a hearth" he asked.
She might have answered, but the
boat suddenly started with a jerk,
throwing her full into his arms. And
there she was when the boatman ap-
peared in the doorway.
Pm sorry for delayin' ye," said Old
Abe, "but I'm thinkin' things be tin
kered into shape ag'in now" And that
was true enough.
"We"-and Marian looked at Allen
"we're not blaming you, Mr.. Ferry
man."
mo, and We'll take the trip back
with you,' added Allen.
THANK e; thank e, SIR" replied Old
Abe. And as he went back to his work
there was merry twinkle in his eye,
and he chuckled to himself:
They're not blamin' me, but 1 could
"a started the durn old craft jest half
an hour agor'