The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-03-25
TWO IN A PUNT.

~~N~~~~s~A~eoU~~O~~~NA~~S
In due time arrived at the little cot
tage by the river. Jane was in
hammock slung between two pear
trees at the end of the lawn. Above
the waist line, so to speak, her cos
tune was frilly and stripy, below it
was plain and stripy, the whole OF
kind of biscuit color. Further items
were large, foppy sort of straw hat
and brown shoes, one of which dan
gled Imply underneath her skirt.
She loked charming and it seemed
almost criminal not to kiss her.
l told her SO, laying special stress
on my relationship, and giving infor.
mation-for which l fear, there was
rather insecure ground-as to prevail
ing customs in the matter of cousinly
salutes.
BY way of reply, Jane slowly as
sumed an erect position in her ham
mock and gazed at me with langui1
interest-the sort of regard one might
give to an amusing insect.
Don't be silly" she said 81 sent
for you to take me out for an after
noon in the punt.
Now had never manipulated punt
pole in my life, as Jane very well
knew but she uttered this astounding
statement without culver of an eye
lid
So l was forced to explain.
ooh! / hate men who can't do
things. But never mind, must make
the best of bad job, and give you a
lesson
Upon my word Jane sometimes
makes me wish l was not a cousin.
She doesn't call the numerous other
young men of her acquaintance bad
sobs!" Still, on the other hand, they
would not have the privilege of a les
son from her; SO, perhaps, the balance
works out on my side.
| did not say all this to Jane, OF
course 1t seemed safer to contine
myself to an expression of regret for
my lack of efficiency.
ut is so stupid not to know how to
punt or play bridge, and all that"
Jane went on. "a nice young man
ought to be able to do all the things
that don't matter" she explained cryp'
tically. Every one can do the things
that do matter, and, after all, it is the
things that don't matter that really
matter most, isn't it?"
hastily asented and removed my
hat to let what breeze there was play
on my heated brow.
Presently we reached the punt and
when | had arranged the cushions
carefully, according to her explicit in
Misunderstanding one soaking wet,
with my usual luck-Jane told me to
take my ease thereon while she gave
me an object lesson.
mot that end"
This was after / had, after much
labor, at length disposed myself COM
fortably.
''This end, where you can watch
me-
Seldom are James instructions so
agreeable.
I said as much. and added that
should like to go on watching her for
ever.
She tried to look severe, and one
eyebrow did work itself into futile
imitation of a frown, but the other
would not do what was expected of
It. and there was the least bit of d
crumpling UP at the one corner of her
lips.
1t was then that l determined that
It was a propitious day to propose to
Jane.
Besides, as | remembered with
hopefulness, it would be the 21st time
and as three is lucky number and
seven is a very lucky number, three
times seven ought to make most ex-
traordinarily lucky one.
While l was engaged in these pro-
found reflections Jane had recovered
her complete severity. She had poled
off from the bank, and we were pro-
ceeding leisurely up stream. When
her gaze fell upon me it was of a
sternness that might make the Sphinx
seem bubbling over with merry affa-
bility by comparison.
"There is no need to look at those