Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1904-07-20
Two and a
Thunderstorm

the launch with joy. AS soon as the
concourse of smitten youths should
cOmnlete their last fareWeis 10
Gladys shn would sternly marshal
that popular aamsel to the end Of tn,
wharf and %; safely into the boat AMI
so TO the pcint and the Chicago train
in prospect Of the approaching mo
ment of relief from the thankless Of
fee Of Chaperon Miss Eunice sighed
with authoritative content and sat down
on a pile Of suit cases 70 wait.
The launch footed impatiently.
There was stir in the group of leave
takers as a tall man. with iron-grey
hair and handsome, sGnbUrned face
suddenly climbed over the side OF
the wharf into their midst. He eX-
changed a few words With Gladys
and then turned to find Miss Ernice,
who, for some reason, was looking un=
easily away. with q deep color flood
ing her t'i;n little face.
Miss n~oWr," he said, in what she
considered tone Of respectful 5Gt
bored palitoneSs. may have the
pleasure af rowine You and Miss
Gladys over 70 the train? We have
plenty Of time and the luggage can
go on the tug
Miss lzHnice bit her lip argrily;; re.
bel,;aus tears were very near her eyes.
Il wish could let far 90 alone with
YOU" she said. "bnt on account Of
promise to her mother I must peTse-
cute the poor child to the bitter end.
Will it not be too much trouble to row
me back asan?"
ct will be an added pleasure as
sure you" he answered. perfunctorlly.
| All the way over in the boat he and
: Gladys kept MP steady flow of friFo-
lous conversation Yes, she would mali
him the kodak picture of herself
| that would just fit his watch AMI ta
would not forget that he was going to
send her the funny little pipe he had
smoked all summer-just in memory
of their good times, you know. And
they both laughed gaily and Miss
Funice looked out over the water and
tried not to listen. Down at the bot
| tom Of her little starved heart some
thing or other was making very
uncomfortable disturbance.
They stood on the platform and
| waved to the bright figure on tia rain
| until a sudden curve in tho track
hid 1t from view, then they walked
silently hack to the hoat
Miss Eunice ieno-oa the strong,
brown hand extended to help her, and
made her way alone to her seat in
the stern. She turned upon her com
panion a calm and expressionIess face
and kept her eyes upon the sparkling
water beyond him. For what seemed
to the man an endless period of time
the dip of the oars was the only sound
to be heard.
81 think I'll try to go back between
the islands It's shorter" he said
Miss Eunice felt the sting of the
last two words. but made no answer
| Oh. if she could only get home. Back
in her little. hot room at the hotel
she would cry her heart out and once
and for all and go home to the city on
the next train. Her poor little, color
|
never inf1ict itself upon him again
They had reached the islands now
Nothing more than few small hill
locks of sand and gravel. surmounted
by scraggy bushes. The water had
! grown very still and the air was
| heavy
There's bad thunderstorm com
"but think l can make one OF the
small wharves up the shore where
We can get under shelter I'm sorry
to keen you out so long"
Miss Funice turned male. for she had
a deadly terror of lightning but she
answered lndifferent'y, "Do just as
you think best" ard gave the rudder
rope a sharp jerk to guide the boat
into deeper water, for in watching the
gathering storm neither of them had
noticed that the way between the
islands had become very shallow
The boat turned obedientlv hut in
her haste Miss Eunice haG pulled the
on the bottom and the boat stopped
| Il beg your pardon. SAID MISS III
nice coldiy 81 should have been
steering properly"
gJa did net answer, but stood up and
tried to push Off with an oar, The
beat did not move. Re tried again
but the second effort was equally fu-
tile There was an ominOus rumble %
thunder and great drops OF rain began
10 spIas., in the water.
/ He laid down the oar and locke
from Miss Eunice with the drops s!is
tenine on her smooth hair. to the
shore. some ten feet distant
It's CT no use" he said y can't
bulge II with both Of US il the boat
and Well have to get ashore some
way, We're going to get goo4
drerching I'm afraid
UtII ;o,,t coj y